Backgrounder

Backgrounder
Capital One kicked off a new college tradition in 2002 with the Capital One All-America Mascot Team,
elevating twelve hard-driving, ambitious, oddly proportioned mascots to the pinnacle of
All-American. College mascots are no longer relegated to toiling in the background unappreciated.
Gone are the days of working their feathers, fur and tails to the bone in the shadow of flashy
All-American quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. At last, these unsung heroes of the
college gridiron have their own national stage – their own place in the sun.
In a quest to honor these unsung heroes, each year the company sends out a call for nominations to
all of the nation’s Division IA and IAA athletic programs with college football teams. From a list of
contenders, a panel of mascot aficionados chooses 12 talented mascots to be members of the
Capital One All-America Mascot Team. Judging is based on how well the mascots interact with fans,
good sportsmanship and community service.
Being named an All-American comes with its fair share of perks – the photo shoots, a national
advertising campaign, the parties, the mascot groupies and star power. Plus, each member of the
mascot team receives $5,000 for its school’s mascot program.
But being named an All-American is only the beginning. The 12 mascots are then embroiled
in a fierce battle to claim the most coveted title in all the mascot land – Capital One
National Mascot of the Year. Beginning in the fall, fans can vote for their favorite of the
12 at www.capitalonebowl.com. This online (“popular”) vote is combined with a judges’ ranking
(50/50) to determine the winner. Historically, the colleges and universities have pulled out all the
stops to drive fans to vote for their mascot. We’ve seen Jumbotron tributes, letters from state
senators, billboards, television and newspaper ads and e-mails from eager alumni and college
staffs enticing millions of loyal fans to go online and vote for their favorite lovable, wild and
wacky character.
But alas, each year only one mascot can reign supreme. The University of Montana’s “Monte the
Grizzly” claimed the title in 2002 and “Cocky” from the University of South Carolina got bragging
rights in 2003.
Glory awaits whichever mascot is named the 2004 Capital One National Mascot of the Year—
who’s the best of the best? Find out during the Capital One Bowl on January 1, 2005.
Capital One All-America
Mascot Team 2004
Meet the Team
They’re brash. They’re feisty. One’s even
a bit cocky, and another’s a real “rebel.”
This year’s Capital One All-America Mascot
Team represents colleges and universities
from coast to coast. While these mascots
come in all shapes and sizes – two dogs,
two cats, three birds, a turtle, a bear, a
rebel, a gopher and one big red blob –
they all have one thing in common. They
really know how to put the “pep” into
any pep rally.
The Team (in alpha order by school):
★ The Bird – Air Force Academy
2004 All-America Mascot Team
How They Were Chosen
The 2004 Capital One All-America Mascot Team was open to all
NCAA Division IA & IAA college mascots who were mascots during
the period from Sept. 1, 2003 through June 1, 2004. Nomination
kits were mailed to each athletic department with football programs
in March 2004, and were due by 5 p.m. EDT, Friday, June 4, 2004.
★ Aubie – Auburn University
On June 10, 2004, behind closed doors in a highly-secured board-
★ Hairy Dawg – University of Georgia
room, a panel of skilled mascot judges—including mascot guru and
★ Duke Dog – James Madison University
historian, Dr. Roy Yarbrough; former college mascot and current
★ Scratch – University of Kentucky
sports marketer Scott Schricker; and representatives from ESPN and
Capital One—carefully analyzed each contender and scored them
★ Testudo – University of Maryland
based on the following criteria:
★ Goldy – University of Minnesota
★ Interaction with fans and demonstration of the mascot’s
★ Monte – University of Montana
★ Cocky – University of South Carolina
★ Hey Reb – Univ. of Nevada Las Vegas
★ The Hokie Bird – Virginia Tech
★ Big Red – Western Kentucky University
originality, ability to create enthusiasm among the fans and
contribution to an exhilarating atmosphere. (0-50 points)
★ Originality, creativity and professionalism of the mascot’s
appearance/costume. (0-20 points)
★ Demonstration of good sportsmanship. (0-15 points)
★ Involvement in community service. (0-15 points)
At the end of the day, the top 12 mascots with the most points were
selected to the team.
