Heritage and Heart: The Evolution of T-Bone

_{Special thanks to Ellen Sowchek, University Archivist at Pace University, for providing historical context, photographs, and invaluable research support.}

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You’ve seen him at Commencement, cheering courtside—maybe even popping up in a selfie or two. T-Bone, Pace University’s ever-loyal Irish Setter mascot, is as much a part of our university milestones as the Setters name itself.

But what some alumni may not know is just how deep the Setter legacy runs. In April 1949, “Setters” was chosen as the name for our athletic teams through a student contest—fitting, given Pace students’ reputation for setting the pace in everything they do. The winning prize? Two tickets to Death of a Salesman, then just making waves on Broadway.

The idea of the Setter—graceful, intelligent, energetic—took root quickly. In the decades that followed, real Irish Setters began appearing on the sidelines, unofficially standing in as mascots. One of the earliest was owned by Dr. Edward Mortola, the third president of Pace University, who served from 1960 to 1984. While the dog’s name has largely been lost to history, Mortola’s late wife, Doris, believed the Setter was named Red. His presence is documented and remembered as an early embodiment of the school’s spirit.

Eventually, that spirit leapt off the leash and into costume. A series of mascot suits followed, each one evolving in shape, swagger, and Setter style. From scrappy first attempts to the high-energy, red-furred T-Bone of today, the mascot has always embodied what it means to be Pace Proud.

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T-Bone officially made his debut on Pace’s New York City Campus in 2013, where he quickly adapted to city life by appearing not at athletics events but at student-centered activities such as Fall Fest, Homecoming, Orientation, and Commencement—a tradition that continues today.

Pace University’s first official mascot leaves behind an everlasting legacy.

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The current T-Bone costume—first introduced in 2012—is still in use. Made up of six costume pieces and topped with a 30-pound carved foam head, it is a physically demanding ensemble. The costume is hot, has limited visibility, and requires full-body expression rather than speech. For this reason, T-Bone is typically accompanied by a handler—a student or staff member who guides the mascot around campus, acts as their eyes and ears, and helps them stay cool (in every sense of the word).

In fact, the complexity and dedication behind the costume were documented in the 2013 issue of The Legend yearbook, which featured a behind-the-scenes profile of the Setter. The yearbook staff wrote: “Pace University’s first official mascot leaves behind an everlasting legacy. The Setter is a direct representation of Pace University. Therefore, by actively engaging in school events and bringing students together, the Setter is not only creating relationships with the students but allowing for students to have a closer relationship with Pace University.”

Indeed, T-Bone is more than just a mascot—he is a symbol of school spirit, community, and continuity. Though the concept of a mascot at Pace has evolved over the decades, one truth remains: Setters always set the pace.

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And his fandom? It has gone national.

Enter Tom Nipper of Omaha, Nebraska, and his rescue Irish Setter, Finnegan. Tom is not much of a sports fan, nor is he a Pace alumnus—but when he discovered our mascot was an Irish Setter like Finnegan, he picked his team. “If Finnegan could talk,” Tom wrote us, “he’d say, ‘Go Pace Setters!’” The pair tuned in to football and basketball games last year, cheering from the Midwest and proudly flying their own Pace pride.

T-Bone may be a New Yorker, but his legacy belongs to everyone who has ever waved a foam paw in the stands, posed for a photo at Homecoming, or brought the Pace spirit to life from inside the suit.

Got a T-Bone memory—or once wore the Setter costume yourself? We want to hear from you. Email us at universityrelations@pace.edu.