“Temoc,” you say with a mischievous grin, “is the name of the comet that lives on campus, but it’s actually spelled backwards – ‘comet’.” This quirky little ‘comet,’ representing the mascot of UT Dallas, is a beloved emblem on campus.
You’ve likely seen Temoc representing UTD at varsity sport games, on-campus events, and even graduation ceremonies as its mascot. Temoc, the character, was created and officially recognized back in 1998. The official specialty ‘Temoc’ logo was adopted later, in 2017.
Temoc’s name has a history. Back in the 1980s, UT Dallas had a mascot called ‘Blaze’, but things changed when UT Arlington, who also had a mascot by the same name, claimed copyright infringement. In 2002, the Student Government worked quickly to find a new mascot and Temoc was born, the result of a slightly unconventionally back-spelling approach.
Temoc can also be found at community service programs, and if you want to see Temoc at one of your events, send an invitation! Every year there’s competition to try out for the mascot costume, with students selected to “wear the orange and green,” but the identity of those wearing the Temoc suit remains a mystery for most of their term. The only time they wear the mascot face is at graduation in the “Temoc Reveal”. This is for all of the graduates to be able to celebrate with their favorite UTD mascot in an unforgettable way.