Some congratulations are in order for Sparty.
For the second year in a row, the mascot reigns high and supreme above all other mascots in the nation after defending his title as number one mascot in the country at the College Mascot National Championship held in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 15.
Goldy Gopher from the University of Minnesota, YoUDee the blue hen from the University of Delaware and Spike the bulldog from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., clearly couldn't compete with a well-prepared and executed routine on the part of our school's mascot.
To clinch the win, Sparty's team submitted a two-minute video and completed a 90-second routine titled "Sparty's Favorite Movies," in front of the judges.
As arbitrary and unimportant as you might think a mascot competition is, the fact that our mascot is considered the best in the nation should be a source of pride to students - especially given that it's rare for MSU to win a national championship two years running in anything else.
And you have to admit, a great deal of work goes into being Sparty. The unnamed individuals that suit up on game days put a great deal of time into representing this university and rallying students.
Who can deny getting excited when Sparty pretends to pummel a rival mascot at football home games?
Sparty has earned a number of successful titles - he was named the "buffest" mascot by Muscle & Fitness magazine in 1999 - but the win in Orlando didn't rely on the mascot's muscles. It was a passion for crowd participation and enthusiasm.
Fellow Spartans, next time you see Sparty give him a pat on the back and shake his gigantic hand. He has brought home perhaps the only national championship MSU will achieve this year.
