Tuffy the Ram facing to the left
Tuffy the Ram facing to the left

ABOUT TUFFY

Tuffy has a rich history that dates back to 1947, when ASU was San Angelo College (SAC) and the name was first given to the university’s live ram mascot. Over the decades, Tuffy became a symbol of pride, loyalty, and the fighting spirit of the ASU community. It wasn’t until 1968, however, that Tuffy’s image truly became ingrained in campus life, adorning everything from merchandise to athletic events. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Tuffy’s cheerful and tenacious likeness could be found everywhere, embodying the heart of the RamFam.

But mysteriously, by the 1990s, Tuffy began to fade from ASU’s merchandise and branding, leaving a gap in the university’s visual identity that sparked curiosity and nostalgia among longtime fans. This is the story of Tuffy—his rise to fame and his unexplained disappearance from the spotlight.

Tuffy's evolution into this fierce and dynamic illustration reflects the growing spirit of Angelo State. The bold blue and gold colors, along with the powerful stance, embody the pride and resilience that have come to define the university’s identity. This anthropomorphic version of Tuffy, wearing a letterman sweater emblazoned with a prominent "A," symbolizes his transition from a simple mascot into a vital figure of school culture.

Tuffy's design strikes a perfect balance between tradition and modernization, retaining the ram’s rugged features while enhancing his appeal as a strong, determined symbol of ASU’s athletic and academic endeavors. This particular depiction of Tuffy represents more than just a visual mascot; it marks the point where he became a fixture in the hearts of the students, faculty, and alumni—a representation of ASU’s fighting spirit that continues to inspire school pride and unity to this day. This image serves as a testament to the power of school symbols and their ability to evolve while retaining their core meaning, linking past generations with the future.