The Oregon Duck’s identity may still be a mystery, but former BYU mascot Charlie Bird just gave fans a fresh behind-the-scenes look at how wild mascot life can get.
Bird, who once performed as Cosmo the Cougar, said the Duck was the rival he wanted to take down when ESPN brought both mascots to Atlanta for the College Football Awards show. At the time, both mascots had built a following for their dance routines alongside the cheerleaders, and Bird made it clear he saw the Duck as the one stealing his spotlight.
"As you can imagine, I hated that duck. I was like, ‘This dude stole my idea.
He’s trying to steal my thunder,'" said Bird. "So I show up in Atlanta.
It’s super cool. Lights, cameras - Ready to humiliate this stupid duck."
Bird said ESPN set up a dance-off between him and "his nemisis" the Duck, and he expected to square off against another man in costume. Instead, he said he learned the performer was a female Oregon cheerleader.
"In walks the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen - she’s got this massive bag with the mascot suit in it, and she is just, like, stunning. Turns out my nemesis was actually a total baddie, and we hit it off.
We’re, like, making up our dance routine, chilling out backstage, listening to Beyoncé. One of the funnest weekends of my life, actually," he continued.
Bird said the matchup ended up being more of a skit, and he was relieved.
"I’m glad our dance-off turned out to be more of a skit because she was good, and she would have whooped my a--," he said.
The video is new, but the story itself goes back years, which means the Duck’s current identity is likely still protected. That secrecy is part of what keeps the character so effective, and Bird’s account only adds to the mystique.
It also reinforces just how much talent goes into the role. The Oregon Duck isn’t just a costume; it’s a performer who has to dance, entertain, and carry the brand in one of the most visible jobs in the sport.
And if recent history is any clue, Oregon fans should expect more than a standard sideline routine this season. Last year, the Duck went viral for showing up in a Labubu costume during its Autzen Stadium entrance.
What is a Labubu? One of the hottest items of 2025, a Labubu is a collectible plush toy created by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung. In sort of a beanie baby-type frenzy, Labubu's have become highly sought after and many celebrities carry them on their purses.
The moment spread fast, with the video shared by Oregon Ducks on SI reporter Bri Amaranthus and then picked up by ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports and Barstool Sports.
Dan Lanning has also embraced the program’s flair for marketing. At his inaugural Big Ten Media Day in 2024, he said, "We're mighty different when it comes to the jerseys we get to wear or the facilities we're in.
We're innovative. We've always been on the cutting edge of everything we do.
We certainly positioned ourself to be on the cutting edge, and we're grateful for the opportunity to compete in the Big Ten," Lanning said.
Oregon is in Chicago for Big Ten Football Media Days now, with the Ducks set to speak on Wednesday, July 29. Lanning’s press conference is scheduled for approximately 10:45 a.m. PT, and the player representatives will appear on the Big Ten Network during the day.
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