Those awards include the Drake Spirit Award, the Rescue Dog Recognition Award and the Porterhouse People's Choice Award. More: 'March Madness needs Griff': Drake basketball fans want NCAA live ...

The Drake basketball head coach – officially introduced during a press conference on Monday – paid attention to the Bulldogs’ success from four-and-a-half hours away at South Dakota State.

Since 1979, Drake has bestowed the title "Most Beautiful Bulldog" to nearly 50 dogs. Last year, Pumpkin, a bulldog from Oakland, Iowa, won the university's 45th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest.