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Mask-to-Mask Benny smiles with a new winning tradition
Purdue Pete: Well, CNNSI.com heads back out west to capture some of the costumed greats in the Pac-10. Benny, welcome. It is great to have you with us. Benny: It is great to be here, Pete. Purdue Pete: Well, your buck-teeth are not hard to find these days. You are just all smiles after the tremendous turnaround season the Oregon State Beavers are having. You've locked in your first winning season in 28 years to make you bowl eligible. If you go to a bowl, it will be your first appearance in 35 years. Campus must me going nuts. Benny: Everyone is so happy. Last week's crowd was the loudest I have ever heard in the stadium. We're looking for another sellout crowd this weekend against Arizona. Purdue Pete: Tell me about the atmosphere after last week's game. Benny: During the last two minutes of the game, there were thousands of fans standing on the wall waiting to charge the field, especially in the student section. When it was all over, the fans covered the field from one 30-yard line to the other. It was like one big party on the field. I ended up body surfing the crowd on the field. They just kept passing me all over, from yard line to yard line. I was so excited. Purdue Pete: You have gone through so many losing seasons. Year after year you had to endure that constant sinking feeling after a loss. What major changes have you noticed now that Oregon State is finally back on the winning track? Benny: Everyone is just in such a good mood. People will be walking on campus and ask, "Hey, did you check out the game on Saturday?" People actually love to talk football. We're getting a lot more publicity. The players are like heroes. It is a great time to be on campus. But to be fair to the past, I must say that losing builds character. And we had some diehard fans that stick with us through it all. They are great. Purdue Pete: Are there any drawbacks to a winning season? Benny: Well, for me personally. I did have a little trouble with the pushups. I do mine on top of this board that the male cheerleaders hold over their heads. We were ahead of UCLA 21-0 at the end of the first half and by the fourth quarter the score was 55-7. Well I got back up on that board and started doing those pushups. When I got to like 35 -- I collapsed. I just couldn't do it anymore. It got some national media attention. I look at it as a compliment to our football program. Purdue Pete: So are you going on a more rigorous training program? Benny: Oh yes, I'll be working harder. I plan on going out in the middle of the floor at halftime of a basketball game this season to show the crowd I can do 55 pushups. I want them to know I can do it. Purdue Pete: If you don't mind, I'd like to change the tone just a bit to a more personal issue. Benny: Oh, no. Purdue Pete: If I remember right, there used to be a female beaver walking the sidelines with you. Benny: You mean, Bernice? Purdue Pete: That's it. What ever happened to her? Benny: You know, I was looking forward to answering this question. I get asked that all the time. Since I'm not allowed to talk to fans, this may give me an opportunity to finally set the record straight and put to rest all these rumors that have been flying around the state of Oregon, the Pac-10 and especially the mascot world. Purdue Pete: That's what this series of articles is all about. Please, tell us your story. Benny: As you know, mascots spend a lot of time on the road. We are either traveling with teams to games or finding our way to a public relations event. I "log" a lot of miles. Purdue Pete: Go on. Benny: Well, I guess Bernice didn't like being left at home alone. So when I came home one day, I saw that she just packed up her stuff and split. Purdue Pete: She just left you! Wow! Did she leave you for another beaver? Benny: No, but I do think it was for another mascot. Purdue Pete: Who? Benny: Well, I can't confirm this ... but I think it was for the Husker up at Washington. Purdue Pete: Have you seen her since the split? Benny: No. But I had heard she was with him. Again, I can't confirm this. But she's in the past. I'm a swinging bachelor and loving it. Purdue Pete: Are you playing the forest these days? Benny: I wouldn't say playing the forest, but I've been known to be the king of the dance floor on Saturday nights. Purdue Pete: Do you ever get made fun of for being called the Beavers? Benny: Sure. Once in a while. But everyone around here seems to like it. We're proud to be the Beavers. Purdue Pete: Besides the pushup failure, do you have any other embarrassing moments? Benny: I just had one a few weeks ago. At hour midnight pep rally to kick off the basketball season, I set up a trampoline to dunk the ball in the basket -- and I missed. Purdue Pete: You just seem to keep letting down the fans. How do you handle that? Benny: My fans will always love me. But I just try to take each mistake and learn from it. But that same night I was playing in a game of mascot-basketball with some corporate mascots. I know Mr. Yuck was there ... Purdue Pete: Oh, that green poison guy -- I love him. Benny: He was good, and we had some other promotional mascots. Well I drained a half-court shot at the buzzer to win the game. So I sort of redeemed myself from the trampoline thing. Purdue Pete: Sounds like you stole the show. Benny: I did. Purdue Pete: Hey, good luck this weekend against Arizona and for your bowl bid. Benny: Thanks. We're not stopping at six wins. This week Arizona and then we're going to squash the Ducks from Oregon. GO Beavers! |
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