We’ve finally reached the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the final countdown, or more accurately, the final round of Mascot Madness! Even if your favorite mascot didn’t make it to the finals, we still need your help to crown this year’s #1 SUNY mascot. This is a match-up for the ages – a high-performing former champion against an upstart newcomer from the SUNY community college ranks. So, we’re calling on you, students, alumni, faculty and staff, and community members to show some love for our SUNY mascots one last time.
Our two remaining mascots, Victor E. Knight and Rip Van Winkle, have put in tons of hours at the gym and on the fields and courts to make it this far in the competition, and they don’t want to go home empty-handed.
We started with 36 mascots from across our campuses who put their all into to win the coveted title, including some first-time participants. All mascots were randomly placed into four SUNY regions and ranked by the number of athletic teams each mascot represents, which determined who would compete against each other in each round. Now, it’s come down to the finals, and Victor E. Knight and Rip Van Winkle are here to battle for the championship.
As in the Final Four, the championship match will give you a chance to vote via social media. The SUNY twitter account will release a tweet for the championship game asking for users to either retweet or favorite their preferred mascot. These selections will be compiled into the vote totals with each engagement being worth 1/2 vote in the grand totals.
Who will take home the coveted honor of #1 mascot? That’s for you to decide!
Mascot Madness 2018 Finals: Voting ends Wednesday, April 4 at 1:00 p.m.
Finals
Who will be declared #SUNY #MascotMadness champion in 2018? Bonus points available here:
RT to support Victor E. Knight from @SUNYGeneseo
LIKE to support Rip Van Winkle from @SUNY_cgcc pic.twitter.com/NYz3bLFhrQ— SUNY (@SUNY) April 2, 2018
Victor E. Knight
- What is your name and what school do you represent?
Victor E. Knight, the SUNY Geneseo Mascot. SUNY Geneseo — Go Knights! - What was your favorite athletics moment at school from the past year?
When Women’s Basketball won the 2018 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championship - If you could major in any one subject at SUNY, what would it be and why?
Architecture, because I love the castles of Ireland, Scotland, England and the Châteaus of France. - If you could teach one class at SUNY, what would it be and why?
Medieval Studies-Because I am expert in Poetry and Cosmology in the Middle Ages - What is your favorite breakfast cereal to eat in the morning?
Frosted Flakes, they’re GR-R-REAT! - What is your favorite topping to put on an ice cream or frozen yogurt sundae?
New York’s finest Maple Syrup! - In your free time, what is your favorite NY activity to do?
Exploring the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Letchworth State Park. It is one of the most picturesque areas in the Eastern U.S. with the mighty Genesee River and three major waterfalls. - What 3 items would you take to a desert island to help pass the time?
A Hammock, Sunscreen, and a Lute. - If you weren’t a mascot for your school, what job would you have?
Most likely a neurosurgeon. - Tell us one secret people would be surprised to know about you.
I have webbed toes.
Rip Van Winkle
- What is your name and what school do you represent?
I’m Rip Van Winkle, and I represent Columbia-Greene Community College – Go Twins! - What was your favorite athletics moment at school from the past year?
My favorite moment by far was our pep rally to celebrate the Women’s Basketball Team after they were ranked fifth in the nation among DIII teams by the NJCAA! - If you could major in any one subject at SUNY, what would it be and why?
I love Individual Studies because I am one-of-a-kind. But we’ve also got some new programs here, like cybersecurity and agribusiness, and those seem cool, too. - If you could teach one class at SUNY, what would it be and why?
I pitched the college a Sleep Study 101 course, but it didn’t fly. So, I think teaching Environmental Studies with an emphasis on the local area would be a great fit for me. - What is your favorite breakfast cereal to eat in the morning?
Quaker Oats, mostly because I’m friends with the guy on the box. - What is your favorite topping to put on an ice cream or frozen yogurt sundae?
What’s frozen yogurt? Sorry, I’ve been asleep for 20 years. - In your free time, what is your favorite NY activity to do?
Most people know I’m fond of hiking the Catskill Mountains … and napping. - What 3 items would you take to a desert island to help pass the time?
My buckskins, a pillow, and a copy of Washington Irving’s awesome story about me. - If you weren’t a mascot for your school, what job would you have?
That’s easy. Professional bowler. I missed my calling… - Tell us one secret people would be surprised to know about you.
I love a parade.
Athletics at SUNY
In terms of statewide athletics, SUNY collectively has more than 750 athletic teams among the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III, and NJCAA ranks, as well as hundreds of non-competitive athletics clubs. At SUNY, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved for those who are passionate about athletics, whether it’s playing or spectating. These competitive students can be, and are, part of a group that brings championships and accomplishments home to New York State.
Our mascots work so hard cheering on all of our SUNY student-athletes and pumping up the crowds all year long. With this competition, we have the opportunity to cheer them on and recognize them for all the hard work they put in to raise our campuses and students across New York State and beyond. So show them some love, and let your voice be heard!
* Voting for the 2018 Mascot Madness tournament will be conducted with vote verification. Each voter will need to supply an email address with which they will be sent a confirmation email to submit their votes through. This will allow the voting to be reviewed for consistency in a direct way. All votes will be limited to one per 24 hours, after which a user can resubmit a new vote in the same game again. Email addresses will not be used for marketing or addition to any mailing lists, but simply for voter verification. All addresses will be deleted at the conclusion of the tournament.
