University of Tennessee Athletics
Smokey Named Top Live Mascot
July 02, 2015 | General
July 2, 2015
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Smokey was named Bleacher Report's best live mascot in college football. The rankings were formulated by adding scores of weaponry, attire, cuteness, originality and chances in a fight.
Smokey earned 100 of his 122 points in the cuteness category. Smokey beat out second place finisher Mike the Tiger (LSU) by 82 points. He also took out Ralphie (Colorado), The Leprechaun (Notre Dame) and Chief Osceola and Renegade (Florida State), among others.
Earlier this year, Smokey won Paul Finebaum's competition and was named the SEC's top live mascot. The poll was done via social media support by Vol Nation. Smokey defeated Texas A&M's Reveille in the finals but also won against Mississippi State's Bully and Arkansas' Tusk.
Smokey, a blue tick coonhound, leads the football team each game out of the giant "T" prior to each home game. Current Smokey, X, began his duties in 2013 and continues to don the checkerboards at Vol football games.
