Dec. 29, 2006

PULLMAN, Wash. - Alumni and fans of Washington State University will want to watch the Capital One Bowl, Monday, January 1, from Orlando, Florida, beginning at 10 a.m. PT on ABC.

The Cougar faithful will not be as interested in the gridiron tussle between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Arkansas Razorbacks as they will be riveted to their television screens for the halftime announcement of the Capital One Mascot of the Year winner.

Washington State's own Butch T. Cougar began the online competition known as the Fur Factor 2006 Capital One Mascot Challenge, Sept. 12. Butch was one of a dozen collegiate football mascots vying for the fifth annual honor of being voted Capital One Mascot of the Year and a prize of $10,000 to the university.

To say Butch was the Cinderella of the competition is an understatement as the cagey cougar was the sixth of six mascots to advance to the playoffs. Butch scratched back each week, first knocking off No. 3 Aubie from Auburn University, then tackling No. 4 Big Red from Western Kentucky, fricasseeing No. 5 Smokey from the University of Tennessee and finally swatting No. 1 Mr. Wuf from North Carolina State from the contest in the semifinals.

The two mascots battling in the final were Butch and No. 2 Testudo from the University of Maryland, with online voting from Dec. 11-18, and a campaign appearance on NBC's hit morning show "Today" Wednesday, Dec. 13. Butch and Testudo had already gone fur-to-shell during the second week of the competition when Butch sent Testudo retreating after the WSU mascot's victory of just over 3,000 votes.

So who will be crowned the Mascot for the Year Jan. 1? Will it be the fearless feline, the king cat of the Palouse, the favorite fur-ball of Washington State fans everywhere? Or will the timid terrapin slink off with the prize? Tune into the Capital One Bowl at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan.1, on ABC to see.