Unlike Monty Montezuma, who represented an Aztec emperor, the new mascot is meant to represent a rank-and-file warrior. Although the two costumes are similar, Monty had a larger headdress and ...

The costume is really authentic to Aztec History and lore. I think they do a fantastic job,” said Thomas Sholan, a recent SDSU graduate and a proud member of the Show, SDSU’s fanatic fan section.

San Diego State University’s Aztec Warrior is no longer a mascot. It’s a “spirit leader” … whatever that is. After months of deliberation and years of debate on campus and off, SDSU ...

Proving that it is difficult to keep a venerable mascot down, the Aztec Warrior has emerged as the unofficial replacement for Monty Montezuma, who was banished from San Diego State athletic contests.

"The individual you reference, the Aztec Warrior, is the university's spirit leader," Fraser told NBC 7. A timeline for the transition to the new mascot is not yet set.

“The Aztec Warrior, similarly a source of pride for the collective majority, will be retained, but as Spirit Leader, not mascot,” said SDSU President Sally Roush.

Because the Aztec eagle warrior is common in Mexican culture — and as the logo of the airline Aeromexico — Ramirez says he was aiming to put his own spin on the image.