Sam Houston State University, located in the heart of the gun-totin' Lone Star State, owes its name to the frontier general and revolutionary leader. With such a rugged, robust and awe-inspiring namesake, the school needs a similarly noble symbol to inspire students.

Sammy the Bearkat -- an orange fur ball that looks more like Garfield than a kick-ass general -- doesn't look the part. But beneath the smiling exterior, Sammy has enough heart and hustle to lead any of Sam Houston State University's teams to victory. Playboy.com caught up with the brawny bearkat and talked about rival lumberjacks, the benefits of playing dead and outfits that really turn heads.

Playboy.com: What is a bearkat?
Sammy: They're real. I think they live in Southeast Asia.

Playboy.com: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Sammy: No, I just come out and run with the team and wave a flag.

Playboy.com: What about halftime? Have you performed any special on-field routines in the past?
Sammy: I dance and do some flips every once in a while. Once, I did a "Samzilla" skit. I walked through a town made out of cardboard boxes and destroyed it. People enjoyed that.

Playboy.com: I hear you're a big clothes freak. What do you usually wear on game day?
Sammy: During football season, I wear a jersey and pants, but I've been known to wear almost anything. One of the best outfits from last year was a trench coat. I went around flashing people. It got them screaming, but that was the point.

Playboy.com: So you're sort of a prankster?
Sammy: I'm a goofball, definitely. I also like to hit on the girls and blow them kisses. I'm very successful with the girls.

Playboy.com: Any special moves?
Sammy: Sometimes, when girls kiss me, I pretend to faint. Then they bring me back to life.

Playboy.com: Do you consider yourself a ladies' man?
Sammy: I try to be, but sometimes girls run away. I tell myself they're afraid of mascots.

Playboy.com: They're probably just afraid of rejection. Let's change the subject. Who is your big rival?
Sammy: The mascot for Stephen F. Austin University. He's a lumberjack who dresses up and carries a big axe.

Playboy.com: Ever thrown down with the lumberjack?
Sammy: Yes, at a televised game last year at our field. He tackled me when I was riding my scooter onto the field, and then it escalated. The cops came in and tried to keep it from getting out of control.