The student behind the Nittany Lion costume was charged with drunken driving early last Saturday morning before the Michigan State game, Penn State Police said.

James Sheep, a senior, was pulled over on a traffic stop at 3:16 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, on Curtin Road after a police officer noticed there were too many people in his car, police said.

Sheep was then found to be driving under the influence, police said. Penn State Police Officer Sean Gorman filed a DUI charge and summary traffic violations against Sheep with District Judge Jonathan Grine, according to police reports.

Penn State spokesman Geoff Rushton said Friday he did not know if Sheep's status as the mascot would be affected by the charges. He said that decision will ultimately be made by the head cheerleading coach.

Curtis White, Penn State's cheerleading coach, could not be reached for comment.

Rushton also said Friday that he expects some action from the Office of Judicial Affairs, although no steps have been taken yet because of the holiday.

Penn State Police referred all questions about possible university punishment to the Office of Judicial Affairs.

Later Nov. 22, Sheep was honored at the final home football game of the year for his tenure as the mascot since January 2007. The Beaver Stadium Jumbotron zeroed in as he removed his mask and waved to the cheering crowd. After this season, he will be handing down the costume.

Penn State officials could not be reached for comment about whether the charges would affect Sheep's attendance at the Rose Bowl game, Penn State's bowl destination.

Outside his University Terrace apartment Sunday, Sheep refused to comment about the charges or his mascot status as he walked to his car.

After being rejected in his quest to become the Lion as a freshman, in his junior year Sheep finally beat out six other students who had made it through the interview process. The tryout included performing 50 one-armed pushups, a 30-second skit and waving the Penn State colors.

The student selected for Nittany Lion does much more than put on a furry mask before kickoff. In return for a scholarship, the Lion attends more than 300 events per year, Sheep said after his selection in January 2007.

Additionally, the Lion must maintain a 3.0 grade point average, said Joan Duff, mother of Marty Duff, the mascot from 1998 to 2000. Duff said she was unaware of any other out-of-costume requirements her son had to uphold, but said the code of conduct while in costume was quite strict.

"It was a very demanding position for a young student," she said. "Obviously, what you are outside the costume is just as human as you and I."

Other former students who served as the Lion did not return repeated phone calls or refused to comment about the issue.

--Collegian staff writer Elizabeth Murphy contributed to this report.