West Lafayette - Purdue University fans are welcoming back their old sideline mascot, Purdue Pete, now that school officials have dumped his unpopular replacement.
The university's action came Wednesday, days after Purdue Pete's new full-bodied costume design was greeted with boos during last weekend's annual spring football game. The move even prompted a Facebook campaign to save the old mascot and garnered nearly 5,000 fans.
The Journal & Courier of Lafayette reports fans overwhelmingly preferred the older outfit that featured a student wearing an oversized mascot head with wide open eyes. That version debuted in 1989 and was retired last week, only to be returned to action this week.
Athletic director Morgan Burke says, "The fans have spoken."
While Pete had changed several times in the past, the now-shelved costume was the first full-body costume in the mascot's history. It cost about $7,500 and was made by a Wisconsin-based company.
Information from: Journal and Courier
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