The results are in, and Aubie is no.1... so far.
Jackie Popper, director of Aubie, said after the mascot video portion of the Universal Cheerleading Association's 2013-2014 College Cheerleading & Dance Team National Championship Aubie is leading the competition.
"It's a two part competition," Popper said. "Aubie has come in first place in the video portion for four straight years."
Popper said the other half of the competition is a minute-and-a-half skit.
"It's a lot of effort for a very short performance time," Popper said.
The Committee of Aubie led by three directors of Aubie creates props for game days, plans the skit Aubie performs at nationals and films events which feature an appearance from Aubie.
Taylor Akers, director of Aubie, said there is a large time commitment required to achieve consistent success.
"As soon as I got the call and became a director the very next day I was out with Aubie and had that camera," Akers said.
Taylor Prouty, director of Aubie, said there can be anywhere between 10-20 events featuring Aubie a week, and sometimes there can be as many as 25 events.
However, Prouty said the fun of being involved with Aubie makes up for the hard work.
This is Prouty's second year as a director, and she said she felt she had no choice but to come back for year two.
"Who wouldn't want to hang out with Aubie all day?" Prouty said. "It's a true Auburn experience."
Mascots who finish in the top four in the video half of the event receive a paid invitation to the Jan. 17-19 skit portion in Orlando, Fla.
Akers and Proudy said the skit is still in its early planning stages.
"I hope we can just go in as strong as we did with the video," Akers said."I don't really know if we've solidified anything for this year yet."
Prouty said most ideas will materialize during Thanksgiving break, and the most work will be done during Winter break.
Aubie has seven first place finishes in the competition overall, and his last win was in the 2011-2012 UCA National Championship.
Popper said consistent success has set a standard for other mascots to emulate.
"If you look over the years you can definitely see where others have looked to what we do for inspiration," Popper said.
Despite last year's first place finish in the video portion of the competition, Popper said Aubie finished in second to Goldy Gopher from the University of Minnesota in a close race
"We didn't lose by much," Popper said. "It was probably by half of a point."
Popper said there is a consistent effort by the Aubie committee to maintain consistent excellence in the competition.
"We really try hard to keep our standards high," Popper said. "Usually, when we don't place first we're in the top 3."
This year Aubie is joined in the top four by Bucky Badger from University of Wisconsin, Smokey from University of Tennessee and Sparty from Michigan State University.
Finishing just outside the paid-invite list was University of Alabama's Big Al at no.5.
All three directors of Aubie said this year's goal is for Aubie to win the entire competition.
"Last year it was great getting to go to nationals," Prouty said. "Our goal this year is to come back to Auburn with title no. 8,"
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