New Bevo, Ill Mike Remind Us How Attached We Are To Mascots

Word about college mascots in Texas and Louisiana this week was a reminder of the strong emotional connection sports fans have with live animal mascots. Mascots like Bevo, Mike, Reveille the collie at Texas A&M, War Eagle at Auburn and countless others have long been part of college football's pageantry. Ricky Brennes, executive director of the sponsoring Silver Spurs Alumni Association, said the first requirement is orange and white coloring. Consider that Bevo XIV, who died of cancer in October, weighed 2,100 pounds and had a horn span of 80 inches from tip to tip. In addition to home football games, Bevo goes to charity events and has been to weddings and funerals. The 49-year tradition of a running Ralphie the buffalo leading the team onto the field before kickoff and after halftime is, as you can imagine, no small undertaking. John Graves, manager of the Ralphie Live Mascot Program, holds tryouts each spring for prospective student handlers. Cam lives outside Fort Collins on a small farm owned by Kraig Peel, an associate professor in animal sciences who is in charge of about a dozen student handlers. On game days, Cam runs across the end zone with his handlers when the Rams score a touchdown. Cam lives indoors in a deluxe horse stall and eats high-quality alfalfa and grain.

 

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