University of Tennessee Athletics
Smokey Mascot Rejoins Nation's Elite, Qualifies for National Championship
November 12, 2018 | Cheer, Dance & Mascots
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Monday, Nov. 12, 2018) - Every Tennessee fan's favorite costumed mascot, Smokey, was recognized today as one of the nation's best mascots in Division 1A competition.
Smokey, a three-time national champion at the Universal Cheerleaders Association College Mascot National Championship, placed fifth today in the entry video competition, rejoining the top-5 after placing ninth in 2017, tenth in 2016, and not qualifying in 2015. The top-10 mascots announced today, including Smokey, will compete for the title of National Champion on January 19, 2019 at ESPN's Wide World of Sports in Orlando.
25 mascots from colleges and universities in the Football Bowl Subdivision submitted two-minute highlight videos, vying for one of the 10 qualifying positions in the Division 1A category. Each entry was judged based on character development, community involvement, game situations, and interaction with their school's band, cheer squad, and dance team.
Tennessee Spirit Program staff member Rodney Arnold led this year's mascot team through the entry process, and he believes the team is poised to make a run at the program's fourth national championship.
"We have a great group of students who have worked hard to bring Smokey to life each and every day," Arnold said. "Now they have a chance to be rewarded as one of the best, if not the best, in this business. Their dedication at studying and perfecting Smokey's character is up there with some of the best we've had come through the program in the last 10 years."
The mascot team now turns its attention to preparing for the national championship competition where Smokey will execute a 90 second performance. The score from the performance will be combined with the entry video score to determine the national champion and final rankings.
The video entry can be seen here:Â https://youtu.be/PfyizOVpJjo.
RESULTS
1. The Ohio State University - "Brutus Buckeye"
2. University of Minnesota - "Goldy Gopher"
3. University of Colorado - "Chip"
4. Auburn University - "Aubie"
5. University of Tennessee - "Smokey"
6. Pennsylvania State-University Park - "Nittany Lion"
7. Liberty University - "Sparky"
Tie 8. University of Washington - "Harry"
Tie 8. University of Wisconsin - "Bucky Badger"
9. University of Oklahoma - "Boomer"
10. Louisiana State University - "Mike the Tiger"
11. University of Iowa - "Herky the Hawk"
12. Washington State University - "Butch T. Cougar"
13. Purdue University - "Pete"
14. Louisiana Tech University - "Champ"
15. University of Texas at Austin - "Hook Em"
16. Rutgers University - "The Scarlet Knight"
17. Western Kentucky University - "Big Red"
18. University of Kansas - "Baby Jay"
Tie 19. University of Mississippi - "Tony the Landshark"
Tie 19. Vanderbilt University - "Mr Commodore"
20. University of Texas at Austin - "AirHorn"
21. University of Kansas - "Big Jay"
22. University of Alabama Birmingham - "Blaze"
23. Baylor University - "Bruiser"
24. Baylor University - "Marigold"
25. Bowling Green State University - "Freddie"
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Smokey, a three-time national champion at the Universal Cheerleaders Association College Mascot National Championship, placed fifth today in the entry video competition, rejoining the top-5 after placing ninth in 2017, tenth in 2016, and not qualifying in 2015. The top-10 mascots announced today, including Smokey, will compete for the title of National Champion on January 19, 2019 at ESPN's Wide World of Sports in Orlando.
25 mascots from colleges and universities in the Football Bowl Subdivision submitted two-minute highlight videos, vying for one of the 10 qualifying positions in the Division 1A category. Each entry was judged based on character development, community involvement, game situations, and interaction with their school's band, cheer squad, and dance team.
Tennessee Spirit Program staff member Rodney Arnold led this year's mascot team through the entry process, and he believes the team is poised to make a run at the program's fourth national championship.
"We have a great group of students who have worked hard to bring Smokey to life each and every day," Arnold said. "Now they have a chance to be rewarded as one of the best, if not the best, in this business. Their dedication at studying and perfecting Smokey's character is up there with some of the best we've had come through the program in the last 10 years."
The mascot team now turns its attention to preparing for the national championship competition where Smokey will execute a 90 second performance. The score from the performance will be combined with the entry video score to determine the national champion and final rankings.
The video entry can be seen here:Â https://youtu.be/PfyizOVpJjo.
RESULTS
1. The Ohio State University - "Brutus Buckeye"
2. University of Minnesota - "Goldy Gopher"
3. University of Colorado - "Chip"
4. Auburn University - "Aubie"
5. University of Tennessee - "Smokey"
6. Pennsylvania State-University Park - "Nittany Lion"
7. Liberty University - "Sparky"
Tie 8. University of Washington - "Harry"
Tie 8. University of Wisconsin - "Bucky Badger"
9. University of Oklahoma - "Boomer"
10. Louisiana State University - "Mike the Tiger"
11. University of Iowa - "Herky the Hawk"
12. Washington State University - "Butch T. Cougar"
13. Purdue University - "Pete"
14. Louisiana Tech University - "Champ"
15. University of Texas at Austin - "Hook Em"
16. Rutgers University - "The Scarlet Knight"
17. Western Kentucky University - "Big Red"
18. University of Kansas - "Baby Jay"
Tie 19. University of Mississippi - "Tony the Landshark"
Tie 19. Vanderbilt University - "Mr Commodore"
20. University of Texas at Austin - "AirHorn"
21. University of Kansas - "Big Jay"
22. University of Alabama Birmingham - "Blaze"
23. Baylor University - "Bruiser"
24. Baylor University - "Marigold"
25. Bowling Green State University - "Freddie"
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Spirit Squad | Smokey Places Second in National Semifinals
Monday, November 28
