
The next Mizzou vs Illinois rivalry game could include a new matchup of two fierce furry mascots – a tiger against an otter.
What began as a joke and a viral meme among Illini students has turned into an official petition to make "Alma Otter" the new mascot of the University of Illinois.
There is some sense behind the otter, as some state residents say it "mirrors the resilience and common appeal of the university," since the animals were once an endangered species. It also fits in well with animal mascots in the Big Ten like Wisconsin's Bucky Badger and Minnesota's Goldy the Gopher.