By 1955, the Scarlet Knight had become the new Rutgers mascot. The Scarlet-garbed knight, riding a spirited white charger, came to represent a new era - the rejuvenation of first class football "On the Banks."

The Scarlet Knight became Rutgers mascot after a campus-wide selection process, according to a history on the university's athletic department website. Rutgers describes its prior mascot as a "giant, colorfully felt-covered, costumed representation" of an earlier campus symbol, the Chanticleer.

UNIVERSITY MASCOT: THE SCARLET KNIGHT During the “Queensmen” era at RU, a giant felt-covered mascot known as the “Chanticleer” first served in 1925. While the Chanticleer was actually a fighting Cock, RU faithful never became fully comfortable with its “chicken” connotation during its 30 years of service.