Bill the Goat is the mascot of the United States Naval Academy. The mascot is a live goat and is also represented by a costumed midshipman. There is also a bronze statue of the goat, Navy Bill, in the north end zone of Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. [1] . This statue also plays a role in "Army Week" traditions.

Ever wonder how a goat became the official U.S. Naval Academy mascot? Explore the history of the mascot and learn fun facts about Bill the Goat.

Dec 12, 2014 · There have been 36 goats to serves as the official mascot, 33 of which have been named Bill (sometimes with the full name of Bill Capricornus) and not all have fared well.

Sep 16, 2018 · The US Naval Academy’s mascot is a goat named Bill, named after the billy goat. The Navy’s history with goats started when Navy vessels began bringing goats onboard their ships due to their functionality.

Dec 21, 2022 · The use of a goat as their mascot began in 1893 with El Cid the Goat, named after the famed Castilian general. Eventually, they settled on the name “Bill” because, you know, billy goats… And it just gets weirder from there.

May 11, 2024 · a goat outside the noncoms' houses at West Point and promptly commandeered "Billy" for their mascot. Since that time, the goat has remained as the recognized mascot of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Dec 8, 2022 · Not only is there an actual goat, but Midshipmen also have the chance to join the mascot team and don the horned headdress to serve as “Bill the Goat.” Last year, the captain of that team was...

Nov 11, 2024 · At the time, the term "Billy Goat" referred to a tough and aggressive goat that was capable of taking on any task, making it the perfect mascot for the Navy. The first Navy Goat was a goat named "Willie," who was a gift from a San Francisco zoo to Admiral Evans in 1913.

There is a legend that the Naval Cadets (as they were then known) , on a march from the ferry station at Highland Falls up the steep hill to West Point to play the first Army-Navy football game in 1890, saw a goat outside the noncom’s houses, …

While most teams hope they never have a ‘goat’ on their college football team, Bill the Goat has been a welcomed member of Naval Academy athletics since the 19th century. Bill, long a target of Army kidnappers, first filled more of a reserve mascot role in the animal’s early years of serving.