JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida celebrated its 2025 homecoming as a tribute to the spirit of the Osprey, featuring the return of its mascot, Ozzie the Osprey, and the unveiling of a new Ozzie caricature.
Missing since Halloween, Ozzie reappeared during the Homecoming men’s basketball game, bursting through pyrotechnics to thunderous cheers from a packed crowd of students, alumni and friends.
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The redesigned Ozzie sported a sleeker, more athletic frame that looked both aggressive and playful, with a vintage collegiate feel. The new look exuded confidence and strength, embodied the Osprey’s fearless energy and symbolized the competitive strength of the North Florida Ospreys’ NCAA Division I programs.
A video posted by the university showed Ozzie in a gym lifting weights and showing off the redesign.
Ozzie became UNF’s official mascot in 1979 and earned his name in a campuswide vote in 1988. The mascot has undergone several transformations since then; officials said the latest version reflects the university’s growth and ambitions.
Homecoming 2025 was moved to the fall for the first time and marked the return of the parade, the first in more than a decade. The streets came alive with the Edward White High School marching band, cheering crowds and decorated vehicles from more than 50 campus and community groups, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacksonville Sharks, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and JEA.
The homecoming tailgate buzzed as fans rallied before the men’s basketball game against New College of Florida, which capped off the week.
Favorite traditions returned, including the crowd-pleasing Battle of the Bands and the Alumni Recognition Awards. The university also launched the Ospreys Serve volunteer initiative, which united students and alumni in service, and a Reunion Milestone Mixer honoring graduates from years ending in “5,” reconnecting generations of Ospreys.