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The past few days have been a celebration of Big Ten football, with the mascots of all 14 teams (except, of course, Michigan and Indiana) appearing at the 10K race on Sunday and the FanFest today. Unfortunately, our own beloved Purdue Pete might be looking a little awkward at the FanFest today:
I think you forgot something in your room this morning @TheRealPUPete pic.twitter.com/a8tuZ0fb4g
— Kent Brown (@kentbrown) July 25, 2017
I assume this is at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago where Media Days are currently going on. There are several reasons this could have happened.
1. The “New” Purdue Pete has broken containment and is seeking revenge
It has been 6 years since the 2 day reign of the “New” Purdue Pete came to an end. He was symbolically handed the hammer at the 2011 spring football game, then was quickly stripped of his title due to fan backlash. The whole incident cost the school at least $25,000 in research, the costume, etc., and he was quickly banished. Perhaps he is back for revenge and we should be expecting a ransom note soon for “Classic Pete”
2. Morgan Burke is trying to frame Mike Bobinski
We have had nothing but overwhelming praise for Mike Bobinski since he took over nearly a year ago, and we are free of the scourge that was Burke. As one of the leading Burke hating/Bobinski loving sites out there, maybe Burke is trying to frame Bobinski somehow so he can come back.
3. The long lost Indiana mascot trashed the hammer
You probably wonder what I am talking about, but it is true. At one time the Indiana Hoosiers had an actual mascot. He is even still out there on Twitter.
Wait a minute…
The last tweet from “Hoosier Pride” was on April 14, 2011.
The “New” Purdue Pete was introduced and derided and eventually banished on April 13, 2001.
Morgan Burke himself said: "If we don't think the first prototype gives us the final product, then we keep working.” this was when he was still trying to push the new Pete.
We are through the looking glass now. It is clearly all three, with Burke now as “Mr. Hoosier Pride.”
(and before people complain, yes, it is the offseason and there is very little to write about.)