ODU's Mascot of the Year to Thank Voters at Ice Cream and Cake Pep Rally Jan. 25

Old Dominion Monarch fans, especially ODU students, went all out for their mascot from August to December, voting more than 2 million times to help Big Blue win the Capital One Mascot of the Year competition.

Now Blue wants to say thanks. And what better way for Monarch fans than with ice cream and cake?

Big Blue will host an ice cream and cake social and pep rally at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, in the North Cafeteria of Webb Center.

The activity-hour event will feature ice cream and cake, and likely "Ice Cream and Cake" - the Buckwheat Boyz song that Monarch fans have made into a dance-routine tradition during home basketball games.

In winning the Capital One Mascot of the Year competition, Big Blue defeated 15 other mascots from across the country, many from nationally known schools like Ohio State and UCLA.

Going undefeated in the "regular season" portion of the competition, Blue raced through the playoff draw, winning a high noon-style showdown with the Oregon Duck in the semifinals, and defeating Paydirt Pete from the University of Texas-El Paso in the final.

Big Blue was named Mascot of the Year, and received a $20,000 check for ODU's mascot program, during the Capital One Bowl Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla.