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Mask-to-mask Hairy Dawg not second fiddle to Uga
In this space each week CNNSI.com will feature an exclusive one-on-one interview with some of college football's most famous mascots. Purdue Pete, the legendary athletic mascot from Purdue University, recently chatted with Hairy Dawg from the University of Georgia for this hard-hitting, mask-to-mutt interview. Purdue Pete: Welcome Hairy Dawg. I appreciate you making time to talk to us. I understand this has been a very busy day for you. Didn't you have two public appearances today? Hairy Dawg: Yes, today was a very busy day. Besides getting ready for the big Florida game, I had two public appearances. We had one that was a retirement party for a nun at St. Mary's hospital. She is a huge Bulldog fan. She was really happy to see me. I enjoyed that appearance. Purdue Pete: Some people may not know that mascots do a lot more than just running around at football and basketball games. About how many public appearances do you make in a year? Hairy Dawg: I'm not sure. We do a few each week. I'd say about 200-250 a year. We turn down more than we can do, but most of them are during the day when I have class. I wish I had time to do more. Purdue Pete: Now, you share the spotlight with Uga. The actual bulldog. He's received a lot of press over the years. He's been on the cover of Sports Illustrated, in parades and even had a part in a major motion picture. What's your relationship with this world-famous mutt? Aren't you just a tad bit jealous of all the attention he gets? Hairy Dawg: We have a good relationship. He does his thing and I do mine. People love Uga. I love Uga. But I have a little more personality than he does. He sort of sits there and smiles. I can go into the stands and play with kids and put on a show for the ladies. I have more personality in my paw than Uga has in his whole body. Purdue Pete: It doesn't even bother you a little that he has his own air conditioned dog house on the field? Hairy Dawg: Again, I'm cool with all that stuff. I'm glad they take care of Uga. I'm too busy interacting with our fans to need a dog house. He does his thing and I do mine. Purdue Pete: I'm not sure if you know this, but you were mentioned in one of our earlier interviews. When I was interviewing your intrastate rival, Georgia Tech's Buzz , he had some pretty strong words about you. Hairy Dawg: (Stubby tail starts to wag faster as he seems to get excited with anger) I know all about it. I had your interview forwarded to me from a bunch of Georgia fans. Purdue Pete: Why didn't you do anything about it? Hairy Dawg: He deserves his day in the sun. I knew I would have my day. He gets embarrassed all the time anyway. The only thing he has left to do is talk trash. So if he wants to shoot off his mouth, it doesn't really bother me. Purdue Pete: So will you two settle this on the field when your two schools meet at the end of the year? Hairy Dawg: All I have to say to Buzz is the last time I checked, I was the third-most buff mascot in the country. He didn't even crack the top 25. Also, I don't wear tights. He does. Only ballerinas wear tights. You figure it out for yourself. Purdue Pete: I notice you don't fight other mascots very often. Why is that?
Hairy Dawg: It is really for the safety of other mascots. I'm too dangerous. Plus, I'm more of a lover than a fighter. I would rather spend my time flirting with the ladies. Purdue Pete: So you do alright with the females? Hairy Dawg: I've got a few phone numbers. I'd say I've done fairly well for myself. I've even had some women put some dollar bills in my belt loop. Purdue Pete: I'm not sure if that complies with NCAA regulations. Hairy Dawg: Oh, that's right -- I donate it all to charity. Purdue Pete: That's good. Now, you mentioned earlier that you were voted the third-most buff mascot. You're referring to the Muscle and Fitness article right? Hairy Dawg: That's right, behind Sparty from Michigan State at No. 1 and you, Pete, at No. 2. But I want you to know that I've been working out and I'm ready to turn things around for next year. So watch out. Purdue Pete: Well, we'll see Mr. Eight-bowls-of-Alpo-for-breakfast. Seriously, you must be happy to lead the SEC in the buffest mascot competition, but you are behind two Big Ten mascots. We hear all the time the debate of which conference has better football. Which conference do you think has better mascots? Hairy Dawg: Without a doubt, the SEC. Sure you guys may have the country's two buffest mascots. But the SEC has so much more character. Basically there is you, Michigan State, and Penn State. Michigan and Indiana don't even have mascots. Minnesota has the Gopher. What's that all about? And the Badger? Come on. I don't even want to guess what's going on with Ohio State with that Buckeye thing. Again, the SEC is the best conference to be in if you're a mascot. Purdue Pete: To each his own. You know, one thing that is nice about being retired from active duty is being able to go tailgating before games. What's tailgating like in Athens? Hairy Dawg: It's amazing. There is group called the motorcoach club. They show up on Friday with their motorhomes and park up near the basketball arena. So the cheerleaders and I go up there and put on a pep rally for them. It's a lot of fun. Purdue Pete: This weekend is huge. You travel to Jacksonville for you game against the Florida Gators. You must be excited. Hairy Dawg: It's going to be a lot of fun. It's the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party." With a name like that, you can't go wrong. It's like a bowl game with one half of the stadium cheering for Georgia and the other half cheering for Florida. It is always a lot of fun. Purdue Pete: Be careful not to get caught up in the whole cocktail party thing. Hairy Dawg: Don't worry. It's fun for the fans, but I never touch the stuff. Purdue Pete: It sounds like a fun day. I hope you and Uga have a great time in Jacksonville. Thanks for spending time with us. Hairy Dawg: We will. Take care and Go Bulldogs! |
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