ESPN: The Secret Life of Live Mascots

[L Buff]

Six of 'em ... but Cam didn't make the cut.

Since 1892, when a Yale student showed up at a sporting event with his pet bulldog, Handsome Dan, collegiate sidelines have been like Disney's Animal Kingdom, crawling with critters big and small, chosen to represent their school's very literal spirit animal. In the days before such acts became (thankfully) more regulated, football teams shared the field with actual bears and cougars, led around loosely with little more than leashes of rope.

"When I played at Houston, ol' Shasta the cougar, he'd be right there on the sideline with a rope around his neck, looking very unhappy about it," James Mayfield, father of Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and himself a former Houston backup QB, recalled over the summer, sounding like Ricky Bobby not wanting to get in his father's race car. "Thank goodness someone eventually said, 'Hey, you know, this feels like a bad idea, doesn't it?'"

Indeed it was, as many schools spent the 1960s and '70s swapping out real animals for students in suits. But the truly iconic beasts of football burden are still on the job every Saturday, from Smokey the bluetick coonhound at Tennessee to Tusk the razorback at Arkansas to Traveler IX, the Arabian horse who leads USC into the Coliseum.

They perform in front of rock star crowds and as a result enjoy the posh perks of living in the spotlight. Don't believe us? Here's a look at the secret life of six of collegiate athletics' archetypal animals.

 

[goalline]

If you've never been to an air force game, the falcon show at halftime is pretty cool. I highly recommend taking in a game just for that and the other military perks, like flyovers and skydivers.

 

[L Buff]

If you've never been to an air force game, the falcon show at halftime is pretty cool. I highly recommend taking in a game just for that and the other military perks, like flyovers and skydivers.

Went to the Army @ Air Force game a few years ago, and the Flight of the Falcon was allsome.

Not as allsome as the Ralphie Run of course ... but allsome nonetheless.

 

[hokiehead]

If you've never been to an air force game, the falcon show at halftime is pretty cool. I highly recommend taking in a game just for that and the other military perks, like flyovers and skydivers.

I went to the UNLV/AFA game this year and was looking forward to the halftime show. unfortunately, the falcon wasn't feeling cooperative and took off out of the stadium as soon as released and we never saw him again.

 

[MtnBuff]

I went to the UNLV/AFA game this year and was looking forward to the halftime show. unfortunately, the falcon wasn't feeling cooperative and took off out of the stadium as soon as released and we never saw him again.

They do that sometimes. They do almost always come back but it doesn't help the show any.

 

[aghcsm]

When the Buffalo’s QB left home to go to college, what did his dad say to him?

“Bye son”

(I confess, stole this from another website.)

 

[DBT]

When the Buffalo’s QB left home to go to college, what did his dad say to him?

“Bye son”

(I confess, stole this from another website.)

Might want to give it back.

 

[buff4bcs1985]

When the Buffalo’s QB left home to go to college, what did his dad say to him?

“Bye son”

(I confess, stole this from another website.)

Ban?

 

[BuffUp]

Live mascots is what makes college football College Football. Personally I have seen Ralphie (CU), Bevo (UT), Shasta (UH), Reveille (aTm), Tusk (Ark). I think it's Allsome when the schools devote time, $, and energy into these Mascots. The students that care for and take some to class with them is really cool for them.
nfl suks - College Football rules!