University of Massachusets Athletics
Sam The Minuteman To Be Featured On NBC's
December 11, 2005 | General
Dec. 11, 2005
AMHERST, Mass. - Coming into the final week of the Capital One Mascot Challenge, Sam The Minutemen will be making two television appearances this week to help boost his vote total in the contest's final week. Currently, Sam is facing Herbie Husker of Nebraska in the final round. Both he and Herbie will be featured this Wednesday (Dec. 14) morning as guests on NBC's "Today Show" which airs at 8:30 a.m.
The winner will be deemed the Capital One Mascot of the Year, presented at the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 6, and brings home $5,000 for the University.
Voting for the final round started Monday, Dec. 5 and will conclude on Monday, Dec. 19. Fans are encouraged to vote for Sam at either www.CapitalOneBowl.com or at www.UMassAthletics.com.
Sam is the only mascot representing a school from New England and the Northeast. He is also the only I-AA Football mascot in the challenge. Other schools in the contest include UCLA, Tennesse, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Washington State, Purdue, Kansas, Baylor, Auburn, Miami, and Nebraska.
In other national media outlets, Sam has been a guest on "The Wheel of Fortune", was named the "Playboy.com Mascot of the Month", has his own ESPN commercial with tennis great Andy Roddick, and has been featured in several national commercials for the Capital One Mascot Challenge which are aired on the ABC/ESPN family of networks.