About a year ago Sports Illustrated did a piece on mascots and the result was that the "Billiken" is the most recognized mascot in college sports.
From the St. Univ. website...
What is a Billiken? Unmasking SLU's Cool and Unusual Mascot
Often called one of the coolest or most unusual campus mascots in the country, the Billiken's history -- and how it became affiliated with Saint Louis University-- remains debatable to this day.
Several details seem to be certain. Everyone agrees that the Billiken is a good-luck figure who represents
"things as they ought to be." The designer of the Billiken also seems to be fact. Florence Pretz, a Missouri art teacher and illustrator, patented her "design for an image" of the jovial creature in 1908.
More info here:
http://www.slu.edu/x12519.xml~~~GB~~~