Forgiving errors is part of the Nittany Lion mascot's job. He still supports the basketball player who misses the 3-pointer at the buzzer or the baton twirler who drops the baton on the last throw.
This legacy -- provided by co-author of The Nittany Lion, Steven Herb -- is especially fitting with the Nov. 22 arrest of the current mascot, James Sheep, Herb said.
"I think probably there isn't anyone around who wouldn't like him to be able to rewind and do that day again," Herb said. "I'm sure the way he feels right now -- nobody feels worse."
Sheep, a senior, was charged with DUI after he was pulled over by Penn State Police at 3:16 a.m. Nov. 22 on Curtin Road and recorded a .164 BAC, according to the criminal complaint.
He was pulled over after a police officer noticed there were too many people in the car he was driving, police said. Sheep had "watery, sleepy eyes," and police detected the odor of alcohol emanating from the vehicle, according to the criminal complaint. Sheep failed field sobriety tests and consented to a blood test, police said.
University spokesman Geoff Rushton said the incident is "disappointing."
"Any time there is an alcohol-related violation with a student it's disappointing, but it wouldn't be fair for me to single out one person," he said.
He also said he wouldn't necessarily call the mascot a figurehead, but he is certainly "recognizable" and a "well-regarded part of the campus."
The Office of Judicial Affairs has not taken any action against Sheep yet, Rushton said.
Rushton said any decision about suspension of Sheep from the role as mascot is up to cheerleading coach Curtis White. White did not respond to repeated phone calls by press time Monday. Sheep refused comment Sunday.
Herb, also the head of Penn State's education library, said the mascot is the one of the few physical representations of Penn State that can move from place to place.
"I think whatever that mythical thing of Penn State's spirit is -- that is what he, and eventually she, symbolizes," Herb said. "Excitement at victory, sympathy at defeat."
Herb said he hopes Sheep finishes out his senior year as the Nittany Lion mascot.
Jackie Esposito, the other author of The Nittany Lion and Penn State library archivist, said the Nittany Lion is the most recognizable mascot in the nation.
"It's all the good things that reflect Penn State about spirit and sportsmanship," she said, "and I think that's what the man in the suit symbolizes."
Esposito said the name of only the last few of the 43 mascots have been publicized.
"Part of it is to make the reality of the person in suit more realistic to fans -- the humanity of the person in the suit," she said.
Still, Esposito said, Sheep should possibly be held to a higher standard as the mascot.
"If he was any one of other 42,000 Penn State students on a big football game weekend, it would have just been in the police blotter," she said. "The reason it is a story is because when he is not being a normal Penn State senior, he's wearing the suit."