Timeline
★ March 30, 2004
Nomination kits sent to
Division IA and IAA schools
★ June 4, 2004
Nomination kits due back to
Capital One
★ June 10, 2004
Judging for the Capital One
All-America Mascot Team
★ June 14 - 18, 2004
Notification to the 12 winning
schools
★ August 11-13, 2004
Mascot advertising shoot
★ TBD
Official announcement of the
Capital One All-America Mascot Team
★ October 11, 2004
Race for Capital One National Mascot
of the Year begins (Online voting poll
opens at capitalonebowl.com)
★ December 26, 2004
Online voting ends
Press Contacts
Pam Girardo
703.720.2351
pam.girardo@capitalone.com
★ January 1, 2005
Announcement of the Capital One
National Mascot of the Year during
the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
Mandy O'Donnell
212.468.3648
mandy.o'donnell@mslpr.com
Mascot of the Year
Some people think that recognition as a member of the Capital One All-America Mascot Team is the
highest in the land. But that’s not the case. From day one of being named to this prestigious team,
the 12 All-America Mascots will be embroiled in a fierce battle to claim the most coveted mascot
title – Capital One National Mascot of the Year.
Just ask Monte from the University of Montana or Cocky from the University of South Carolina, our
previous winners. They will tell you (in truth, they can’t talk) that it takes a lot of hard work and a
lot more than the “bear” necessities to win the crown and have something to crow about.
Glory awaits whichever mascot is named the 2004 Capital One National Mascot of the Year.
Who’s the best of the best? Find out during the Capital One Bowl on January 1, 2005.
Eligible Mascots
To earn the title 2004 National Mascot of the Year, mascots must have been named to the
2004 Capital One All-America Mascot Team.
Capital One National Mascot of the Year Selection
This year’s race for Capital One National Mascot of the Year will begin October 11, 2004, when fans across
the country will be able to log onto www.capitalonebowl.com to vote for their favorite mascots among the
12 All-Americans. Voting will consist of eleven (11) weekly match-ups between mascots. Voters will need to
cast six (6) votes total each week to select the winning mascot of each match-up. Visitors may vote once per
day on www.capitalonebowl.com. The real-time poll closes on December 26, 2004. However, unlike your
senior prom king and queen, this contest will not be based solely on popularity. The Capital One
National Mascot of the Year will be selected based upon the cumulative total number of points
received from the panel of judges and the online voting results. The mascot with the most points
will become this year’s Capital One National Mascot of the year on Jan. 1, 2005, during the Capital One
Bowl game in Orlando, Fla., and will receive an additional $5,000 scholarship to help fund its school’s
mascot program.
2003 Capital One
National Mascot of the Year
University of South Carolina’s Cocky
How it Works
★ Judges’ Ranking (50%): Each mascot is assigned a point value based
on the judges' scoring. The top mascot based on the judges' cumulative
scores receives 12 points, the next highest receives 11 points
and so on through 12th place which receives one point.
★ Popular Vote (50%): Mascots also will be ranked one
through 12 based on the total number of online votes
they receive during the voting period. The mascot receiving
the most votes earns 12 points, the next highest receives
11 points and so on through 12th place which receives one point.
2002 Capital One
National Mascot of the Year
University of Montana’s Monte
Inaugural (2002) Capital One All-America Mascot Team
Front: Smokey (Univ. of Tennessee). Standing left to right: Otto (Syracuse University), The Bird
(U.S. Air Force Academy), Monte (Univ. of Montana), Sebastian (Univ. of Miami), Nittany Lion
(Penn State), Buzz (Georgia Tech), Big Al (Univ. of Alabama), Albert (Univ. of Florida), Big Red
(Western Kentucky University), Victor E. Bull (Univ. at Buffalo), Seymour (Univ. of Southern
Mississippi).
2003 Capital One All-American Mascot Team
Kneeling or sitting left to right: Aubie (Auburn University), Monte (Univ. of Montana),
Smokey (Univ. of Tennessee), YoUDee (Univ. of Delaware), Albert (Univ. of Florida),
Harry the Husky (Univ. of Washington). Standing left to right: Cocky (Univ. of South
Carolina), Big Red (Western Kentucky University), Scratch (Univ. of Kentucky), Brutus Buckeye
(Ohio State University), Hairy Dawg (Univ. of Georgia), Chip (Univ. of Colorado).
