Rameses, Ram mascot at University of North Carolina, United States
Rameses is the University of North Carolina's mascot character, appearing in two forms: a student in a ram costume and a live Dorset Horn sheep with Carolina blue horns. Both versions represent the school at events throughout the Chapel Hill area.
The first ram mascot was purchased in 1924 by cheerleader Vic Huggins, following a football player nicknamed 'Battering Ram' who had made an impression on the student body. This connection to a football player established the ram as an enduring symbol for the school.
The costumed version appears alongside the university's marching band and leads basketball teams through the tunnel before games at Chapel Hill. This regular presence at major sporting events makes the character a visible symbol of school pride.
The mascot appears at sporting events, charity functions, and hospital visits, so availability varies depending on the schedule. It helps to check game days and university event calendars ahead of time if you want to see it.
A local Chapel Hill family has cared for the live ram mascot across multiple generations, maintaining hands-on responsibility for its wellbeing. This family stewardship sets the mascot apart from typical commercial mascot operations.
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