2010 Mascot Challenge: The NCAA Should be Taking Notes

Voting campaigns try and dazzle us by spinning their “issues” and urge us to “make the right decision” all the while seemingly begging for our vote. Sometimes, however, the best campaign can be a good ol’ fashion wiffle ball to the groin.

The Capital One All-America Mascot Team is back and once again we are given the distinguished privilege to separate one mascot from all the rest by casting our vote, actually unlimited votes, for this year’s top dog. Or bird. Or creepy old man lookalike carrying some sort of hammer thing.

Last year, it was Bearcat from the University of Cincinnati taking home the prestigious title. Bearcat returns in 2010 to defend his crown but will have to topple fifteen colorful characters to repeat. Much like the college football landscape, the mascot world has also taken on a much different look because of expansion. The All-America Mascot Team has gone from twelve to sixteen. Eat your heart out, Dan Beebe.

Before I can go any further, here is the 2010 Mascot Team who appears to have gotten into a fresh crate of Schnapps while filming their intros.

Capital One is hopeful that none of the mascots in this year’s contest will feel the wrath of the NCAA sanction hammer, but there are no guarantees. After all, we saw what the Penn State Nittany Lion did after some beverages only a short while back.

Fans will once again have the opportunity to decide who they believe should be this year’s champion. Mascots will go head-to-head each week, for twelve weeks. At this point, the mascots with the best win/loss records will move into the playoffs. Ahhhhh… playoffs.

On New Years Day, without question my favorite (and perhaps drunkest) day of the year, the National Mascot of the Year will be crowned during the Capital One Bowl. The winning mascot will earn their school a cool 15k towards their mascot program. IMAGINE THE TEE SHIRT GUNS THIS COULD BUY.

Strength of schedule, key wins, points allowed – none of this means anything come mascot time. This is the opposite of the BCS and by golly, (coining Lou Holtz), we’re going to play out the year AND have a playoff which kickoffs on November 22nd. While I love college football – and hate the BCS – I also appreciate the finer things like tailgating, tailgating, tailgating, and mascots.

To vote, visit Capitalonebowl.com and select from the handful of matchups that will change each week. If your mascot isn’t in the finals, you can also nominate him here as for the 2011 contest. I’ve already added Herky into this mix because even with his bird legs he brings a powerful and friendly presence on game day. But I digress…

If Cincinnati’s start against Fresno is any indication of how Bearcat will fair as returning champion, he could be in for a long season. As for the rest of this rambunctious crew, only time and votes will tell.

One thing’s for certain. I will never under any circumstances let any of these individuals into my house. I will, however, do my college football duty and play along with their reindeer games.

Check out this week’s matchups and Vote Here. Also be sure to check them out on Twitter.