Perry the Pylon is the official mascot of the College Football Playoff, a role he's held since the 2019-20 season.
Growing up, Perry idolized both his father and grandfather, watching each Saturday as they stood at attention at some of the greatest college football games ever played. Because of this, from a very young age, Perry knew what he wanted to do with his life. While his pylon friends went on to work in construction or parking, Perry always wanted to be on the football field.
Three Generations on the Goal Line
Three Generations
One of the first pylons introduced to college football in the early 70’s, Perry’s grandfather was a trailblazer in the field. He worked his final game, the 1984 Orange Bowl matchup between the University of Nebraska and the University of Miami when Bernie Kosar led the Hurricanes to their first national championship with a 31-30 win. His work at the goal line was critical in the Cornhuskers’ failed two-point attempt try at the end of the game.
The BCS Era
Perry’s father continued that legacy when he took the field at the turn of the century for the 2000 Sugar Bowl and stood watch as Florida State topped Virginia Tech 46-29 in the BCS National Championship Game. In fact, Perry’s father was on the field for each of the BCS title games that followed that one, including what many consider the greatest college football national championship game of all time, the 2006 Rose Bowl where Vince Young and Texas outlasted USC, 41-38.
The CFP Era
After starting his career working under the Friday night lights of high school football games on the dusty plains of west Texas, Perry moved up to the college ranks in 2010. It was his work on Nov. 30, 2013, that thrust him into the national spotlight. Working the Iron Bowl, Perry was marking the goal line as Auburn’s Chris Davis returned a short Alabama field goal attempt 100-plus yards for the winning score in the “Kick-Six” game. The following year, he got the call to be on the field at AT&T Stadium when the CFP hosted the inaugural title game. Perry hasn’t missed a CFP National Championship since, having a front row seat to both Hunter Renfrow and DeVonta Smith’s game winning catches in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
