The FINANCIAL — Among the excitement and debate that comes with preseason rankings for college football, mascots have traditionally stood as the unsung heroes that will ultimately be responsible for driving school spirit among fans through landslide victories and crushing defeats.
With clipboard, stopwatch and a bag of Cheetos snacks in hand, Chester Cheetah, the iconic spokescat for the most playful snack in the world and a leading brand from PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division announced his official rankings of the Cheesiest College Mascots. Giving college sports fans and mascot enthusiasts nationwide a cheesier set of rankings to follow, the mischievous Cheetos spokescat has assembled this exclusive ranking to celebrate his quirky counterparts at universities and colleges around the country.
Drawing from an admittedly unscientific analysis of college mascots nationwide, rankings are based on "cheese factor" and all-around silliness. Topping the inaugural ranking is the Fighting Pickle, the official mascot of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Impressively, this top honor goes to a university without an actual athletics program, demonstrating that mascot mastery can happen anywhere.
Throughout the rankings, it comes clear that institutions of higher learning in the east dominate with regard to cheesy mascots, claiming 15 of the top-25 spots.
Vegetables and fruits establish a powerful presence on the list with three top-10 rankings, proving once and for all that produce are players. Not surprising, animals claimed multiple spots, however, what becomes particularly intriguing is that all mascots representing the animal kingdom are unexpected warriors, ranging from the squirrels (Mary Baldwin College) to hens (University of Delaware) to burrowing clams (The Evergreen State College). As PepsiCo reported, finally, special accolades go to four mascots, representing colleges without collegiate football programs (Centenary College, Mary Baldwin College, Trinity Christian College and University of North Carolina School of the Arts).
Even cheesier than this list of mascots, Cheetos snacks offer a way for families and friends to add a playful twist to their daily routine. The popular snacks are available in 17 varieties and 12 different flavors, including its newest addition — Cheetos Crunchy Salsa con Queso Cheese flavored snacks which hit store shelves earlier this year and are available in a 9.25-oz. package for a suggested retail price of $3.49.
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