Overview

• The 3-year-old exotic shorthair Persian appeared on the sideline during Thursday’s 26-7 season-opening win over Lafayette and briefly showed up on ESPN.
• A teammate’s TikTok video of Pudge lounging in the Sebo Athletic Center drew widespread attention and propelled the cat’s rise on social media.
• Head coach Eddie George, who is allergic to cats, has accepted Pudge’s presence as part of the football family after early hesitation.
• Pudge now has an Instagram page and an NIL arrangement that includes T-shirts featuring a cartoon of the cat in a Bowling Green helmet.
• Players and staff credit the feline with boosting morale and generating national interest, with coverage from major outlets amplifying the story.