Fun Facts
mas·cot - ('mas-"kät) noun: 1. symbol of good luck 2. a person, animal or thing that is believed to bring
good luck, usually one that becomes the symbol of a particular group, especially a team (Date: 1881)
What would college athletics be like without our beloved mascots? They entertain us, energize us and
put the “pep” in Pep Rally. Even if the home team is losing to the archrival, the roar, hiss, or flap of our
beloved mascot lives on.
So whether they’re fighting mad like the Irish of Notre Dame, stubborn as a Mule from Central Missouri
State, mean as a Rattler from Florida A&M or just plain Cocky from South Carolina, mascots play a
crucial role in college athletics.
Here are some fun facts about those wild and zany college mascots...
In the Beginning …
The first college mascots appeared at sporting events in the late 1800s. Yale University claims to be the
first school to adopt a mascot – Handsome Dan the Bulldog. The Elis were 125-6 with Handsome Dan I
on the sidelines. He was rewarded by being stuffed and preserved behind glass in the trophy room of
Yale’s gymnasium. Sources: http://www.yale.edu and The Times-Picayune (Oct. 2, 1999).
It’s a Jungle Out There
Contrary to today’s “human” mascots in costumes, the first mascots were live animals. The majority of
colleges and universities soon abandoned this way of “mascotting” because of the high costs associated
with caring for the animals. Source: http://www.gameops.com
He Ain’t Heavy … That’s Just His Costume
Mascot costumes can weigh up to 25 – 30 pounds, although the average weight is approximately
10 – 15 pounds. Source: http://www.gameops.com
Never Let ‘Em See You Sweat
The golden rule: never remove the head in public. Source: http://www.gameops.com
The Eagle Has Landed
The Eagle is the most common college mascot. Rounding out the top 10 are (No. 2) Tigers, (No. 3)
Bulldogs, (No. 4) Knights, (No. 5) Panthers, (No. 6-tie) Bears, (No. 6-tie) Crusaders, (No. 8-tie) Lions,
(No. 8-tie) Warriors and (No. 10-tie) Pioneers, (No. 10-tie) Saints. Source: “Mascots, The History of Senior
College and University Mascots/Nicknames," by Dr. Roy E. Yarbrough.
More Fun Facts
The Fighting … Oh Never Mind
Several colleges have no mascot at all – Barnard College, Dartmouth College, Hollins College, Stanford,
Walla Walla College, Agnus Scott College and Wellesley College. Source: “Mascots, The History of Senior
College and University Mascots/Nicknames," by Dr. Roy E. Yarbrough.
A Family Affair
If college mascots wanted to have a family reunion, they could probably do it in Mascot, Va., just
130 miles from Capital One’s headquarters in McLean, Va.
His Date Was A “Real” Dog!
Did you know that UGA III from the University of Georgia became the first college mascot to attend a
Heisman Trophy Banquet? He accompanied Herschel Walker during his 1982 Heisman win.
Source: http://georgiadogs.ocsn.com/traditions/ugas.shtml
A Work of Fiction
In the 1994 film “Pulp Fiction,” John Travolta’s character (Vincent Vega) wore a University of California
Santa Cruz T-shirt with the infamous Banana Slug mascot emblazoned on the front. Director Quentin
Tarantino frequented the Santa Cruz area some years back when his girlfriend was a student at the
campus. He specifically requested the student-designed Slug shirt be used in the film. Source:
http://www.slugweb.com
Does That Come With Fries?
The Longhorn mascot made his debut at the University of Texas in 1916, but it was a short career for the
first steer. Aggies from archrival Texas A&M branded the numbers 13-0 on the steer, signifying the score
of the previous year's upset win. The branded steer's next public appearance was in the form of steak
served during a Texas-Texas A&M dinner to honor the 1920 Texas team, which upset Texas A&M, 7-3, to
win the Southwest Conference championship. The portion that bore the shameful brand was served to
the Aggies, and the other half went to Texas. Source: http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com
Flap Happy
St. Joseph’s University is well known across the country for its unique mascot requirements.
The Hawk must flap his “wings” every moment that the mascot head is on. This not only
includes sporting events, but other appearances from festivals to wedding receptions.
While St. Joe’s doesn’t have a football team, it still has a pretty cool mascot.
