A Nittany Lion is the eastern mountain lion mascot of the athletic teams of the Pennsylvania State University, also known as the Penn State Nittany Lions. The name "Nittany" refers to the local Mount Nittany, which overlooks the university. The Nittany Lion is essentially an ordinary mountain lion, also known as a cougar, puma, or panther, which roamed central Pennsylvania until the 1880s. The idea for the mascot originated in 1904 when Penn State baseball team member Harrison "Joe" Mason fabricated the Nittany Lion in response to Princetons Bengal tiger mascot. The Nittany Lion is one of the oldest mascots in American collegiate athletics, and there has been a Nittany Lion mascot for Penn State athletic events since 1921. The Nittany Lion symbol can be seen all across the Penn State campus and is the most recognizable image associated with the university.