You may notice that is a theme with my list, the NMSU version also named Pistol Pete—but live human not costume is even worse. If we ranked Oklahoma State their Pistol Pete would also be down at the bottom.

They are all the same….just soft head, hard head and real head….and all of them are bad.  So, yeah it is Pete, not Joe…but I will say even without the monstrosity of Pete, the Shetland Pony would be low on my list for live animal mascots anyway.

Just go with a real horse. I mean, the image of a tough cowboy riding in on a Shetland pony is pure comedy.

Nick: I know you’re excited to talk about the Oregon Duck. Why does the Duck earn the No. 1 spot on your list?

Stephen: The Duck is the full package.  Great costume, great look, great energy and hilarious. Everything you want in a mascot, the Duck possesses.

The best mascot not only in the west, not only in the Big Ten, but the best mascot in the nation!

I mean, in the Big Ten and nationally maybe Sparty is close. Sebastian the Ibis? Sure, close. But the Duck is hands down the best.

Nick: I think a lot of people will be surprised to see Traveler/Tommy Trojan at No.19. Traveler is kinda majestic though right?

Stephen: Okay, yes, Traveler is majestic. A Trojan riding in on a white horse is sword waving…Sure and we are talking about the live Trojan, so yeah, I am good with that.

But Tommy, the costumed Tommy!!?!?!??  Come on Nick, I talked about how much I love Sparty. Tommy is a cheap imitation who skipped leg day.

And that grin on his face? Nah, I can’t get behind that.

Nick: How do you have Benny the Beaver at No. 9? His eyes scare me.

Stephen: When you are attacking trees head on like a Beaver is known to do, your eyes might get a bit crossed.

Or maybe it’s too much fun in Corvallis after dark!

Seriously though, The Beaver is great!! High energy, love that the big tail.

And, hey, no one could blame OSU if the Pooh Bear’d him up because of that tail. But they fully dress Benny and I think it is fantastic!

Nick: Cam the Ram at No.4 is a great choice. Why’d he land in your top five?

Stephen: You know what? Colorado State did a great job of making both the live version of Cam and the costumed version of Cam fantastic.

Easily the best combo version in the West, in my opinion, and up there nationally too. Maybe the two UGA’s are better?

Really Nos. 4 through 7 on my list are all great combo live animals and mascot versions of them….I just think the Rams are the best of that group.

Nick: Anything else you’d like to add?

Stephen: I really like the way Nevada did the wolf, and to make it even better, the Wolf Pack have a full fledged Pack!!  Alphie, Wolfie Jr and Luna.

Granted, I think Luna could use an upgrade and then this Pack would move up my list. But a clear winner in the Wolf department on my list over UNM.

I also dig Wilbur’s hat!!

Stephen’s Questions for Nick

Stephen: So, Nick, I have a few questions for you as well. What makes pushes Cosmo to the top of your list?

Nick: I think that Cosmo looks like a Yeti which is dope to me. I’m not sure how he exactly classifies as a Cougar, but in some costumes looks the part.

He’s super intimidating, does wild stunts, and dances with the cheerleaders. Cosmo is the old guy who gets let into frat parties because of his aura.

All of my machismo references aside, whoever suits up in the Cougar costume is an excellent athlete. At most schools mascot work can prove light. At BYU, it takes a breakdancing stuntman to win the position.

Stephen: One of the few spots we agree on is Sparky at number two. Why second? (Also, I will say, while Tommy’s grin is creepy, Sparky pulls off that Devilish grin.)

Nick: I know that a Devil is probably controversial in some circles, but it’s the perfect mascot for Arizona State.

I wanted to be Sparky as a kid growing up in Seattle with no affiliation to ASU. A red and yellow Sun Devil is synonymous with the Arizona heat and adds an intimidation factor in its own right.

It might be the pitchfork, or maybe the mischievous grin, but there’s something about Sparky that just hits.

Stephen: Oskie at 21?  That bear just looks so gosh darn grandfatherly, how can you put him that low?

Nick: Bro, you had Oski at No. 15 so he isn’t really your favorite either. But when I think of a Bear I think of a killing machine.

If they’re trying to make an offbeat Mascot like the Stanford Tree, they need to make it more obvious. I’m not sure what vibe they’re going for with Oski.

I agree with you that he is grandfatherly, but is that the right energy for a football game? I’ve always felt California should lean into their bay area culture the way Fresno State leans into The Valley.

Stephen: When we talked about stadiums I had a similar question for you, so I’ll ask again: Why so low on Butch?  I figured he’d be your guy? (It’s the eyebrows isn’t it?!)

Nick: I’ve never thought about Butch’s eyebrows before and now I’m going to take another look.

Call overturned, the eyebrows are fine.

I feel numbers 12-16 could be switched on my list based on my mood. Butch is solid but in good faith I can’t place him in my top ten. He’s like your friend at the bar that you’re always happy to see but sometimes you take for granted because he’s always there.

Butch T. Cougar is a classic, and I’ll always have his back.

Stephen: We neither had much love for Swoop. How could Utah improve on that?

Nick: Utah needs to turn their Fight Song into a real-life mascot. Or just make their hawk a lot cooler. I like the idea of having a red-tailed hawk as their companion, but the execution is off.

The costume is bland and the color scheme feels like it’s missing something. If they re-layered the colors around the beak, I think the costume would look better.

At least the Utes are good on the field.

Stephen: Any final thoughts on the great mascot debate of the west?

Nick: I got three final thoughts.

Joe and Josephine Bruin are simple and well done.

The Stanford Tree somehow works.

And Buster Bronco is a stud.