Always a Billiken: Inside SLU Athletics

In part one of this episode of 1818: A Saint Louis Alumni Podcast,  Meg Connolly (A&S ‘90, GRAD  A&S ‘92) talks with SLU alumna and associate vice president of brand management, Laura Geiser (A&S ‘90, GRAD A&S ‘92), on the origins of one of the most iconic and unusual aspects of SLU’s sporting history: the Billiken. From the origins of “the god of things as they ought to be” as a turn of the 20th-century Labubu to the best ways for a Billiken to bring you good luck, Geiser shares the history and symbolism behind SLU’s iconic mascot.Then Meg and co-host Tony Minor (A&S ‘03) welcome Janet Oberle, Ph.D., (GRAD '99, GRAD ED '18) Saint Louis University’s deputy director of athletics and two-time alum, and former men’s basketball standout Jordair Jett (A&S ‘14) for a roundtable on Billiken Athletics.From playing on SLU’s first Division I women’s soccer team to witnessing NCAA tournament milestones and the program’s steady climb, Oberle hits on the highlights of Billiken athletics, including the strong connections between student-athletes and the University for years after graduation. Then relive SLU’s legendary NCAA comeback over NC State and the heartbreak against Michigan State with Jett, who also shares what it meant to be the first in his family to attend college and tells us about a new arrival who will carry on the name “Jordair.”Then, as always, Tony shares a valuable alumni perk you can enjoy year-round while on campus: access to Simon Recreation Center and Pius Memorial Library. Learn more about how to enjoy these benefits.Want to learn more about today’s topics?Explore SLU’s resources that help explain the Billiken, including a page dedicated to the topic on slu.edu and a 2019 article about the legends and lore around the mascot.Stay on top of all things Billiken athletics on its website, or tune into another SLU podcast, hosted by Saint Louis University Director of Athletics Chris May, From the Stands.