You may see them as symbols of their teams and school spirit, but mascots are so much more than that. Each one of them has a personal hardship or an experience that shaped him and made him who he is today. Read their stories, watch their videos and the next time you watch a football game, you will know the real “mascot” behind the mask. And more importantly, vote for the one that inspires you the most. Fans can vote at www.CapitalOneBowl.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MascotChallenge and via text voting. Regular season voting is officially open and continues weekly through November 21, 2011. The top eight mascots with the best head-to-head records will then compete in a bracket-style, single-elimination competition to determine the overall winner.
Wilbur T. Wildcat of University of Arizona. Wilber originally lived his life as a “wild” cat, making an appearance at all of the hottest parties of each decade. But his wild ways changed when he met Wilma. Because of his love for her he settled down and now he spends his time dedicated to Arizona and of course, to Wilma.
Sparty of Michigan State University. Along with his mom and dad, Sparty immigrated from Sparta as a baby 51 years ago. His parents wanted him to work in the family diner, but quickly discovered he was “no good” and “a mess” despite trying him out as a bus boy, a cook and a cashier. But his father did not think all was lost and observed that Sparty was strong like an ox, smart like a bull and had a heart like a gladiator. With that realization, he told his son, “go to the coliseum” and he has been the Michigan State mascot ever since.
Aubie of Auburn University. Aubie is known for his “moves” and it’s no surprise that he has a past that explains his unique abilities. Prior to joining Auburn, Aubie was in the circus, where he met trapeze artist Vladimir the Great. Vladimir became his mentor and to this day, still holds a special place in Aubie’s heart.
Mike the Tiger of Louisiana State University. Mike has a reputation for having amazing intensity so it’s no surprise that conspiracy theories have started about him. Some believe that there is actually a live tiger inside of the mascot suit. And to make matters worse, pictures have surfaced to support this theory. However, with a tight alibi, it seems that those responsible are doing a good cover-up job, so we may never know the truth.
Testudo of the University of Maryland. Testudo was born in a lily pad, but unfortunately turned out to be a very big terrapin in a very small pond. His size, speed and enthusiasm was too much for his friends and family and he never fit in. But he found a bigger pond at Maryland and now all of the turtles back home watch his games on television and wear red and black to support their friend.
Wolfie Jr. of the University of Nevada. Wolfie Jr. was born to cheer and always loved doing it, until he had an accident that forever changed his life. He had a big fall at a game and after that lost his self-confidence and became afraid of heights. Wolfie retreated to look deep within himself and while alone he realized that he would never let his team down again. He quickly returned home to Nevada, where he currently cheers on his wolfpack.
Hairy Dawg of the University of Georgia. Hairy Dawg always had tons of positive energy, but because of his natural scowl, he was often misunderstood. He frightened children and had issues communicating in relationships because his girlfriends never thought he as happy. But one day while a football coach was trying to show his team how to act on the field, he saw Hairy and realized that he was the perfect model of the enthusiasm, meanness and toughness he was trying to teach. That’s when Hairy realized he belonged on the football field, where he naturally fit in and inspired greatness.
Boomer of the University of Oklahoma. Boomer is a celebrity in his own right and has graced the covers of countless magazines. Unlike other mascots, he dedicates a significant time to hair and make-up and always looks his best. His saying is that his is not just a horse, he is a stallion.
Brutus Buckeye of The Ohio State University. Brutus is a nut and a poisonous one at that, but because no one knows that, he has faced many challenges in his life. It was always extremely dangerous for him to go to the park because everyone from squirrels to people would want to eat him. It’s a hard place to live where the whole world is trying to “crack you.” But once Brutus found the Horseshoe at Ohio State, he quickly moved to the top of the food chain and now leads the Buckeyes to victory.
Big Blue of Old Dominion University. Big Blue won the Mascot Challenge in 2010 and this King of the Jungle lived like a champion. He had a posse constantly around him, rode around in a limo and even had his own mascot, Mini Blue. But this lifestyle became too much for him and he retreated to his den. The only person who could pull him out of that place was his mother. She found him, yelled at him and got him back on track. He immediately went into training and worked out “Rocky” style and is now back in shape and ready to defend his crown.
Duck of the University of Oregon. The Duck is deeply conflicted because every fall he must fight biology versus passion. This is the time of the year when his entire family flies south and he must decide whether to join them or stay behind and cheer on his football team. It’s become such a struggle that the Duck is in therapy and regularly discusses the issue with his shrink. But in the end, he always follows his heart and leads his “true flock” to victory.
Benny Beaver of Oregon State University. Benny has had to deal with being a beaver in the epicenter of the fur trade. His life has always been in danger and from the beginning he had to deal with people constantly shooting at him. This taught him a valuable lesson though—how to sprint and hustle. He uses this as a mascot for Oregon State and now his loyal football team makes sure that he is safe and will take out anyone who even thinks of trying to harm Benny.
Buzz of Georgia Tech. Like most wasps, Buzz lives in a cell that is protected and worked on by other yellow jackets. He has a great time in his room until it’s time for him to come out and cheer on Georgia Tech. Buzz is big for a yellow jacket and if you’re not careful, he’ll sting you.
SuperFrog of TCU. SuperFrog’s existence was purely an accident. One day while a scientist was picnicking in the woods, a test tube he was experimenting with fell into the water. Its chemicals impacted SuperFrog and turned him into a super-frog. To this day, the government denies that this ever happened and the military has officially stated “this event never occurred.” Suspiciously, the military person responsible for the cover up was a TCU fan.
Cy of Iowa State. Cy wasn’t originally part of the cheerleading squad, but one day during practice a cheerleader was hurt and they needed a replacement. Cy walked on to help, but was severely criticized at first, especially by squad members who thought he couldn’t dance. But he earned their trust, cultivated relationships and became a part of the squad.
Big Red of Western Kentucky University. Big Red may may be big, red and famous, but after the games have ended and everything is quiet, his focus is on finding someone to cheer for him. Despite his odd appearance, the fact is that he is just a normal guy who happens to be a romantic looking for love. After he started internet dating, he met a girl he immediately clicked with, and now he is able to share all of his gushy romanticism with his true love.
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