Was Bucky almost replaced with a cow?

We wouldn’t say almost, so don’t have a cow. The idea was briefly forwarded in 1979 by one man, Howard Koop, who served as executive assistant to attorney general Bronson La Follette ’58, LLB’60. While the Badgers were in the throes of a disappointing football season in November 1979, Koop dropped some serious fightin’ words. He told the Capital Times: “Bucky Badger should be buried. As a mascot, he’s been a disaster. Wisconsin needs a new mascot.” When asked what mascot was worthy of replacing Bucky, he responded, “I submit the logical mascot is a Holstein cow.” He’s also often quoted as saying: “Kids love cows. A generation could grow up supporting the university and Henrietta Holstein.” According to the 1980 Badger yearbook , then associate director of athletics Otto Breitenbach ’48, MS’55 said “the cow idea was dropped ‘because of lack of support.’ ” Thank goodness. “If you want to be a Holstein” just wouldn’t have the same ring to it.