The Jackson State Tiger Appears to Have Attended the Interactive School of Mascoting

As we are now well into the 21st century, mascoting has evolved just like everything else.

The modern mascot has mutated into a more aggressive creature that has become an integral part of a football program.

We were provided emphatic and illegal proof of this in a SWAC battle this past weekend.

Now, when Jackson State and Bethune-Cookman hook up, you can throw the records out anyway, but things got extra weird after a pretty spectacular touchdown:

 

Now that isn't your father's animal-themed mascot.

 

It's perfectly natural to fear what we don't understand, but that possibly deranged dude in the Tiger costume is the future of modern mascoting.

The officials seemed genuinely alarmed at the persistence of this furry nuisance, while the announcers were just bemused.

Clearly, they don't understand the dangerous precedent that's just been set.

 

A 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty accessed on the kickoff isn't going to deter that sort of deviant behavior.

In defense of the Jackson State Tiger, at least we know what the hell it is.

 

Also, actual animals are still much more unpredictable.

 

On second thought ...