SMU Football team will travel with reinforcements to Charlotte, North Carolina for Saturday night’s Atlantic Coast Conference championship game against Clemson. But not everyone is on board with the newest addition to the roster.
SMU announced earlier this week that the team mascot, Peruna, will make the trip with the team to support the Mustangs as they attempt to remain perfect through conference play and secure a spot in the newly expanded College football playoffs.
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) reacts to showing a touchdown pass to teammate wide receiver Derrick McFall (20) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against California, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
But People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent a letter to SMU President R. Gerald Turner on Friday, urging the university to “cancel the senseless stunt and put an end to the school’s archaic tradition to have a living mascot.”
“Ponies are prey animals whose instinct is to panic and flee from surprising sounds, yet SMU plans to parade this pony as a toy in front of a stadium full of screaming fans, noisemakers and a band,” said PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. in a statement.
“PETA urges SMU to consider Peruna IX’s perspective, cancel this performance and leave the ponies alone by ending the school’s live mascot program.”
Southern Methodist Mustangs mascot Peruna runs across the field during a college football game between Southern Methodist Mustangs and Prairie View Am Panthers on September 16, 2023 at Gerald Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. (Christopher Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
THE LIVE MASCOT OF TEXAS LONGHORNS, BEVO, EXCLUDED FROM SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
In a post on
Despite the protest, Peruna IX will be in Charlotte on Saturday evening.
Peruna IX, a colt, has been the SMU mascot since 2011. SMU’s first live mascot appeared in 1932 and for the first 60 years, Peruna would storm the field after every SMU touchdown. Now Peruna leads the team onto the field and runs between quarters.
FILE – SMU Mustangs mascot Peruna runs on the field before the game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Oct. 5, 2019. (Timothy Flores-USA TODAY Sports)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Saturday ACC title game starts at 8:00 PM Eastern.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports reporting on Xand subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
