Mask-to-mask

Aubie talks rivalry week at Auburn

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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 Aubie the Tiger from Auburn for this hard-hitting, mask-to-whiskers interview.

Purdue Pete: Hi Aubie. Thanks for joining us. I know you are really busy with it being rivalry week.

Aubie: No problem. Anything for CNNSI.

Purdue Pete: This is a crazy week in college football. With all these heated rivalries, records don't seem to matter as much once the two teams meet on the field. I know when Purdue and Indiana meet on Saturday, it's for bragging rights for the entire year.

Aubie: I agree. We could be 10-0 or 0-10, it wouldn't matter. When we play Alabama, the emotions run high.

Purdue Pete: Speaking of high emotions, you must still be feeling pretty good after your big upset at Georgia last week.

Aubie: It was a great game. We're still riding the wave from that huge win. There is no way Alabama can come down here and beat us at our place. Our wave is growing to be this huge tidal wave that is ready to just smash the Tide.

Purdue Pete: Plus, a win would make you eligible for a bowl game. That has got to add to the excitement on campus. What is it like?

Aubie: The atmosphere is pretty crazy. Everyone is talking about the game. There has been some trash-talking in the newspapers down here, so that also gets the students fired up. I was talking with some players. They haven't come down from last week's win yet.

Aubie: Wow, that must have looked funny. -- Hey wait a second, who is being interviewed here?

Purdue Pete: Oh, sorry. I got caught in going down memory lane. Why don't you tell me what you guys have planned on campus for this weekend?

Aubie: It's like a mini-homecoming. We're having a parade and a pep rally. There's a women's basketball game and a men's basketball game. It's just nuts around here. Fans have been pulling into town since Monday with their RVs, setting up tailgates. By Saturday, there will be no free space in this town. All the grass and sidewalks will be used up by fans. Auburn grows to be the third-largest city in the state of Alabama on a football Saturday. I just love it.

Purdue Pete: To add to all the excitement of this game, you also have a great basketball tean to look forward to. You must also be excited about basketball.

Aubie: Oh, yeah.

Purdue Pete: Auburn is on the cover of Sports Illustrated and picked by many around the country to win the national title. What's the feeling on campus?

Aubie: The buzz is huge about basketball. Our debut on Friday is causing a lot of excitement. And people just love Chris Porter's afro. This is going to be a strong season by the Tigers.

Purdue Pete: You stole one of my questions. I was going to ask you what was up with Porter's hair. Don't they have barbers in Auburn?

Aubie: As long as C.P. keeps playing the way he is, I don't think anyone cares how he has his hair. It adds to his character. He's huge. He's larger than life. If you watch him play, you'll notice he moves the entire time he's on the floor. The whole team should do real well this year.

Purdue Pete: Last year, you surprised a lot of people. No one expected you guys to play that well. What was it like being a mascot for a team like that?

Aubie: It was like I was in on a little secret. No one was paying any attention to us. Then we started beating some teams and the next thing I knew we were selling out every game. It was a great time.

Land, air or sea, Auburn fans can find Aubie just about anywhere spreading the spirit of Auburn University.

Purdue Pete: I'm excited to watch you guys play. Back to football, what's this Tiger Walk I hear so much about.

Aubie: That is a great tradition at Auburn where the football players walk from the old athletic housing to the stadium two hours before kickoff. Fans show up early to form a parade route of people along the walk. I lead the team right behind our cheerleaders. It really gets me pumped up for the game. I can't imagine what it does for the players.

Purdue Pete: Sounds like a great tradition. Do you have any other interesting traditions at Auburn?

Aubie: We have one tradition that seems to be growing. Even sports other than football are starting to catch on to this. There is this tree downtown on Toomer's Corner that fans will just cover with toilet paper after a win. It is the victory tree. When we win this weekend, that tree will be covered.

Purdue Pete: Sounds like between your confidence and the expectations of your basketball team, I may want to go invest some money in Charmin-and-White Cloud.

Aubie: It may not be a bad idea.

Purdue Pete: I interviewed Big Al from Alabama a few weeks ago. He said that Saturday's game is so big, the two of you sign a contract to stay on your own side of the 35-yard line so there is no temptation to get in a fight. Is that true?

Aubie: He's right. This is a bitter rivalry. It is probably a good idea. Big Al does a good job. He always does real well at nationals.

Purdue Pete: You've won a few national titles, haven't you?

Aubie: I won UCA last year and 1996, '95 and '91. It will be tough this year. Everyone will be coming after me. I just found out that I placed first in the video competition for the 2000 title. So I at least know I will be making a trip to Orlando for nationals this year.

Purdue Pete: Any hints you can give us on what you might do for your skit?

Aubie: I would love to tell you, Pete. But I don't even know yet.

Purdue Pete: I had heard somewhere that you got kicked out of a game a few years ago. What happened?

Aubie: How does this news always get out? It's true. I was at Mississippi State. In the third quarter I saw this golf cart and I jumped on it and started driving in this little open field they have at their stadium. Well, this cop started chasing me. So I started driving in circles to keep him from catching me. I guess it looked like pretty funny to the fans with this cop chasing a tiger on a golf cart going in circles.

Purdue Pete: Kind of like an old Woody Woodpecker cartoon?

Aubie: Right. Well, once they caught me, they kicked me out of the stadium. I found out later it was the cart they use to take injured players off the field. I shouldn't have done it. It hasn't happened since.

Purdue Pete: Well, you're pretty adventurous, aren't you.

Aubie: You bet. I skydive, bungee jump. I even went scuba diving this past year. I have this calendar with a bunch of pictures of my dangerous, yet entertaining escapades.

Purdue Pete: I'd like to see it.

Aubie: I'll send you a copy.

Purdue Pete: Thanks, that would be great. Well, I better let you go. I know you're busy. How many appearances have you had this week?

Aubie: I think I have 17. That's not counting the game.

Purdue Pete: Man, I will let you go, then.

Aubie: One last thing, I want to thank my advisor, Debbie Connor. She's like my mom on campus. She does a great job of scheduling all our events. I would just be a regular Tiger without her. She's great.

Purdue Pete: It's good to hear that you never forget where you come from. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us this weekend. Good luck this weekend.

Aubie: Thanks. Good luck against Indiana. Go Tigers!