Purdue Pete Named Creepiest Mascot in America

It’s a good thing that the official mascot of Purdue is the Boilermaker Special VII, as the national perception of our beloved Purdue Pete is not strong:

What makes a mascot creepy? Is it a blank stare, intimidating facial expression, or disproportionately large head? If you take a look at the three creepiest mascots in America, you’ll see that the answer is a resounding yes.

Purdue Pete, of Purdue University, is the proud owner of all three, landing him squarely at the top of the list. In fact, if you type in “Purdue Pete” on Google, one of the first suggestions is “Purdue Pete creepy.” We’re not joking.

It seems, though, that Purdue is aware of Pete’s reputation. Former athletic director Morgan Burke even said that he often received phone calls from parents who said their children were scared of Pete.

Listen, Pete has seen some shit, man. You try to not have that blank 1,000 yard stare when you have lived through The Fumble, Rob’s knee, Haas’ elbow, the Virginia game, and more.

Let’s not re-design him though. We love Pete. May he one day reach the Promised Land of a Final Four.