CNN’s Pamela Brown meets Pudge the cat and talks to his owner George Carlson about Pudge’s rising fame on the internet as Bowling Green State University’s latest mascot.

Bowling Green

Bowling Green State University has introduced Pudge, an exotic shorthair cat, as the football team's newest mascot. The cat, owned by player George Carlson, was first brought into the locker room after a teammate suffered a serious injury during practice, helping to lift team morale.

Since then, Pudge has become a popular figure on campus and online, often seen in the locker room and interacting with players. Described as hypoallergenic and easygoing, Pudge is expected to serve as a morale booster and entertainer for the team throughout the season.

Meet college football’s newest mascot, Pudge the cat

Well, Oregon has a duck and you know, Texas has a Longhorn steer. Don't sleep on Bowling Green's feline power. Yes, Bowling Green State University has the perfect weapon. This is punch the cat, the newest member of the Falcons, and perhaps the team's MVP following a big season opening win against Lafayette. And he is becoming an Internet sensation hanging out in the team locker room and capturing hearts around campus. He even has his own method of transportation. Look at that. For more Pudge and his owner, George Carlson, who is also a player for the team, joins us now. My whole team has been obsessed with this story, George and sweet Pudge. Tell us how exactly did Pudge first find his way into the locker room. So we had a practice in fall camp. It was a scrimmage practice and early on we had a player go down with a serious injury and everyone was was pretty down from that and you know morale was a little low and the next day we we had an off day and I said you know I might as well bring my little cat in and you know I I brought him in. Everybody loved it and it's it's taken off from there. Well, tell me more about how you found Pudge. So Pudge, he we got him from a breeder. My mom and my dad went to pick him up. And they got him and I remember I they sent me this picture of him and he's just the funniest looking little cat. And I was so excited to see him and bring him home. So I love his face. So listen, I I'm an animal lover through and through. I am allergic to cats sadly and so it makes me wonder what about players on the team that are allergic. Has that presented any challenges? I you know, I haven't really heard from anybody who's been super allergic to cats in the locker room. You know, everyone has kind of supported him and you know the good thing about Persians and exotic short hairs is they're actually hypoallergenic, so if you have cat allergies you're probably won't get sick towards them unless you you are allergic to the same dander that's in in Persians. So he's he's a pretty good cat to have around. Don't tell my daughter that she's dying for a cat and I tell her mom has cat allergy stuff. She hears that she wants to cat allergy stuff. She hears that she might really make a sell for it. So he always is cuddly. By the way, he looks very cuddly and comfortable. Yeah, you know the exotic short hair. They're not a working cat at all. You know, that's what people say. They kind of just sit around. They're very leisurely. He just sits here and hangs out with me and and that's really bad. Alright, so last question to you. What will Pudge be tasked with this season? I. Pudge, I think will be tasked with being an entertainer. It seems that everybody really loves him. And you know, I'm I'm so happy that I'm bringing that joy to everybody. I he brings me significant amount of joy and he brought everyone in the locker room. A lot of joy and I think just being a morale booster and entertainer for the season would be the best role for him.

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