Bowl game mascots continued to steal headlines into the new year, as the Cheez-It mascot announced "in no uncertain terms that he was not edible" prior to Tennessee's win over Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl yesterday. That is "unlike his counterpart in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 28." The Cheez-It mascot "displayed on a sign after rising out of a giant Cheez-It box" that said "Non-edible mascot." It later "followed up with a sign that said 'Me mascot. No eat'" (SI, 1/1).
The new mascot, named Ched-Z, "delivered one of the great moments of bowl season." Ched-Z was also "seen getting a massage on the sideline during the game." At the end of the game, "rather than doing the usual Gatorade shower, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel was rained on" with Cheez-Its (N.Y. POST, 1/1).
Ched-Z has entered the building for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl 😅 😤
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2024
(via @CitrusBowl) pic.twitter.com/oCzFmI9947
