College football is almost here, bringing back decades-long rivalries, close games and, of course, die-hard fan bases. While the pigskin and gridiron are the main event, there's so much more to the world of college football.
Certain traditions make the sport what it is today, and that includes the live animal mascots, some of whom went down in history for some of their most iconic, unplanned moments.
The main Week Zero slate of the college football season kicks off this Saturday, bringing back a favorite tradition of schools showing off their live mascots. From Texas A&M's Rough Collie, Reveille, to the Air Force Academy's live falcon named Aurora, several schools have their own mascot. And yes, that even includes the Arkansas Razorbacks, who
have a live Russian boar.
These mascots usually have a pregame or touchdown ritual, but throughout the years, they're developed an entirely different role.
Here are some of the most iconic moments with live mascots:
1. Texas Longhorns' Bevo charges Georgia Bulldogs' Uga
Looking through the archives of the College Football Hall of Fame, several moments come to mind. But likely one of the first is when Bevo, the Texas Longhorns' steer, charged at Uga, the bulldog mascot for the Georgia Bulldogs. Yomand Brown, the vice president of marketing, sales and communication for the College Football Hall of Fame, said this was one of the biggest moments - and that's not just because he's based in Atlanta.
(Warning: Video contains explicit language that may not be suitable for all readers.)
At the Sugar Bowl in 2019, Bevo broke away from his handlers and escaped, charging at Uga during the pregame festivities. Brown said this moment was even bigger than the video.
"The live mascots became the story before the game even took place, which was all over the broadcast, and things like that, and the replays. The game almost became second nature to it," Brown said.
Coincidence or not, when Texas returned to Atlanta a few years back, Bevo didn't travel with them.
2. Tulane fan steals LSU's tiger
We can't forget when a literal tiger was kidnapped, either.
In 1950, just before the LSU-Tulane game, Brown said a Tulane student, Norbert James, and his buddy stole LSU’s Mike the Tiger the night before their football game. They towed the trailer back to the dorms before the tiger was returned. While the tiger was returned, James was banned from the LSU campus for 50 years.
This wasn't the only time there was a tiger on the loose.
In 1981, LSU said pranksters cut through chains and released Mike. Apparently, he was in the middle of North Stadium Drive and went into the Bernie Moore Track Stadium before being tranquilized and sent back to his enclosure.
3. Uga lunging at an Auburn receiver
We need another moment for Uga, because this bulldog is involved in a lot of live mascot drama. However, this moment dates back decades.
In 1996, Uga stood by Georgia during the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry on the 100th matchup between Georgia and Auburn. Brown said it was an overtime game, a heated rivalry and the first-ever overtime game in SEC history. So, when Uga lunged at Robert Baker, an Auburn receiver, it added to the story.
Despite this happening 30 years ago, the video still stays alive. Brown said the video is on display at the Hall of Fame, along with Uga's sweater.
4. Sooner Schooner costs Oklahoma 15 yards
Live mascots add to the rivalry, but once it even effected the game.
In the 1985 Orange Bowl, Brown said the University of Oklahoma's mascot cost the Sooners 15 yards. Officials told Oklahoma’s cheer squad that the field was too muddy and they couldn't do the customary lap of the Oklahoma Sooner Schooner after the team scored, but they didn't listen. The mascots left tracks throughout the red zone, and the team was assessed a 15-yard penalty because of their noncompliance with the officials.
Thankfully, the penalty didn't impact the game too much, but Oklahoma fell short, falling to Washington 28-17.
5. Colorado's Ralphie escapes her handlers
There was that time when there was a buffalo running around without any supervision, thanks to the University of Colorado's Ralphie. The Colorado Buffaloes have a tradition where a live buffalo mascot runs across the field before games, accompanied by handlers.
However, in 2008, Ralphie broke free from her handlers during a spring game. Her race was short lived, though. Brown said the handlers ran across the field trying to track her down before she was eventually corralled and safely led back in her trailer.
Live mascots aren't just known for these moments. They bring another element to the sport.
"College football is for everyone, and even with a story like live mascots, whether it’s kids, adults and things like that, people gravitate to the sport for varying degrees of differences, and this is one that is synonymous. Like, you have kids that want to go to the Georgia game just to get a picture with Uga. So it just brings additional depth to the sport, and it’s something that people really gravitate to," said Brown.
You'll be able to see these mascots soon. College football is gearing up for another action-packed season, and this weekend is the beginning of it all. Be sure to watch for Ralphie running across the field (hopefully accompanied by her handlers) and Uga's shenanigans.
Oh, you can also watch the game, too.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Remember this? Top 5 most iconic college live mascot moments
