Finally! 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-Americanquarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. At last, these unsung heroes of the college gridironhave their own national stage … their own place in the sun.

In 2002, Capital One kicked off a new college tradition with the inaugural Capital One All-AmericaMascot Team, elevating 12 college mascots to the pinnacle of “mascotary.” (Yeah, we know that’s not a real word.) In a quest to honor these unsung heroes, the company sent out a call for nominationsto all of the nation’s Division IA and IAA athletic programs with college football teams. From a list of contenders, a national panel of mascot aficionados chose 12 talented mascots to be members of the first Capital One All-America Mascot Team. Judging was determined by how well the mascots interacted with fans, good sportsmanship and community service.

Being named an All-American came with its fair share of perks – the photo shoots, a national advertisingcampaign featuring ESPN personalities, the parties, the mascot groupies and the cash. Plus, each member of the mascot team received $5,000 for its school’s mascot program.

But the Capital One All-America Mascot Team was only the beginning. The 12 mascots were thenembroiled in a fierce battle to claim the most coveted title in all the mascot land – Capital One NationalMascot of the Year. Colleges and universities pulled out all the stops to drive fans to vote for their mascot at www.capitalonebowl.com. There were Jumbotron tributes, letters from state senators, billboards, television and newspaper ads and e-mails from eager alumni and college staffs enticing hundreds of thousands of loyal fans to go online and vote for their favorite lovable, wild and wacky character.

When all was said and done, one mascot reigned supreme. The University of Montana’s Monte theGrizzly claimed the Capital One National Mascot of the Year title, and he did it with a vengeance by running on a platform that would impress the staunchest political pundit.

Hailed as a hero, Monte’s victory celebration in Montana is rumored to have rivaled any New YorkYankees’ ticker tape parade.

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Backgrounder

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Inaugural (2002) Capital One All-America Mascot TeamFront: Smokey (Univ. of Tennessee). Standing left to right: Otto (Syracuse University), The Bird (U.S. Air ForceAcademy), 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. atBuffalo), Seymour (Univ. of Southern Mississippi).

About Capital OneCapital 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.

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2003 Capital One All-America Mascot Team

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How They Were ChosenThe 2003 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, 2002 through June 1, 2003.

Nomination kits were mailed to each athletic department with

football programs on Wednesday, March 26, 2003, and were

due by 5 p.m. EDT, Friday, June 6, 2003.

On June 16, 2003, behind closed doors in a highly-secured boardroom,

a panel of skilled mascot judges—including the original Phillie Phanatic,

David Raymond; mascot guru and historian, Dr. Roy Yarbrough; and

representatives from ESPN and Capital One—carefully analyzed each

contender and scored them based on the following criteria:

★ Interaction with fans and demonstration of the mascot’s

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.

Meet the TeamThey’re brash. They’re feisty. One’s even a bit

cocky, and another’s a real “nut.” 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–

three dogs, two cats, two chickens, a gator, a

buffalo, a bear, a buckeye and one big red blob –

they all have one thing in common. They really

know how to put the “pep” into any pep rally.

★ CockyUniversity of South Carolina

★ ChipUniversity of Colorado

★ Hairy DawgUniversity of Georgia

★ Harry the HuskyUniversity of Washington

★ AubieAuburn University

★ MonteUniversity of Montana

★ ScratchUniversity of Kentucky

★ Brutus BuckeyeThe Ohio State University

★ SmokeyUniversity of Tennessee

★ Albert University of Florida

★ Big RedWestern Kentucky University

★ YoUDeeUniversity of Delaware

ESPN’s Kenny Mayne appeared in last year’s tv ads which parodied a beauty pageant.

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Building on a New Tradition Maybe it was the national attention from the press

or being featured in television commercials. Or,

maybe it was all about the money. No one is quite

sure, but one thing is certain: the days of the

forgotten mascot quickly are becoming a thing of

the past. There’s a new B.M.O.C. on the prowl...

that’s “Big Mascot on Campus.”

Because of the overwhelming popularity of the 2002

Capital One All-America Mascot Team, there has been

one singular and burning question being uttered by

college mascots and their diehard college football

fans across the country:

What does it take to be a B.M.O.C.?

Is it pure athleticism or comic timing? What about

true grit or starry-eyed optimism? There’s no denying

that sex appeal must play a part, right? Or does it all

boil down to a love of the game?

Bottom line, it’s all about earning the right to call

yourself a Capital One All-America Mascot. Then

achieving nirvana—the National Mascot of the Year.

For the second year in a row, Capital One and

its panel of judges have awarded 12 mascots this

prestigious honor. Now they will have the

opportunity to strut their stuff on a national

stage, all leading to the crowning of the

Capital One National Mascot of the Year.

Timeline

★ March 26, 2003

Nomination kits sent to Division IA

and IAA schools

★ June 6, 2003

Nomination kits due back to Capital One

★ June 16, 2003

Judging for the Capital One All-America

Mascot Team

★ June 20, 2003

Notification to the 12 winning schools

★ July 28-30, 2003

Mascot advertising shoot

★ TBA

Official announcement

of the Capital One

All-America Mascot Team

★ September 4, 2003

Race for Capital One National

Mascot of the Year begins

(Online voting poll open)

★ December 22, 2003

Online voting ends

★ January 1, 2004

Announcement of the Capital One

National Mascot of the Year during

the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Hopes are high. Room for error is low. And the competition surely will be fierce, ferocious and fun .