Source: http://www.sjuhawks.com/basketball/men/bios/hawk.htm
Independent Women
Thirty-three colleges and universities have made the distinction between men’s
and women’s athletic teams by giving them different mascots, but no school has
done so as succinctly as Centenary College, in Shreveport, La. The men’s teams are
called the Gentlemen and the women’s teams are referred to as … what else …
the Ladies. Source: "Mascots, The History of Senior College and University Mascots/
Nicknames," by Dr. Roy E. Yarbrough.
More Fun Facts
Crouching Tiger … Hidden War Eagle?
There’s been some confusion about what the official mascot is at Auburn University. Over the years, sports writers
have referred to Auburn teams as Tigers, War Eagles and Plainsmen. To set the record straight, Auburn has only
one nickname – the Auburn Tigers.
The nickname Tigers comes from a line in Oliver Goldsmith's poem, "The Deserted Village," published in May 1770,
"where crouching tigers wait their hapless prey..." "War Eagle" is a battle cry, used by Auburn fans in the same
manner Alabama fans yell "Roll Tide!" Since Auburn athletes were – in the early days – men from the plains, it was
only natural for newspaper headline writers to shorten that to Plainsmen. To confuse things even more, the school
does have an eagle that flies around the football field on game day. His name? Tiger. Source:
http://www.auburntigers.com/traditions/
Top Dog
While the University of Virginia’s mascot is known as the Cavalier these days, the school’s original mascot was a
black-and-white dog called Beta, which roamed the campus during the 1920s and ‘30s. Legend has it that he
attended one philosophy class so frequently that his name was called out on the roll. (He’d bark to let the professor know when he was present.) His most famous exploit came after being left behind in Athens, Ga., following a
UVA football game with Georgia. It was not until two weeks later that a scratch was heard at the back door of
one of the school’s fraternity houses, and a cold, ragged and hungry Beta stood there. It is not known how he
found his way home. When he died in 1939, an estimated 1,000 students marched in his funeral procession to
the University Cemetery. Source: http://virginiasports.ocsn.com/trads/va-mascot.html
Not Your Average Day at the Races
The choice of the elephant as the California State University Fullerton mascot – dubbed Tuffy Titan – dates to the
early 1960s when the campus hosted "The First Intercollegiate Elephant Race in Human History." What started as a
practical joke turned into an event that attracted 10,000 spectators, 15 pachyderm entrants (including one from
Oxford University in England), a telegram from Richard M. Nixon and worldwide media coverage. Tuffy endured
the race and soon the elephant mascot was seen at campus athletic events. However, in 1963, one elephant
charged the crowd, causing minor injuries, and the sign of a liability insurance crisis quickly halted the live mascot
tradition at the school. Sources: http://sports.fullerton.edu/mascot.html and “Mascots, The History of Senior
College and University Mascots/Nicknames,” by Dr. Roy E. Yarbrough.
The Original Mighty Duck
The University of Oregon athletic teams had no nickname until the 1920s. University of Oregon students
referred to themselves as Webfooters. Then, a gentleman’s agreement between Oregon’s
Athletic Director Leo Harris and Walt Disney brought Donald Duck to Eugene. Walt Disney
productions even provided logo designs that incorporated Donald into the University of Oregon’s “O.”
But not everyone at the school found Donald funny. Jerry Frei, Oregon's football coach for five
seasons (1967-71), wanted Donald to sport teeth in his bill to better portray his team's
"Fighting Ducks" image. And Dick Harter, the men's basketball coach for seven years
(1971-78), disdained the Duck nickname altogether and insisted that any public
relations materials refer only to his teams as the "Kamikaze Kids." Donald remained
the lone duck mascot in any collegiate or professional capacity until the advent of
the Anaheim Mighty Ducks franchise in the National Hockey League in 1993.
Source: http://goducks.ocsn.com/genrel/ore-mascot.html
About Capital One
Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a holding company whose principal
subsidiaries, Capital One Bank and Capital One FSB, offer consumer lending products. Capital One, a
Fortune 500 company headquartered in McLean, Va., is one of the largest providers of MasterCard and
Visa credit cards in the world. Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
“COF” and is included in the S&P 500 index. Capital One’s affiliation with college football began with
the sponsorship of the 2001 Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl (now the Capital One Bowl) and ESPN’s
Bowl Week. In addition, Capital One sponsors the ABC College Football Halftime Report and numerous
other college football programs.