For the second time in two years, a Nittany Lion mascot has been charged inconnection with an alcohol-related incident. Clint T. Gyory, the Penn State Nittany Lion mascot, has been charged with underage drinking and ripping a rearview mirror from a vehicle at State College.
Gyory was charged with misdemeanor public drunkenness and criminal mischief for his drunken antics that occurred August 1st.
Clint Gyory
Police said Gyory, 20 had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and registered a blood-alcohol content of .187 at the time he was cited.
Gyory, (junior-business management) was drunk and crawled into the bed of a pickup truck on the 200 block of E. Fairmount Avenue, where he passed out. He also broke a rearview mirror off of a vehicle and took it, police say.
Penn State’s head cheerleading coach Curtis White (“Curtis” is a strange name for a woman cheerleading coach) stated Gyory will not perform his duties as mascot for the duration of September.
White had the following to say in a statement,”We are certainly disappointed in the news of this incident.”
Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Communications Greg Myford said he would be “very surprised” if the Nittany Lion was not present at Beaver Stadium for Saturday’s home game opener against Youngstown State.
“We all recognize it’s unfortunate for both the student first and foremost and for the Athletic Department and university,” Myford said.
Gyory assumed the role of the Nittany Lion in February 2009 in his freshman year, making him one of the youngest Nittany Lions in Penn State history.
The previous Nittany Lion, James Sheep, was charged with a DUI and other traffic violations on November 22, 2009. He was suspended from attending the Nittany Lion’s appearance at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2010.
If found guilty, Gyory would have to pay fines totaling more than $1,000, police said.
