and temperament. His football record is 3–1 against Harvard and 24-7 overall through the 2019 season. The new keeper of the mascot, called Walter at home, is Kevin Discepolo (Yale ’09), a former lacrosse player who is now Yale’s assistant athletic director of facilities, operations and events. On 5 November 2020, it was announced that Handsome Dan XVIII would retire in early spring 2021 following the October departure of Discepolo, though it is not currently known whether there is a causal link. At the time of his formal retirement, Handsome Dan XIX is expected to be announced. Handsome Dan XIX Active 2021–present. Handsome Dan XIX was announced as mascot on March 18, 2021. He was born January 2, 2021, and is a nephew of his predecessor Handsome Dan XVIII. Like his predecessor he is an Olde English Bulldogge aka Victorian Bulldog produced by Jessica and Pete Seiders of Wicked Good Bulldogges from Maine. In addition to being known as Handsome Dan, he was named "Kingman" by his handler, Kassandra “Kassie” Haro, after the late Yale president of the same name. Influence on popular culture The Shake Shack location in New Haven, Connecticut, features a menu item named after Handsome Dan, called the Handsome Dog. The Handsome Dog, which features beer-marinated deep-fried onions and two kinds of cheese, debuted at the New Haven location but can now be found at all other Shake Shack locations, albeit as the Dapper Dog. The TV series Gilmore Girls, which is set in Connecticut, makes several references to the Handsome Dan Statue. In the TV series Gossip Girl, Blair Waldorf is given a bulldog by her father in season 2, episode 16. The bulldog is named Handsome Dan in honor of Blair's aspirations to attend Yale following high school. Blair shortens his name to "Handsome". Blair's scheming results in her losing her acceptance to Yale, and she gives the bulldog away to a homeless man. See also List of individual dogs References External links A page of bulldog mascot logos, including Yale's (currently inoperate) Yale's mascot homepage 1889 animal births 1898 animal deaths 1937 animal deaths 1938 animal deaths 1940 animal deaths 1947 animal deaths 1947 animal births 1949 animal deaths 1946 animal births 1952 animal deaths 1953 animal births 1959 animal deaths 1971 animal deaths 1974 animal deaths 1984 animal deaths 1983 animal births 1997 animal deaths 1996 animal deaths 2005 animal deaths 2016