PROVO -- BYU's mascot, Cosmo the Cougar, will celebrate his 50th birthday Saturday at the BYU vs. New Mexico men's basketball game in the Marriott Center. The game starts at 7 p.m.
Nearly 40 former Cosmos will be at the game, which will include a halftime tribute to Cosmo. Cosmo the Cougar, the brainchild of pep chairman Dwayne Stevenson, made his first official appearance before BYU fans on Oct. 15, 1953. Cosmo's antics and acrobatics are a big part of the game-day experience. Cosmo has become an icon of Cougar sports to fans and foes across the country.
The cougar was first chosen as BYU's mascot by former basketball coach Eugene L. Roberts during the early 1920s. Prior to Cosmo the Cougar, BYU had a live cougar prowling the sidelines of BYU athletic events on a regular basis through the late 1940s and on special occasions in the 1960s.
Tickets to Saturday's game are available at the BYU Ticket Office or by calling 378-BYU1 or 800-322-BYU1. Tickets may be purchased online at BYUTickets.com.