The Daily Tar Heel

Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: University

Media Credit: DTH/Kaitlin McKeown Pablo, a 3-year-old ram, this fall will replace his father, Rameses, as the University mascot. Rameses recently lost one of his horns.

There will be a new face on the sidelines of the football field this fall, but to many he will look like the same beloved mascot.

Rameses the ram will be replaced this season by his son, Pablo, a 3-year-old ram, because Rameses lost a horn butting heads with his son.

Pablo will become the 18th Rameses, the ram that represents the University at football games.

Rob Hogan, owner of Hogan's Magnolia View Farm where the UNC ram has been kept since the tradition started in 1924, said he was surprised that Rameses had lost his horn.

"I have never remembered this happening before," Hogan said. "I guess since he is older, his bones just weren't that strong."

Hogan said that rams often butt heads when they are playing.

Because the horn broke off right at the skull, Rameses has been experiencing some pain and has a minor infection at the site.

Hogan said that after a recleaning of the wound Monday, Rameses was doing much better.

Rameses, the 17th mascot, is 8 years old and will spend the remainder of his life on the Hogans' farm, relaxing and watching his son live up to the Rameses name. Rams typically live to be only about 10.

The next step for Pablo is months of training to get him ready to don his Carolina blue horns and blanket for his big debut at the first home game of the season Aug. 30.

"We have quite a bit of training to do," Hogan said. "Even though they are domesticated animals, we have to make pets out of them."

Pablo will have to learn how to ride in a pick-up truck down to Kenan Stadium and how to be led to the field.

Hogan said Pablo did fine on a test ride in the truck to downtown Chapel Hill.

He also said it will take the first part of the season for Pablo to get used to the game-day commotion.

"Imagine trying to take your cat or dog out onto the field with 65,000 screaming fans," he said.

Other duties that Pablo will have to fill are appearing at Tar Heel Town and posing for pictures with students and alumni. Sometimes he even runs out of the tunnel with the team and cheerleaders.

"It's an old tradition we do some years, but sometimes the cheerleaders are scared of him," Hogan said. "Pablo will probably want to run; Rameses got too old, and he didn't really like to."

Hogan said almost every student who passes through the University remembers the ram.

"After coming to Kenan Stadium and Tar Heel Town for years, it is not unusual for alumni that are 70, 80 years old coming to me and the ram and telling us stories about when they used to go here and see Rameses," Hogan said.

"People are absolutely crazy about the ram."



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.

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