6/23/06 Contact: Katie Wilder, 334/844-9999 (wildeka@auburn.edu)
David Granger, 334/844-9999 (grangdm@auburn.edu)

AUBIE VYING FOR INDUCTION INTO MASCOT HALL OF FAME

AUBURN - Aubie, Auburn University’s lovable Tiger mascot, has been selected to compete for induction into the Mascot Hall of Fame. The competition runs through July 15.

Fans can cast their votes for Aubie at www.mascothalloffame.com. The popular vote comprises 5 percent of the competition. The remaining 95 percent is determined by members of the Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame executive committee.

Aubie is one of six collegiate mascots vying for induction. Others include Sparty of Michigan State University, YoUDee of the University of Delaware, Monte of the University of Montana, Bucky of the University of Wisconsin and Big Red of the University of Western Kentucky.

The ballot also includes six mascots from professional sports teams: KC Wolf of the Kansas City Chiefs, Jazz Bear of the Utah Jazz, Clutch the Bear of the Houston Rockets, Mariner Moose of the Seattle Mariners, Slider of the Cleveland Indians and Wool E. Bull of the Durham Bulls.

Last year marked the inaugural induction ceremony for the Mascot Hall of Fame. This year’s induction ceremony will take place on Aug. 15, 2006, at Love Park in Philadelphia. Winners will join previous inductees Phillie Phanatic, the Phoenix Suns Gorilla and Famous Chicken - none of whom are college mascots. Aubie has a chance of becoming the first or one of the first college mascots inducted.

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.

Continuing a legacy as the most successful college mascot in history, Aubie won his sixth national mascot championship through the Universal Cheerleaders’ Association in January.

Auburn University is a preeminent land-grant and comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 50 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabama’s largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.

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june06:AU-aubiehall