Eddie the Cougar Wins OVC Mascot Challenge
SIUE’s Eddie the Cougar is now an Ohio Valley Conference champion.
Fans, students, faculty and alumni of #SIUENation helped Eddie the Cougar gather 3,440 of the 11,000 votes cast in the 2014 OVC Mascot Challenge. The results were announced during the OVC Men’s and Women’s Tournament at Municipal Auditorium.
“We congratulate SIUE’s Eddie the Cougar and his fans across the country,” said Beth DeBauche, OVC Commissioner. “The OVC Mascot Challenge has proven to be a fierce competition with Eddie the Cougar garnering almost 31 percent of the total votes this year.”
Eddie the Cougar earns “bragging rights” for the year, and SIUE will be awarded $1,000 for its general scholarship fund.
Delta Dental of Tennessee sponsored the contest which featured all 12 OVC Mascots: Austin Peay’s Governor, Belmont’s Bruiser the Bruin, Eastern Illinois’ Billy the Panther, Eastern Kentucky’s Colonel, Jacksonville State’s Cocky, Morehead State’s Beaker, Murray State’s Dunker, Southeast Missouri’s Rowdy, Tennessee State’s Aristocat, Tennessee Tech’s Awesome Eagle and UT Martin’s Captain.
“Delta Dental of Tennessee understands the power and pride of mascots,” said Phil Wenk, D.D.S., president and CEO, Delta Dental of Tennessee. “Our mascot, Marshall Molar, teaches kids the importance of good oral health.
“We are proud to support OVC schools and believe the OVC Mascot Challenge is a fun way to promote healthy competition between the 12 schools.”
Delta Dental of Tennessee, with its affiliates in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina and Ohio is among the largest dental plan administrators in the nation. In 2012, the collective enterprise paid out nearly $3 billion for dental treatment for nearly 11 million enrollees.
