She was the first, and only female in the chain of “Handsome Dan” mascots at Yale University, and it came when the school recognized the admission of women in 1969.  Two year old “Bingo Osterweis”belonged to Professor of History and Oratory, Rollin G. Osterweis, and his family, and at that age, she was already “pugnacious and stubborn, but lovable.”  Qualities that served her in her role as, “Handsome Dan XII.”

“Bingo” was descended from champions, and under AKC regulations, she was the only registered Bulldog in the country bearing the name “Bingo.” Three of her 8 great-grandparents were champions. Gossip suggested that Bingo’s gender was an issue with some.  Yale’s Director of Athletics at the time preferred to have two bulldogs – one of each sex. He was quoted as saying, “We’re still looking for a male dog, because it’s very hard to call a female ‘Handsome Dan.’ She’s a mascot, but she’s also a female and she should have her own name.”

In 1979, a group of four Princeton students kidnapped Bingo. They posed as Yale cheerleaders and approached Bingo’s owner to ask if they could borrow her to take pictures in a football program.  Convinced that they were who they said they were, Professor Osterweis handed her over to her kidnappers, along with a leash and some dog biscuits. She was eventually returned at halftime of the big game, but not without a few adventures. Read about them here.