It's not unusual to see a dog or some other animal mascot circling the sidelines during a college football game. But a bear? In 1915, some rowdy Cornell students actually purchased a live bear cub in Maine, named it Touchdown, and made it the football team's mascot. They even took the wild beast on trains during road trips. And you thought Ivy League students were smart.

Touchdown left the mascot game in 1939 after the Animal Protective League stepped in, but ever since, his successor Big Red has held down the sidelines and rallied Cornell fans. Continuing without official recognition, Big Red does it strictly for the love of the game...and perhaps a few errant sorority girls. Playboy.com b.s.-ed with the bear about volleyball chicks, communism and fighting Quakers.

Playboy.com: What does the school think of your unofficial status? Are you some sort of rebel?
Big Red: I guess there are mixed feelings. I'm very elusive on campus. When you do see me on campus, it's sort of a rare thing.

Playboy.com: Do you ever think you'll be official?
Big Red: I'm pushing hard to become an official mascot. I'm not asking for money, just a little bit of respect.

Playboy.com: Do you get any support from the female students at Cornell?
Big Red: Sorority girls love the bear. I've been attacked multiple times by drunken sorority girls.

Playboy.com: Ladies love the bad boys, or bears in your case. When can students find you cheering on the sidelines?
Big Red: I do all the major sports, like football, hockey, basketball and women's volleyball. I love women's volleyball because I've never seen a game played that well and the girls look good, too.

Playboy.com: You're a big red bear. That sounds a little Commie to me. Are you, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?
Big Red: Not at all. I'm fully for America.

Playboy.com: Stephen Colbert hates bears. He says they're a threat. What do you say in return?
Big Red: I guess I'd say bring it on.

Playboy.com: What was your worst moment as a mascot?
Big Red: I tried to skate at the ice rink once, but I kept falling and was doing a terrible job. I tried to throw out candy, but the fans threw it back at me. They had to clean the ice and the hockey team got a penalty for it. It was a depressing moment, and now I have to stay off the hockey rink during games.

Playboy.com: That sucks.
Big Red: Yeah, it's pretty bad, especially since I had a tradition of stripping on the ice during the last game.

Playboy.com: Let's change the subject. Who are your big rivals?
Big Red: Harvard is a big rival, especially for hockey. The school doesn't have a mascot, but it's a big deal. I taunt either the team or the band and pretend to yell stuff at them. Penn's a big deal, too.

Playboy.com: Ever get into a fight?
Big Red: No. I've always wanted to beat up the Penn Quaker, but it's tough because Quakers don't fight.