SEATTLE — It's a tradition running more than 100 years.
The University of Washington's live mascot has become a huge part of all athletics events.
The "Top Dawg" is known to be a crowd favorite and the current pooch — Dubs II — is no exception.
The name "Dubs" was chosen in 2008 as the new traditional name that each live mascot will go by. Husky Nation helped select the honorable name after rounds of voting.
Dubs II turned 6 years old on Jan. 4.
His birthday came just days after a huge Sugar Bowl win and his training team hopes there is a post birthday national championship still to come.
Dubs II traveled to the Sugar Bowl and he will be in Houston for the big game on Monday.
"The only other travel [for Dubs] was the Rose Bowl back in 2019 and he wasn't even a year old yet," said Dubs program coordinator and head trainer Anne-Lise Knight. "He turned a year old like a day or two when we got back. He handled that like a champ so we knew going into this one, he was a seasoned pro."
Knight told KING 5 that the crew's main focus is to set up Dubs II for success.
"We're going into all of these pretty chaotic environments and the animals are going to feed off what we're doing. how can we make sure he is picking up all of the good energy from us...that we are confident," Knight said. "We need to make sure he has that space and truly not be stressed. He can do his best."
He has a busy schedule, but you can try to keep up with him on social media.
Dubs II has an entire team of student trainers who are proud to be part of the tradition. A few of them traveled to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl and others will accompany him with Knight to Houston.
Knight said she has a special connection to this season. Knight is a proud UW alumna. The team has been undefeated during her pregnancy thus far. Plus, she was born in the year of the 1991 national title team.
About 90 people applied to care for Dubs II before he was even born. When he's not working the crowds - his home is with the proud UW alum family, the Knudson family, Brent, Davina, Jack, and Maggie.
Current Dubs Student handlers:
Ryan Fournier
Bryn Ament
Elena Vega de Soto
Grace Martin
Jillian Holbrook
Kyanna Johnson
Lily Witter
UW Mascot History:
Frosty I - 1922-30
Frosty II - 1930-36
Wasky - 1946-47
Wasky II - 1947-53
Ski - 1954-57
Denali - 1958
King Chinook - 1959-68
Regent Denali - 1969-80
Sundodger Denali - 1981-92
King Redoubt - 1992-98
Prince Redoubt - 1998
Spirit - 1999-2008
Dubs I - 2009-2018
Dubs II - 2019 - present