Falcons rally in 2nd half, overcome Demons

The Bird helps referees by signaling a holding call during Air Force's home opener against Northwestern State at Falcon Stadium Sept. 4, 2010. The Bird is the official Air Force mascot and is one of 16 mascots competing for the 2010 National Mascot of the Year award from Capital One. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

The Bird needs your vote for Mascot Challenge

Published Oct. 12, 2010
By Leslie Finstein
Air Force Academy Public Affairs

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The regular season for the Capital One Mascot Challenge is halfway over, and the Air Force Academy Bird needs your votes.

With the competition entering its seventh week, the Air Force Academy's skydiving mascot needs to get more votes to avoid a total freefall.

In fourth place just five weeks ago, the Bird has dropped to 13th place and is on a five-match losing streak. He needs to break into the top eight to make the cut for playoffs.

With only six weeks left until the playoffs, the Bird has to turn it around but he cannot do it without voter support. This week, the Bird takes on last-place Testudo from the University of Maryland. This turtle has a 0-6 record and has the fewest number of votes in the competition. The Bird wants to make him 0-7.

Fans can vote in one of two ways: online at http://www.capitalonebowl.com/vote or via cell phone text message (standard messaging rates apply) by sending "the bird" or "thebird" to 69866.