The Lion Mascot for Trenton State College

by Earl H. Dean, (Former) Director of Athletics

This article is presented here unedited from its original form. It was initially published in the Seal.

During a nice spring day in 128, after dismissing a physical education class and going into the Normal School building in Trenton, I was approached by three men, one of who was Frank Donlon, and asked to name a mascot for the Normal School (the forerunner of Trenton State).

Thinking of two schools that had recently selected mascots, I declined, but directed that some incident should be observed that could result in a mascot, thereby having the name become an integral part of the Normal School.

I do not remember the day, the score of the game, or the opponent, but I do remember the year and some conditions of that game. It was a basketball game played at the Normal School in Trenton, during the winter of 1928-29. We (State) left the court at half time behind in the score. I do not remember what I said. But I did tell the men they were going through the motions something like kittens at play. They were wearing our old gold uniforms similar in color to that of a lion. I said "Get out there, act like a lion, and win the game!" Someone growled, the whole squad growled. The squad rushed out the door, the team played like lions and won the game.

Mickey Lake, brother-in-law of Frank Donlon, was a sports writer for the Trenton Times. Sports articles about the Normal School that appeared in the Trenton Times were written by Frank Donlon. The next day after this game, an article appeared in the Trenton Sunday-Times Advertiser with a headline--Lions (score), Opponents (score). This was followed by a brief article about the game. Frank Donlon had observed an incident. Frank Donlon first named Trenton State the Lions. There were many years following this that Lion was only occasionally used. The editor of the 1934 yearbook, Joe Satalof, put the embossed head of a lion on the cover of the Seal.

That established the Lion as the mascot for State. Yet for many years following this, the name still only occasionally used. It was not until Roy Van Ness, an alumnus and presently director of athletics, used the name frequently, that Lion became a vital part of the TSC athletic picture.

The Lion is definitely a product of Trenton State. It was first used by a student, Frank Donlon. It was established by the editor of the 1934 Seal, Joe Satalof. It was been put into frequent use by an alumnus and director of athletics, Roy Van Ness. The Lion roars in victory. May the Lion roar!

In honor the Sesquicentennial, our Lion was renamed Roscoe in a special "Name The Lion" contest. Roscoe has become a Sesquicentennial trademark throughout the entire celebration and will continue to "roar" as TCNJ moves into the future.