The football team at Bowling Green State University was down on its luck and in bad need of change, when along came a kitty catalyst.

Bowling Green

Bowling Green State University in Ohio has seen a surge in football game attendance, with a three-year-old Persian cat named Pudge emerging as an unlikely mascot. Owned by George Carlson, a player on the team, Pudge began attending games after Carlson noticed the positive impact the cat had on his own well-being, especially following the loss of his mother.

Pudge's presence at games has captivated both fans and players, with many attending specifically to see the cat. The university has reported a nearly 60% increase in home game attendance, the highest among Division 1 schools, attributed in part to Pudge's popularity and the uplifting effect he has had on the community.

Pudge the cat steals the show at Bowling Green football games

To show power and dominance, a lot of colleges have these mascots, live animals they use to fire up the crowd at football games. And Bowling Green State University in Ohio is no exception, only their warrior guide is less frightening beast and more fancy feast. He's got some allergies. Meet Pudge, Bowling Green's three-year-old Persian Patronus. Pudge attends every home game, his mere presence, like catnip, for these dogged fans. They're like Simba, the crowd's like. The players say Pudge has become a phenomenon. There's thousands of people there just to see a cat. For the cat? Yeah, he's quite the celeb. People love him and I guess I can't blame him because I love him too. George Carlson is Pudge's owner and Bowling Green's long snapper. George first brought Pudge to the locker room earlier this season. At the time, he says everyone was in the dumps about some injuries and he thought what this team needs is his cat. I mean, he'd seen Pudge work miracles before in his own life. I mean, for me, he played a really big role. Last year, George lost his mom, Kristen, to ovarian cancer. It was very tough for me, especially living in a single apartment. I could get really down, you'd spiral really easily. But the thing is, is I could come home to this cat who's just funny looking, he's slightly odd. And it helped? It helped a lot. I just think the whole process would have been harder without him. And it was that belief, in the healing power of the purr, that brought Pudge to the team and now to his legion of fans. Home game attendance is up almost 60% this year. That's the largest increase of any Division 1 school in the country. No doubt due, in part, to the long snapper and the long napper, who have given everyone in this community reason to cheer. Well, almost everyone. Steve Hartman, on the road, in Bowling Green, Ohio.

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