CMU considers an official mascot

For years, anonymous Carnegie Mellon University students have been donning a Scottish Terrier outfit for football games, parading around the sidelines.

It's a nod to founder Andrew Carnegie's Scottish roots. So is its sports teams' nickname, the Tartans.

Officially though, the school has no mascot. Now, a task force will decide whether to make the terrier official or whether the school should use something else.

John Marano Jr., who runs the school's trademark licensing office, said athletes asked about having a mascot about a year ago, saying an official image could increase interest in its teams.

Schools take their mascots seriously, given the licensing money that can be made.

Ross Bjork, a senior associate athletic director, said money from branded UCLA merchandise brings that school $1 million annually in royalties.