Everyone has probably attended a school with a mascot. Many of them are overused and simple, such as the eagle, the bear, or the wildcat (sorry, Williston). But fortunately some colleges, whether for historical, cultural, or even anecdotal reasons, chose some very odd and unusual mascots that certainly spice up the school spirit in one way or another. A few are fierce and exciting, but most are confusing and elicit more laughter than anything else. Here’s a list of the most bizarre college mascots.

10. UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs

Although not very intimidating to humans, the UC Banana Slug has a sweet backstory. The students chose it over the sea lion because to them, a lame mascot such as a slimy and shell-less mollusk represented their values about sports and competition. The UCSC website states that, “The most important goal of a collegiate physical education department should be to introduce as many students as possible to lifelong physical activities; and that the joy of participating is more important than winning.” Heartwarming.

9. University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevil

University of Arkansas at Monticello proudly reps an insect that sounds more like a Pokémon than an intimidating mascot. Unfortunately for UAM, a giant insect with a distended nose, loopy antenna and toothy grin inspires more raised eyebrows than anything else. However, this cotton-munching insect presented a huge problem to the early 20th century farmers in the area because they had no way of protecting their crops against the tough boll weevils. So the boll weevil was chosen as a mascot to represent toughness and perseverance. If they had to choose an insect, they might as well pick the boll weevil.

8. University of Pennsylvania Quakers

The irony of having a Quaker as a sports mascot is probably not lost on the students of Penn. Quakers believe in non-violence, so the “fighting Quaker” mascot is more than a little odd. The university has no historical religious connection with the Quakers, but it is in the state that was founded by William Penn, a Quaker. Probably the only reason it was adopted was because of Penn’s cultural connection with Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, but it still makes little sense. But as long as they’re winning, no one probably cares!

7. Williams College Ephs

“Ephs” refers to Ephraim Williams, the college’s founder. The purple cow comes from the humor magazine “The Purple Cow” that students at Williams ran. The name and the cow make an odd combination, but both are understandable references. However, to anyone who doesn’t spend time Googling it, or who doesn’t go to Williams College, the mascot is just odd.

6. New York University Violets/Bobcats

NYU is the first of many colleges on this list to feature a plant as a mascot. For a long time NYU has used the nickname “The Violets” for their sports teams. In the good ole days of the 80’s, a student would dress as a giant violet for the mascot. The mascot wore a green body suit and big purple petals sticking off the head. Maybe the college realized that that may be debilitating to their image and changed the mascot to be a bobcat, although the teams still go by the Violets. The bobcat comes from the Library program, of all things. The Bobst Library catalog program is called BobCat, and the school states that “It represents the strong link between academic and athletic excellence at NYU.”

5. Scottsdale Community College Fighting Artichokes

Vegetable mascots make their way to the top of the list because they are vegetables and highly unintimidating. The Scottsdale Artichoke was originally chosen to be an embarrassing protest mascot by the League of Women Voters, but the school adopted it with love and zeal, and thus was born Artie. This artichoke looks way too happy to fight anyone,

4. North Carolina School of Arts Fighting Pickles

This mascot is just straight up bizarre. But since it’s an art school, its believable. The pickle is wearing a piano key skirt and holding a movie scene counter, but the fighting pickle’s face just looks like a French super hero. Apparently, the pickle was chosen by a vote for their touch football team, and the school embraced it. Go Pickles.

3. Delta State Statesmen/Fighting Okra

Although Delta State are officially the Statesmen, students thought that was too boring and not scary enough, so they started the Fighting Okra. Not only did they choose a vegetable, they chose an obscure one that lots of people have never heard of. But the mean face is a step up from the smiling Artie the Artichoke.

2. Stanford University Cardinal/Tree

For some unfathomable reason, plants seem to be a popular mascot. Although Stanford is known as the Cardinal, which is a red color, people always mess that up and think they mean the bird. Since the school couldn’t agree on an actual mascot, the students started using the band’s mascot the Tree. Now the Tree has achieved an almost cultish level of popularity. There are quite a few controversies surrounding the Tree, including obsessive auditions, a drunk Tree, a couple incidents of theft, and a fist fight with another mascot. At least their plant has personality.

1. Xavier University Musketeers/The Blue Blob

The most bizarre college mascot award goes to Xavier University. Meet the Blue Blob, who overshadows the other Xavier mascot, D’Artagnan the Musketeer, whose name is woefully not catchy. Apparently the Blue Blob was designed because D’Artagnan is scary for children. It does look suspiciously like Cookie Monster. But ironically enough, the Blue Blob’s biggest claim to fame was getting featured in Playboy Magazine. Well, Xavier tried and apparently succeeded, but probably not in the way they hoped.