TicketsJan. 1, 2010
McLean, Va. - After months of fierce competition, University of Cincinnati's Bearcat proved to be the 'beast' of the gridiron, having pulled in the majority of the millions of votes cast to earn the coveted title of Capital One National Mascot of the Year. Bearcat edged out Bill the Goat from the United States Naval Academy in the championship round.
This national championship is the 10th for UC, which also has four dance team titles, three swimming and diving titles, and two national championships in men's basketball in its proud athletics history.
The highly anticipated announcement was made on air during halftime of the nationally televised Capital One Bowl. Bearcat defeated 11 other All-American mascots to bring glory and a $20,000 grand prize for the mascot program to the University of Cincinnati.
"I am thrilled that Bearcat Nation answered our call to vote for Bearcat in the 2009 Capital One Mascot Challenge," said UC Director of Athletics Mike Thomas. "Just as with our BIG EAST Champion Football team, our Bearcat withstood the challenging schedule of opponents and rose to the top. Congratulations to our team behind this effort, most notably Matt Silverstein and Brad Wurthman who did a great job managing this campaign, which began more than a year ago."
Last summer, 12 eye-catching characters were named to the eighth annual Capital One All-America Mascot Team, and have since been embroiled in an intense competition to be named Capital One National Mascot of the Year. Since August 31st, fans have come out in force casting their votes at www.capitalonebowl.com.
The Contenders
University of Cincinnati - Bearcat South Dakota State University - Jack University of Georgia - Hairy Dawg Texas Christian University - Superfrog Louisiana State University - Mike the Tiger United States Naval Academy - Bill the Goat University of Maryland - Testudo Washington State University - Butch T. Cougar University of Miami - Sebastian the Ibis Western Kentucky University - Big Red University of Oklahoma - Boomer University of Wisconsin - Bucky Badger
"Once again, this was one of the most anticipated and fiercely fought competitions to date, featuring two mascots that proved they belong with the best of the beasts," said Steve Schooff at Capital One. "For the eighth year in a row, this competition was designed to recognize the unsung heroes of college football, so we're thrilled to see so many millions of students, fans and alumni get behind their mascots."
This year's eclectic crew of birds, mammals, reptiles and creatures were chosen from Division IA and IAA athletic programs with college football teams. They made the squad after being ranked on mascot musts such as interaction with fans, originality and pedigree.
Over the past seven years, Capital One has helped thrust the spotlight on these unsung heroes of college football. Team members starred in a national advertising campaign, which this year featured the mascots participating in the Mascot Training Camp, a series of unusual (and fictitious) athletic, awkward and hilarious mascot competitions including the T-shirt firing range, parade float pulling, and good old-fashioned choreography. In this year's commercials, football great Doug Flutie starred and played the role of `Mascot Trainer.' In addition to the hoopla, each mascot received $5,000 for its school's mascot program. Bearcat, the Capital One National Mascot of the Year, received an additional $15,000 scholarship to help fund the University of Cincinnati's mascot program.
"Bearcat joins a prestigious list of winners, which consists of Division 1A and 1AA winners spanning from the North, South, East and West," added Schooff.
Prior winners included a giant bird from the `heartland' (Iowa State Univ., 2008), a kangaroo from the Midwest (Univ. of Akron, 2007), a cougar from the Northwest (Washington State's Butch T. Cougar, 2006), a working man (Nebraska's Herbie the Husker, 2005), a grizzly bear (Univ. of Montana's Monte, 2002 and 2004) and a gamecock (Univ. of South Carolina's Cocky, 2003).
Plans for an on-campus celebration recognizing Bearcat's championship will be announced early next week.