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                         August 9, 2002

Army will retire mules at Holy Cross Game

By Bob Beretta
Asst. Athletic Dir., Athletic Media Relations

While Army’s football game against Holy Cross Sept. 7 will mark the dawn of a new season along the banks of the Hudson, the opener will spell the end of service time for a pair of West Point’s more familiar soldiers.

Traveler and Trooper, two of Army’s three mule mascots, will be officially retired during a special halftime ceremony that day. Both mules have roamed the Army sidelines in their mascot capacity since arriving at the Academy in 1990 and both will be retired to the Rasputin Mule Farm in Waldron, Ark.

A pair of mules will be introduced to replace Traveler and Trooper Sept. 7.

Army fans from around the country can take part in naming one of the two arriving mules through a contest on the Army Web site at www.goARMYsports.com. Fans can select their favorite choice from four possibilities: Thunder, Warrior, Storm or General Scott (in honor of former USMA Superintendent and mule-lover Gen. Willard Scott).

One of the new mules will be named Ranger II, in honor of the 75th Ranger regiment.

With the retirement of Trooper and Traveler, Raider becomes the senior member of Army’s mule stable. The 12-year-old Army mascot arrived at the Academy in 1995.