Big Jay in 10th Place Overall in Mascot Challenge

Nov. 1, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Big Jay is in 10th place overall with three weeks to go in the Capital One Mascot Challenge and faces No. 2 Smokey (6-2) of Tennessee this week. Big Jay won his matchup with Cocky (3-5) of South Carolina last week to improve his record to 3-5 and end his five-match losing streak. The win puts Big Jay in a position to make a push for one of the six playoff spots.

“I’m thrilled with the idea of making the playoffs,” said Big Jay. “I really look for the support of my loyal fans in the last few weeks of this competition.”

At the beginning of the week, Big Jay was winning his matchup against Smokey and leading all mascots with nearly 60,000 votes. Fans can help Big Jay in his quest for the playoffs by voting www.capitalonebowl.com, or via text message by sending the code M2 to 4ESPN (43776). Voting for Big Jay’s matchup against Smokey will end Monday, Nov. 7, at 7:59 a.m.

Each week, Big Jay will be matched up against a mascot from a different school. Voting periods for each matchup will run from 8:00 a.m. Monday to 7:59 a.m. the following Monday. On Nov. 21, the regular season ends and the mascots with the top six overall records in head-to-head matchups advance to the playoffs. The playoffs will be single elimination and will consist of three rounds. Voting for the championship match will run from Dec. 5 to Dec. 19, with the winner being crowned Jan. 2, 2006, at the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla.