The military academies have a long tradition of swiping rivals’ mascots ahead of big games, but the most recent attempt was a bungled operation.
With the Army and Naval academies set to play each other in football on Dec. 11, West Point cadets decided to steal Bill, the Navy’s goat mascot, according to the New York Times.
PENTAGON MAKING SPACE ASSETS APPEAR ‘LESS JUICY’ FOLLOWING RUSSIA MISSILE TEST
Last weekend, the cadets sneaked onto the farm where the current mascot, his understudy, and his predecessors live. But instead of kidnapping the current mascot, Bill 37, a curly-haired Angora, they snatched Bill 34, who retired in 2015 and only has one horn.
School superintendents Army Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams and Vice Adm. Sean Buck reminded students on Monday that there’s an agreement in place making living mascots off-limits.
“The Academies have an agreement that live animal mascots are off-limits when it comes to ‘spirit missions’ ahead of our football rivalry weeks,” Williams and Buck said in a statement, according to the outlet. “These actions do not reflect either Academy’s core values of dignity and respect. USMA has ensured the goat was returned safely and is investigating those responsible.”
Bill 34 was returned to the Army on Monday, and a veterinarian said the goat was in good health following his abduction.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
This was at least the 10th time Army cadets have stolen Bill since 1953, and Navy midshipmen once were able to capture the Army’s mule mascot.
Mascot-stealing has been forbidden for nearly three decades. The Army and Navy came to a formal agreement in 1992 after Navy midshipmen cut phone lines and zip-tied Army employees while stealing West Point’s mules.
