The Bear

Technology Bear (T-Bear, Teebs) is the ferocious, semi-retired mascot of the men's cross country team.

Early Life

Born in 1974 as a raffle prize won by a WXC freshman, T-Bear quickly became an integral part of the men's xc program.

Golden Age & Traditions

For decades, Teebs would be thrown prior to each race after chants of "bear...Bear...BEAR..." and then caught, bringing fortune for all. After the bear was stollen by MIT and eventually reclaimed (with a giant T across its chest), the bear became known as T-Bear, and a tradition started where other teams would enact cunning schemes to steal the bear. Famous examples include two Amherst runners pretending to be recruits visiting campus and then stealing the bear, as well as Bates once stealing it and burying it in the Maine forest and providing WXC with the coordinates.

Retirement and New Role

In 2023, new head coach Dusty Lopez '01, after years of increasingly-violent bear thefts (eg. the Mitch Morris '19 incident), T-Bear was given E-Bear-itus status. He remains a key part of WXC tradition, but makes raceday appearances only on the rarest occasions.

The Bear Curse

Interestingly enough, during the two years in which Men's XC have won nationals, 1994 and 1995, the bear was not present, having been stolen by St. Olaf (?) of Minnesota and not returning until 1996. During that time, Pete Farwell's replacement bear, of a tiny red variety, stood in for Teebs. Curious.