WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR by WPPA-TV's John Vorperian of "Beyond The Game." October 3, 2005: YALE’s Best Known College Sports Idol granted an exclusive few moments this past Saturday October 1st at the Yale Bowl, New Haven, CT during the 2nd quarter in a fierce gridiron contest against Holy Cross, with WPPA Channel 76 BEYOND THE GAME Host Johnny V for the White Plains CitizenNetReporter.
White Plains Public Access Sportscaster, John Vorperian interviews "Handsome Dan" on the sidelines at Yale Bowl Saturday afternoon during Holy Cross-Yale action. Photo for WPCNR Sports by Chi-Lam Mak.
Sure BTG has gotten to chat with Hall of Famers, Super Bowl, World Series, and All-Star participants but nothing compares to being at that hallowed Ivy League venue and on the field with a key Yale Athletics celebrity.
Indeed, there are many, George W. Bush ’68 (fullback, rugby/pitcher, freshman baseball) his dad George H.W. Bush ’48 (first baseman, baseball 1947 & 1948 Yale teams that played in College World Series), Stone Phillips ’77 (All-Ivy quarterback, Yale football 1975 [7-2] and 1976 [8-1]) or Calvin Hill ’69 (All-Ivy running back with the League Football- Champions 1967 and 1968).
Yet the Eli Icon was Handsome Dan, a spry two-year old 69 pound English Bulldog from Hamden CT. On April 26, 2005 selected from a field of 10 candidates, Magnificent Mugsy Rangoon, put his paw print on the dotted line and became Handsome Dan XVI. As noted by Yale Bowl Illustrated publications his prime mission is "to serve as the Yale University Athletics mascot, to be patient with young and old alike and to bring good fortune to the playing fields of Yale."
The BTG Host met with Handsome Dan who was prowling the Home sideline to the cheers of many. All responses were interpreted on Handsome Dan’s behalf by his owner Bob Sansone, a middle school language arts teacher.
JV: “Good afternoon, thanks for taking this time out. Yale was the first university in the USA to adopt a mascot. The tradition started in the 1890s. Some of your predecessors have worn gear in supporting Eli Athletics. For example, will you don bathing trunks for the diving team?”
Handsome Dan: “No. I’d rather swim au natural.”
JV: “What’s your favorite toy?
Handsome Dan Relaxing in his special Box. Photo by Steve Conn, Yale Sports Publicity.
HD: “This specially adapted football with handle. (HD gripped handle with his mouth and swiftly ran 20 yards back and forth with the ball.) My second favorite toy is the Hula-Hoop with a football player figure. Stick around I’ll be catching that for the half-time show.”
JV: “How do you prepare for a game?”
HD: “I sleep a lot, and eat a lot.”
JV: “In competition you beat out the other Bulldogs because instead of the stuffed Princeton tiger doll you assertively went after the Crimson blanket. Yale leads the series 64-49-8 and you host THE GAME here November 19th. How will you prepare for Harvard?”
HD: “I’ll sleep a little more and eat a little more. And jump up on the couch!”
JV: “What’s been the greatest Yale Athletics Moment in Handsome Dan’s career?
HD: “So far, hmm, when Yale beat Cornell 37-17 in our 2005 home opener.”
JV: (Cheers for HD are louder.) “The crowd loves you, what other things are you doing?”
HD: “Lots of appearances. Went on ESPN’s Cold Pizza, I was at the Yale Bookstore for Children’s Day. Celebrated Dogs and Cats Day at the Peabody Museum and attended a Worldwide Fellows Meeting.”
JV: “After football what’s the next big sporting
event?”
HD: “I’m looking forward to the Yale v. Quinnipiac Hockey Match-Up.”
JV: “Today is Youth Day and…”
HD: “I love meeting kids. The more kids the better. I just love being around children and…(HD has dashed off and is now playing with a youngster and a mini-football.)
If Mr. and Mrs. White Plains or actually from Handsome Dan’s viewpoint, White Plains Youth wish to
see him in action Yale Football’s next home games are:
October 8th Dartmouth
November 5th Brown
November 19th Harvard
For more information visit: http://yalebulldogs.collegesports.com/ Also, kudos to Assistant Athletic Director Steve Cohn, Bob Sansone, Sam Rubin, and all the Yale Sports Publicity Staff for granting this interview.
Handsome Dan's Digs: The famous Yale Bowl, perhaps the most famous hallowed football stadium in the world. Boola Boola! Photo by Bill O'Brien. Courtesy Yale Sports Publicity.
