In 1916, when Dr. Thornwell Jacobs re-founded Oglethorpe, he wanted a mascot that would represent the tenacity and scrappiness of our baseball, basketball, and football teams. Jacobs settled on Wilson’s storm petrel (oceanites oceanicus), but to us, he’s Petey the Stormy Petrel, of course, pronounced, only by us, as “pee-trel.” 

Legend has it that General James Edward Oglethorpe was impressed with the tenacity of the small, seabird and followed it to the coast of Georgia. That story might be a myth created by Jacobs, but, really, what good mascot doesn’t have some mythic aspects? 

Throughout the years, we’ve had the Flying Petrel (alumni newsletter); Stormy Petrel (campus newspaper); Petey’s Pantry (campus food bank); Petrel’s Nest (TLCC café); Petrels of Fire (annual OU Day race); Petrel Follies (1920s vaudeville-style theatre programs); Petey’s Garden (campus plots where the community can grow their own produce); Petrel Partners (local businesses that offer discounts to OU folks); Petrel Page Turners (student book club); and OU Squawkers (student debate club).  

Whether he’s hyping up the crowd at a basketball game or greeting new students at one of admission’s admitted students days, Petey is always around campus reminding us that we are all petrels together! 

This year, National Mascot Day is June 17, 2025. Let’s cheer for Petey!