Backgrounder
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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, 2004 All-America Mascot Team two cats, three birds, a turtle, a bear, a rebel, a gopher and one big red blob – How They Were Chosen they all have one thing in common. They The 2004 Capital One All-America Mascot Team was open to all really know how to put the “pep” into NCAA Division IA & IAA college mascots who were mascots during any pep rally. the period from Sept. 1, 2003 through June 1, 2004. Nomination The Team (in alpha order by school): 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. ★ The Bird – Air Force Academy ★ 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 sports marketer Scott Schricker; and representatives from ESPN and ★ Scratch – University of Kentucky 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 originality, ability to create enthusiasm among the fans and ★ Monte – University of Montana contribution to an exhilarating atmosphere. (0-50 points) ★ Cocky – University of South Carolina ★ Originality, creativity and professionalism of the mascot’s ★ Hey Reb – Univ. of Nevada Las Vegas appearance/costume. (0-20 points) ★ Demonstration of good sportsmanship. (0-15 points) ★ The Hokie Bird – Virginia Tech ★ Involvement in community service. (0-15 points) ★ Big Red – Western Kentucky University 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) Press Contacts ★ December 26, 2004 Pam Girardo Online voting ends 703.720.2351 [email protected] ★ January 1, 2005 Announcement of the Capital One Mandy O'Donnell National Mascot of the Year during 212.468.3648 the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla. mandy.o'[email protected] 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.