AUBIE
COMPETING IN CAPITAL ONE ALL-AMERICA MASCOT CHALLENGE

Aubie, Auburn University’s lovable Tiger mascot, has been selected for the third straight year to compete for the Capital One National Mascot of the Year. The competition is under way and runs through Dec. 15.

Aubie is one of 12 mascots from Division I-A and I-AA athletic programs across the country chosen to compete as a member of the All-America Mascot Team. Following a nomination process, mascots were judged and selected this summer to compete in the challenge based on how well they interact with fans, their originality and pedigree, which includes awards won within the past five years, and national prominence.

For the next 11 weeks, Aubie will go head-to-head against each of the other All-Americans with fans voting for their favorite mascot. After they vote, fans will be able to view real-time results on the Web. At the conclusion of the 11-week period, the top six mascots will move on to the postseason play-offs. The winner will be announced during the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 2, 2006.

For the first time the competition will be decided solely by fans who cast their votes online. Fans can vote online at www.capitalonebowl.com.

Each of the 12 All-America Mascot Team members received a $5,000 award for being selected. The winner of the challenge will receive an additional $5,000 award for their mascot program.

Birmingham artist Phil Neel, whose sons Mike and Rick played football for Auburn in the 1970s, created Aubie in the 1950s. From 1958 through 1976, Neel’s cartoon Aubie was featured on the covers of Auburn’s home football game programs, usually terrorizing the visiting mascots in wonderfully creative ways.

James Lloyd, then the Auburn Student Government Association’s spirit director, breathed life into Neel’s concept in 1979 when he ordered a Tiger costume and appeared at the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament.

Barry Mask became the first official Aubie in 1979-80 and his sideline and court-side hijinks helped develop Aubie’s spirited persona.

Although never crowned Capital One National Mascot of the Year, Aubie has won five national mascot championships through the Universal Cheerleaders’ Association, the most recent in 2003.