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Mask-to-mask BC Eagle ready for a big slice of Hokie Turkey
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 The Eagle from Boston College for this hard-hitting, mask-to-beak interview. Purdue Pete: Welcome, Eagle. It is great to have you with us on CNNSI.com. Before we go on, do you have a name? I feel a little weird calling you Eagle. Eagle: Actually, that's something I'm looking into. Right now, I do not have a name. I'm hoping that in the near future we can have a contest where the student body can send in ideas for my name. I understand why you feel weird. I have people yelling, "Hey, Eagle. Come here!" It would be a lot nicer if I had a name. Purdue Pete: I didn't mean to open up with a sore issue. Eagle: Oh, it's OK. Purdue Pete: Do you feel you lack identity? Eagle: I wouldn't say that, I just lack a name. I have a lot of character, but I just need a name so people can identify me as the BC Eagle. Purdue Pete: To turn to something brighter, you guys have had a great season. You're 8-2 and going to a bowl game. This week you finish your season against the No. 2 team in the country, Virginia Tech. You must be excited. Eagle: Oh, I'm flying high. The team is doing great. Purdue Pete: Going into the season, I think most people just discounted the Big East. It was a fight for second to see who would end up behind Miami. But with Virginia Tech moving into the spotlight of a possible national title, your conference can't be forgotten, can they? Eagle: Certainly not. Remember that the press pretty much discounted the Big East in basketball last season, too. But Connecticut went on to win the NCAA Tournament. The Big East has a way of sneaking up on you. Purdue Pete: Well, BC snuck up on Notre Dame last weekend. You guys played the roll of spoiler. Handing Notre Dame a losing season and killing all chances of a bowl game. What was it like beating your catholic school rival on their own field? Eagle: This game meant a lot to our players, as well as our fans. Last year we made it to the 1-yard line on first-and-goal and couldn't get the ball into the end zone. Since that game, our players have carried around the newspaper clipping with that photo of the goal line stand. On top of the clipping, someome wrote, "How hard are will you work this season?" Purdue Pete: So, It meant a lot to get last week's win. How was your fan support? Eagle: Our fan support was tremendous. A lot of students made the trip to South Bend in RVs. So when we pulled into town for the game, there were RVs with BC flags flying everywhere. It was quite a sight. I know the students must have had a lot of fun on that road trip. Purdue Pete: I bet they did. What was the atmosphere like after you won the game? Eagle: Incredible. I went up into the stands. All our fans were chanting "Let's Go Eagles" and "We are BC." It felt like a home game. Before I go on, I want to say that the Notre Dame fans were great hosts. A lot of them came up and shook our hands to congratulate us on our win. They have a very high level of good sportsmanship. Purdue Pete: That's good to hear. I know on all my trips to South Bend the Irish have always been gracious hosts. Now let's move to this weekend. You travel to Virginia Tech to possibly play the role of spoiler again. If the Hokies win, they are off the Sugar Bowl to play for the national title. What is it like for you to travel to that kind of environment? Eagle: We really have nothing to lose. Virginia Tech has everything to lose. This game is on national TV. This is our chance to show the world what Boston College is all about. Purdue Pete: As you know, we interviewed the Hokie Bird a few weeks ago. He told us that he is a descendant of the turkey family. Playing in Blacksburg on the day after Thanksgiving, do you think that is going to help you or hurt you? Eagle: Hopefully it will help us. The Hokie Bird will be lucky to be around. He may not make it past Thanksgiving. Purdue Pete: Do you have any big plans when you face your fellow feathered friend? Eagle: I want to come on the field and chase him with some giant carving knives. But we'll have to see how things go down there. Purdue Pete: What is like for a visiting team to play at Virginia Tech? Eagle: It can get pretty crazy. Their fans are loud and mean. They take their sports very seriously. With so much riding on this game, it could get very ugly. Purdue Pete: Well, I'm looking forward to watching it on TV. It should be a great game. To change the subject just a bit, do you have any embarrassing moments you can tell our readers about? Eagle: Not too many. I did have this battle with the Billy Goat from Navy this year. I'm a lot smaller than he is. When he took a punch, it was right at my beak and it spun my head all the way around. Purdue Pete: Ouch! Eagle: It was a little painful. Plus that was right in front of the Midshipmen. They enjoyed it. I didn't as much. Purdue Pete: I can tell you are really excited about this Friday's game, so I let you go prepare. Have a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday. Eagle: Oh, I will. I'm going to go slice me a big piece of Hokie turkey. Purdue Pete: Thanks for taking time to talk with us. Good luck on Friday. Eagle: Thanks. I enjoyed being here. Go Eagles! |
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