LIVE DUKE DOG MAKES APPEARANCE AT JMU FOOTBALL

HARRISONBURG, Va., Sept. 8, 2007 – For the first time in more than a decade a living mascot was on the sideline taking part in game-day festivities during a James Madison University athletics event Saturday.

Seigle, a seven-month-old English bulldog, took part in events surrounding JMU's season-opening football game with New Hampshire, including running onto the playing field with the university's cheerleaders prior to the JMU team's entrance at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

Seigle is owned and cared for by Harrisonburg's Solomon Zarchini and Mark Neofotis, who were excited to be involved with JMU athletics and who may provide the bulldog to JMU for appearances at selected athletics events.

"It's an honor and privilege to be able to give back to the university as well as help support the JMU Dukes' winning tradition," the owners said.

Seigle made his first game-day appearance wearing a purple JMU jersey.

JMU athletics during the summer began inquiring about potential live-dog mascots to use in conjunction the university's on-going Centennial Celebration and the 25th-academic-year anniversary of the first Duke Dog's appearance at a JMU event.

A living bulldog mascot was first a part of JMU athletics during the 1972-73 academic year, and four were associated overall with the university through 1994.

The first belonged to Dr. Henry Myers, a JMU political science and history professor, and made his initial official appearance during a Jan. 16, 1973 men's basketball game in Godwin Hall. He attended most JMU basketball games and served as the Dukes' mascot until 1977.

A second mascot served briefly in 1978, and a third made his first official appearance Jan. 12, 1980 at a Godwin Hall basketball game. The third mascot was kept JMU professors Drs. William R. and Eileen Nelson and served through the summer of 1981.

The fourth mascot had the longest tenure after making his first official appearance Feb. 13, 1982 during a 24-6 men's basketball season. The then-five-month-old dog was kept by the Nelsons and served until 1994.

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