It turns out that in order to become Puddles, the University of Oregon’s beloved mascot, one must have many ducks in a row.
UO’s Cheer & Dance & Mascots code of conduct for the 2025–26 academic year is a hefty eight-page agreement with rules that must be followed to don the costume. The document was first obtained by David Covucci, the editor in chief at FOIAball, a website that seeks public records from collegiate athletic programs.
The cheer team, referred to in the contract as “The Squad,” follows a strict three-strike policy, meaning multiple violations of the rulebook may result in missing a game. Strikes may be earned for any number of offenses: Attending practice in Adidas gear at a Nike school is a no-no; so is being late or failing to uphold a decent grade point average…