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 the University of Montana’s Monte, the reigning winner. He will tell you (in truth, he can’t

talk, but his daredevil maneuvers will show you) that it takes a lot of hard work and a lot more than

the bear necessities to win the crown. Last year he campaigned like a politician in a tight run-off race.

“Vote For Monte!” billboards lined Montana roadways. “Monte Competes For

National Title” topped daily headlines. The University of Montana’s Jumbotron

flickered electric energy dedicated to their local hero.

Monte’s back on the team for the second year to stake his

claim as America’s best college mascot. But does one of the

11 other rough and ready challengers have what it takes to

unseat him? We’ll all have to wait until the Capital One Bowl

on Jan. 1, 2004, to find out.

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Capital One National Mascot of the Year

Judging Criteria

★ 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 rankedone 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 YearUniversity of Montana’s Monte

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Eligible Mascots To earn the title 2003 National Mascot of the Year,

mascots must have been named to the 2003

Capital One All-America Mascot Team.

Capital One National Mascot of the Year SelectionThis year’s race for Capital One National Mascot of

the Year will begin September 4, 2003, when fans

across the country will be able to log onto

www.capitalonebowl.com to vote for their favorite

mascot among the 12 All-Americans. The real-time

voting poll will remain open until Dec. 22, 2003.

Last year, colleges and universities pulled out all

the stops to drive people to the Web site to vote

for their favorite mascot. Antics by the schools

to drum up support included:

★ Game day Jumbotron promotions

★ Billboards

★ Television and newspaper advertising

★ Letters of support from elected officials

★ E-mails to staff and alumni

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, 2004, 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.

In 2002, hundreds of thousands of fans logged on towww.capitalonebowl.com to vote for their favorite mascot.

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mas·cot - ('mas-"kät) noun: 1. symbol of good luck 2. a person, animal or thing that is believed to bringgood 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 andput the “pep” in Pep Rally. Even if the home team is losing to the archrival, the roar, hiss, or flap of ourbeloved mascot lives on.

So whether they’re fighting mad like the Irish of Notre Dame, stubborn as a Mule from Central MissouriState, 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 BeginningThe first college mascots appeared at sporting events in the late 1800s. Yale University claims to be thefirst school to adopt a mascot – Handsome Dan the Bulldog. The Elis were 125-6 with Handsome Dan Ion the sidelines. He was rewarded by being stuffed and preserved behind glass in the trophy room ofYale’s gymnasium. Sources: http://www.yale.edu and The Times-Picayune (Oct. 2, 1999).

It’s a Jungle Out ThereContrary to today’s “human” mascots in costumes, the first mascots were live animals. The majority ofcolleges and universities soon abandoned this way of “mascotting” because of the high costs associatedwith caring for the animals. Source: http://www.gameops.com

He Ain’t Heavy … It’s Just His CostumeMascot costumes can weigh up to 25 – 30 pounds, although the average weight is approximately 10 – 15 pounds. Source: http://www.gameops.com

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College Mascot Fun Facts

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Never Let ‘Em See You SweatThe golden rule: never remove the head in public. Source: http://www.gameops.com

The Eagle Has LandedThe 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.

The Fighting … Oh Never MindSeveral 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 SeniorCollege and University Mascots/Nicknames," by Dr. Roy E. Yarbrough.

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 FictionIn the 1994 film “Pulp Fiction,” John Travolta’s character (Vincent Vega) wore a University of CaliforniaSanta Cruz T-shirt with the infamous Banana Slug mascot emblazoned on the front. Director QuentinTarantino 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 thefirst steer. Aggies from archrival Texas A&M branded the numbers 13-0 on the steer, signifying the scoreof the previous year's upset win. The branded steer's next public appearance was in the form of steakserved 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 servedto the Aggies, and the other half went to Texas. Source: http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com

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A Family AffairIf 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 Falls Church, Va.

Flap HappySt. Joseph’s University is well known across the country for its unique mascot requirements. The Hawkmust 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 footballteam, it still has a pretty cool mascot. Source: http://www.sjuhawks.com/basketball/men/bios/hawk.htm

Independent WomenThirty-three colleges and universities have made the distinction between men’s and women’s athleticteams 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 UniversityMascots/Nicknames," by Dr. Roy E. Yarbrough.

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 recordstraight, Auburn has only one nickname – the Auburn Tigers.

The nickname Tigers comes from a line in Oliver Goldsmith's poem, "The Deserted Village," published inMay 1770, "where crouching tigers wait their hapless prey..." "War Eagle" is a battle cry, used by Auburnfans in the same manner Alabama fans yell "Roll Tide!" In the early days, since Auburn athletes were menfrom the plains, it was only natural for newspaper headline writers to call them Plainsmen. To confusethings even more, the school does have an eagle that flies around the football field on game day. Hisname? Tiger. Source: http://www.auburntigers.com/traditions/

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College Mascot Fun Facts

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Top DogWhile 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 theroll. (He’d bark to let the professor know when he was present.) His most famous exploit came afterbeing left behind in Athens, Ga., following a UVA football game with Georgia. It was not until twoweeks later that a scratch was heard at the back door of one of the school’s fraternity houses, and acold, ragged and hungry Beta stood there. It is not known how he found his way home. When he diedin 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 RacesThe 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 HumanHistory." What started as a practical joke turned into an event that attracted 10,000 spectators, 15pachyderm 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 DuckThe 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’sAthletic Director Leo Harris and Walt Disney brought Donald Duck to Eugene. Walt Disney productionseven 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 nicknamealtogether and insisted that all public relations materials refer 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

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