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The Eddie George era started with a Smell on Thursday night when Bowling Green Falcons topped Lafayette Leopards, 26-7.
Cameron Pettaway may have started the game with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Mar’kel Porter may have run after a touchdown, and Jackson Kleather may have made four field goals, but none of the moments overshadowed a cool cat on the sidelines.
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Pudge the cat in its box during the game between Bowling Green Falcons and Lafayette Leopards at DOYT PERRY STADIUM AD AUGUST 28, 2025 IN BOWING GREEN, OHIO. (Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
Pudge the cat became viral on social media during the game when Bowling Green staff showed the cat during its debut. The 3-year-old exotic Shorthair-Persian belongs to Falcon’s Long Snapper George Carlson. He initially brought the cat into the facility to lift the spirits of his teammates on an off -day.
“I just enjoy making people happy and putting smiles on people’s faces. He’s been doing it for me for me so long, so I would share that joy,” he said.
It wasn’t an instant hit in the dressing room. George admitted he is allergic to cats, and cornerback Jalen McClendon said a cat attacked him when he was 13 years old.
Bowling Green Long Snapper George Carlson, who holds his 3-year-old Persian Shorthair Cat Pudge, will be interviewed in the Sebo Athletic Center at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, Monday, August 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Joseph Reedy)
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“Pudge is sweet. My wife loves pudge. He has become part of the family (football),” George said. “Pudge remains out of my way, I keep out of his way and we’re doing well.”
Bowling Green Fullback Leo Kemp may have kickstarted the virality when he posted a video in his Tiktok account showing the cat.
“You may have a $ 300 million facility,” he wrote as a screen text. “But do you have a changing room tax?”
The clip was seen more than 367,000 times and received comments from Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.
The pudge cat is hoisted during the game between Bowling Green Falcons and Lafayette Leopards at DOYT PERRY STADIUM AD AUGUST 28, 2025 IN BOWING GREEN, OHIO. (Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
Pudge also has its own Instagram account, which has just over 3,600 followers. Through a NIL agreement, Pudge T-shirts showing him as a cartoon wearing a BG helmet for sale.
