University of Cincinnati’s Bearcat Named Capital One National Mascot of the Year

MCLEAN, Va.--After months of fierce competition, University of Cincinnati’s Bearcat proved to be the 'beast’ of the gridiron, having pulled in the majority of the millions of votes cast to earn the coveted title of Capital One National Mascot of the Year. Bearcat edged out the potent and powerful Bill the Goat from the United States Naval Academy in the championship round. The highly anticipated announcement was made on air during halftime of the nationally televised Capital One Bowl. Bearcat defeated 11 deeply talented (and oddly-proportioned) All-American mascots to bring glory (and $20,000) to the University of Cincinnati.

“Bearcat joins a prestigious list of winners, which consists of Division 1A and 1AA winners spanning from the North, South, East and West”

"Once again, this was one of the most anticipated and fiercely fought competitions to date, featuring two mascots that proved they belong with the best of the beasts,” said Steve Schooff at Capital One. “For the eighth year in a row, this competition was designed to recognize the unsung heroes of college football, so we’re thrilled to see so many millions of students, fans and alumni get behind their mascots.”

Last summer, 12 eye-catching characters were named to the eighth annual Capital One All-America Mascot Team, and have since been embroiled in an intense competition to be named Capital One National Mascot of the Year. Since August 31^st, fans have come out in force casting their votes at www.capitalonebowl.com.

"We're proud of all of our All-Americans, who sacrifice their claws, horns, fur and feathers to support their schools," added Schooff.

This year’s eclectic crew of birds, mammals, reptiles and creatures were chosen from Division IA and IAA athletic programs with college football teams. They made the squad after being ranked on mascot musts such as interaction with fans, originality and pedigree.

Over the past seven years, Capital One has helped thrust the spotlight on these unsung heroes of college football. Team members starred in a national advertising campaign, which this year featured the mascots participating in the Mascot Training Camp, a series of unusual (and fictitious) athletic, awkward and hilarious mascot competitions including the T-shirt firing range, parade float pulling, and good old-fashioned choreography. In this year’s commercials, football great Doug Flutie starred and played the role of ‘Mascot Trainer.’ In addition to the hoopla, each mascot received $5,000 for its school’s mascot program. Bearcat, the Capital One National Mascot of the Year, received an additional $15,000 scholarship to help fund the University of Cincinnati’s mascot program.

"Bearcat joins a prestigious list of winners, which consists of Division 1A and 1AA winners spanning from the North, South, East and West," added Schooff.

Prior winners included a giant bird from the ‘heartland’ (Iowa State Univ., 2008), a kangaroo from the Midwest (Univ. of Akron, 2007), a cougar from the Northwest (Washington State's Butch T. Cougar, 2006), a working man (Nebraska's Herbie the Husker, 2005), a grizzly bear (Univ. of Montana's Monte, 2002 and 2004) and a gamecock (Univ. of South Carolina's Cocky, 2003).

2009 Competition Recap

We said farewell to four of the mascots as we entered the playoffs. During week one of the playoffs Wisconsin’s Bucky Badger (#8) kept his upset bid alive by upsetting TCU’s Superfrog (#1), as Navy’s Bill the Goat (#2) kept his hopes alive by defeating South Dakota State’s Jack Rabbit (#7) in a close battle to the finish. The week one playoffs continued with Maryland’s Testudo (#3) continuing his slow crawl up the leaderboard by defeating perennial favorite Western Kentucky’s Big Red (#6), while Cincinnati’s Bearcat (#4) started his run to the finals by conquering Miami’s Sebastian (#5).

Week two of the playoffs featured Bill the Goat continuing his climb to mascot fame by defeating Bucky Badger, while Bearcat upset Testudo’s hopes for mascot fame and fortune. The final round, featured Bearcat and Bill the Goat battling claws vs. horns for mascot supremacy, and the ultimate title.

About Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company whose subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A. and Capital One Bank (USA), N. A., had $114.5 billion in deposits and $209.7 billion in total managed assets outstanding as of September 30, 2009. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One offers a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. Capital One, N.A. has approximately 1,000 branch locations primarily in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. A Fortune 500 company, Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 100 index. Capital One’s affiliation with college football began with the sponsorship of the 2001 Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl (now the Capital One Bowl) and ESPN’s Bowl Week. In addition, Capital One sponsors the ABC College Football Halftime Report and numerous other college football programs.

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