Freddie and Frieda Falcon can trace their lineage at Bowling Green State University back to the 1920's.
On October 28th, 1927, the university officially changed its mascot from the “Normals” to the “Falcons”. The selection was meant to represent the university’s teaching staff - which, like the falcon, was considered small in size but also very strong.
A group put together by the university’s first president, Dr. Homer B. William, selected orange and brown to be the school colors. One of the group's members, a Dr. Leon Winslow, suggested the colors after he had spotted a woman on a trolley in Toledo wearing a fancy top hat with orange and brown feathers. He liked the colors and so recommended them.
It was on January 16th, 1950 at the Bowling Green vs. Ohio University men’s basketball game that a life-size character of Freddie Falcon made its debut. Members of the Fraternity Alpha Phi Omega came up with the idea as a way to raise school spirit on campus. The first person to wear what then was a paper-mache head was Bob Taylor. Along with Freddie’s head Taylor also wore a sweat suit.
Mrs. Freddie Falcon, also known as Frieda, was introduced on February 26th, 1966. 14 years later though, she was renamed as Freddie’s younger sister. At first Frieda was portrayed a male cheerleader, but in 1980 Sue Sheard became the first female to play Frieda.
Each year, twenty to forty students apply to be Freddie and Frieda. The qualifications are extensive: students must obtain a 2.5 GPA, be a full time student, and generally the student is heavily involved in other campus activities. Four students, two male and two female, are ultimately selected in the competition to be Freddie and Frieda for the year.
