Pete first stepped into Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana in 1956, after Purdue Athletic Director Guy "Red" Mackey asked the pep committee to create a mascot to inspire fans. Since then, Pete, whose main prop is a Boilermaker train, has been sparring with other mascots, swinging his sledgehammer and rallying Purdue fans to victory against the rest of the Big Ten.

Pete recently took time out of his busy schedule to share his train of thought with Playboy.com and tell us all about his run-ins with Bobby Knight, what a body slam from Goldy Gopher is like and why he needs to start wearing a cup.

Playboy.com: What's the craziest thing that's ever happened to you in your 45 years at Purdue?

Purdue Pete: During my first year as Purdue Pete, I lucked out because one of the older Petes let me do a football game. It was the Purdue/Indiana game, which is the biggest game all year. Everything was going great until the IU cheerleaders decided to do the traditional "rack" on the opposing mascot: They grab you, split your legs and Boom! -- run you into the goalpost.

PB: Ouch. Do you wear a cup?

PP: No, but I probably should. But that shouldn't happen when you're playing a home game, according to mascot etiquette. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but then six Purdue rugby players came from out of nowhere and saved me. I wanted to fight back, but I had to make sure I didn't look like a meanie in front of all the kids.

PB: Do you normally need bodyguards?

PP: I'd like to think not. But after a while you learn where not to go -- I wouldn't have gone as far into IU territory if I hadn't been so new. I didn't realize the intensity of the mascot world at the time! [Laughs] It was payback time when we went to IU the following year.

PB: It's too bad IU doesn't have a mascot for you to duke it out with.

PP: Well, they did have Bobby Knight. [Laughs] At basketball games, the goal was to try to distract him.

PB: Did you ever succeed?

PP: He's a little scary -- you don't know what he's capable of doing. But I definitely tried to get as close as possible without getting a technical [foul] for the team. I'd lean into their huddles during time-outs and stuff like that.

PB: Did he ever attack you?

PP: No, he didn't. I would've liked some action with him.

PB: How do you get pumped for a game?

PP: I walk around the tailgates and the stadium. I mostly try to get to the kids, because I grew up as a Purdue fan and Purdue Pete was like Superman to me.

PB: Do you change with the players?

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