Mascots get physical at WAC basketball tourney
RENO, Nev. (AP) - The intensity of Utah State's 71-70 win over New Mexico State in the final 3.1 seconds Friday night spilled over to the sidelines where the mascots for the two teams named Aggies got physical with each other down the stretch of a Western Athletic Conference basketball tourney semifinal.
During a time out with 7 seconds left and New Mexico State leading 70-69, Utah State mascot "Big Blue" the bull confronted the New Mexico State's cowboy mascot "Pistol Pete" and ripped off his fake mustache.
The cowboy then chased the bull to half court, jumped on his back and tried unsuccessfully to pull him to the floor. He then started to try to choke his rival before retreating to his end of the court.
Several newspaper photographers covering the game said they heard a man in a Nevada shirt offer the Utah State mascot $100 to go grab the mustache. The man confirmed to The Associated Press that was true and that he paid the mascot the $100, but declined to provide his name. He said he did not expect the NMSU mascot to respond the way he did.
WAC Commissioner Karl Benson was watching the game but said he missed the incident.
After fans for both teams started booing, Utah State's Tai Wesley caught an inbounds pass at the top of the lane and passed to Tyler Newbold on the left wing. His 15-foot shot rolled off the rim, hit the backboard and rolled in with 3.1 seconds on the clock to help Utah State (29-4) overcome a 13-point deficit and set a school record for most wins in a season.
Utah State, the league's regular season champion, now advances to Saturday's WAC final against the winner of Friday night's other semifinal between second-seeded Nevada (20-11) and sixth-seeded Louisiana Tech (15-17).
13 comments:
Well--I think the Aggies proved they have the talent to be a good tem over the next few years. Now they need t learn how to win. This one will sting for a while, but should be a valuable experience come this time next year.
I think Gustopo Benson needs to look into this incident and have the WAC Tourney Removed from Reno next year and Never allow it to be held in Logan Utah. If I were Pete I would file assualt and battery charges against the WhatEver it is. Isn't accepting cash a NCAA Violation?? Put Utah St on 4 years probation!!!
The Utah State cow and the Aggie mascot should have split the $100.
JG, Pete doesn't take himself to seriously. But that stunt was a huge sign of disrespect, and DJ (the student who portrays our mascot) had every right to respond. He was visibly upset over the whole thing, but I give him kudos for stinking up for himself and our school.
Yeah this wasnt anything funny or what not. Its unacceptable for a mascot to take money from a fan to go and rip something off of the other mascot. That mustache is glued on to DJ and Im sure it hurt a little and he did the right thing. I know I wouldnt just stand there if someone ripped off my mustache. the same would have happened if DJ had ripped off the nose ring the bull has.
GS
"but I give him kudos for stinking up for himself and our school"
way to STINK it up DJ!
Gah! Cut me a break. I had been up for 30 hours when I made my post. Sticking up was the phrase I was going for there.
I'm glad to see Pete respond the way he did!
It was very disrespectful and I would have not laid off the choke hold until the cow stopped moving.
That bull is lucky that Pete didn't kick him in the jimmy.
JG -
aggiesportsblogdotcom guys go off on this 'stache incident - not sure what's humour and what's serious?
http://www.aggiesportsblog.com/article.php?article=98
Big Blue's Mustache-Gate is a red herring. He was not the only one receiving payoffs during the game.
How hard can it be to bring down a Mascot? I think DJ or Pitolero Peety needs to bulk up during the off season....so that the next time he's confronted he can at least knock the mascot to the floor.
By the way.....I think it was a girl inside the USU mascot costume.
It is surely not a girl playing Big Blue.
Post a Comment