After years of just being known only as The Griffin, William & Mary is giving its mascot a name: Reveley.
The mascot’s new name honors outgoing university President W. Taylor Reveley, who is retiring July 1.
“To have a griffin named Reveley is a rare and wonderful privilege,” said Reveley, the university’s 27th president. “Truly, the griffin is the perfect mascot for William & Mary, a college created by a royal charter in London (thus the body of a lion) and later so instrumental in the American Revolution (thus the head of an eagle).”
The announcement came near the end of a gala celebration for Reveley and his wife, Helen.
W&M Director of Athletics Samantha K. Huge read from a proclamation that resolved: “The entire Tribe Family — its student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and fans — join in commending W. Taylor Reveley III on the occasion of his retirement. Therefore, in honor and recognition of his outstanding leadership and his contributions to William & Mary Athletics and the university writ large, the mascot eponymously known as ‘The Griffin’ is forevermore named ‘Reveley!'”
During Reveley’s time as president, W&M teams have earned 52 conference championships and made 37 NCAA post-season appearances. W&M Athletics also has had the nation’s best graduation rate among NCAA Division I public universities in every year of Reveley’s tenure, reaching a high of 88 percent in 2016-17.
