Today’s cardinal-and-white-clad Bucky — full name Buckingham U. Badger — has come a long way from the first Badgers mascot, a live badger who made occasional appearances at football games.

"Giraffiti flew with me on my one and only flight to the International Space Station," said Wiseman, holding up a plush toy giraffe. "He still has a little bit of stitching on his neck so that he ...