Lynn University Reveals New Fighting Knights Mascot

Lynn University today revealed Lance, the new mascot for its Fighting Knights athletics program. Lance will make his debut Saturday, Jan. 24, from 10 a.m. –12 p.m. during the university’s eighth annual Family Fun Day.

“Lance embodies the spirit and strength of our athletics program,” says Athletics Director Kristen Migliano. “We wanted an engaging mascot who will champion our champions. Lance is strong visually and physically and his spirit is loyal, honorable and fun. We are looking forward to his first performance on Feb. 4, at our men’s and women’s basketball double header at home against the University of Tampa.”

A committee comprised of student athletes, coaches, students and staff designed the new mascot. His name was selected through a community-wide grassroots and social media campaign over the past several months.

According to Olympus Group, who partnered with Lynn to develop the costume, Lance represents a new trend in mascot design. More universities are moving toward super-hero characters, thanks in part to the recent success of movies like Iron Man.

“The Lynn Knight redesign is illustrative of the current trend and the ‘hero/warrior’ genre in general,” says Lisa Fricker, Olympus mascot shop supervisor. “The body is closer to human scale and proportion, but includes exaggerated musculature representing super-human strength. The new design embodies the progressive and dynamic aspects of the university while keeping the feeling of strength and tradition.”

The new costume is designed for optimal entertainment and functionality. From a helmet that contains a fan to keep the performer cool during the grueling heat of South Florida summer matches, to the high-performance body suit and light-weight materials that ensure flexibility, to its realistic but extremely light-weight shield, sword and flag props.

The university selected students to play the role of Lance. The identities of the anonymous performers will be unveiled at commencement ceremonies when the students graduate.

Lynn’s former mascot, Big LU, was laid to rest in Bobby Campbell Stadium—also known as “the graveyard”—during the Lynn Knight Madness basketball event last October.