“We feel particularly blessed because our mascot is so unique,” Pestello told the Post-Dispatch Tuesday. “(Students) pushed for a Billiken that was a little more contemporary. More aggressive looking, but still smiling and giving that knowing wink.”

In a tweet to Pestello, St. Louis Magazine writer Joe Bonwich joked that “at least 1 of original Exorcists is still alive and might even live on campus,” making reference to the new mascot’s looking demonic.

Pestello responded: “You haven’t heard? @The_Billiken is in the next season of Stranger Things,” referring to the popular science fiction show produced by Netflix.

That is one of several exchanges that Pestello, who has boosted his Twitter game as of late, joked with Wednesday.

SLU’s relationships with its mascot has long been a bit of an oddity. In a world of tigers, bulldogs and lions, the school remains the only institution with a Billiken.