AP Spotlight Live animal mascots inspire fans, create deep connections with their teams PAT GRAHAM Associated Press Sep 26, 2025 Sep 26, 2025 Updated Jan 1, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save kAmq~&{st#[ r@=@] — %96 ?6H6DE DE2C 7@C E96 r@=@C25@ qF772=@6D =@G6D >@=2DD6D\32D65 EC62ED[ 5C:?<:?8 DEC2:89E 7C@> E96 H2E6C 9@D6 2E 96C C2?49[ 2?5 82==@A:?8 :? 7C@?E @7 2 DE25:F> 7F== @7 72?D]k^AmkAm#2=A9:6 'xx >256 96C >F49\2?E:4:A2E65 563FE =2DE H66<6?5[ E96 J62C\@=5[ f__\A@F?5 32== @7 3:D@? 6?6C8J 3FCDE:?8 @FE @7 96C 6?5\K@?6 DE2== 2D Qw66666C6 4@>6D #2=A9:6Q 3=2C65 7C@> E96 u@=D@> u:6=5 DA62<6CD]k^AmkAm(:E9 96C C@>A ;FDE A2DE >:57:6=5[ @?6 @7 E96 v~p%D @7 =:G6 2?:>2= >2D4@ED :? 4@==686 7@@E32== H2D 324<] |@C6 E92? DJ>3@=Dj E96D6 36=@G65 2?:>2=D :?DA:C6 72?D[ 7@DE6C 2 566A 4@??64E:@? 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College football mascots just as good at keeping their identities secret as firing up a crowd From Michigan State’s Sparty to South Carolina’s Cocky, ex-mascots share what it’s like to keep a campus-wide secret.