The college football bowl games that take place before New Year's Day can get mundane. There are essentially no stakes tied to each game's outcome, many top players elect to sit out in preparation for the draft, and because the games are played at neutral stadiums, there isn't that classic, chaotic, college football atmosphere that most teams are used to playing in front of.
That is, the bowl games were mundane — until a pastry knight in gleaming glaze arrived on scene to save them.
During last night's inaugural Pop-Tart Bowl between the Kansas State Wildcats and the NC State Wolfpack, the game's edible pop-tart mascot (named Strawberry) went insanely viral for his series of memorable antics. While it was tough to whittle down Strawberry's best moments during Kansas State's 28-19 win, there are a few that are more than deserving of their time in the sun (or should I say, in the toaster).
Although Strawberry's first iconic moment didn't appear on TV, it still went very viral. A reporter at the bowl game posted on X about his hilarious interaction with Strawberry, where he asked the pop-tart mascot whether it was offensive to eat a Pop-Tart in front of it — to which Strawberry "grabbed a Pop-Tart out of my hand and started force-feeding it to me while making soft grunting noises."
I asked if it was offensive to eat a Pop-Tart in front of the @PopTartsBowl mascot and then its handler yelled out ?ITS THEIR DREAM? and then the mascot grabbed a Pop-Tart out of my hand and started force-feeding it to me while making soft grunting noises pic.twitter.com/PaCDY6mzu3
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 29, 2023
This was our first (of a few) indications that Pop-Tarts do, in fact, dream about being eaten.
We have to talk about the fact that this popular pastry emerged from a giant toaster along with smoke. Move aside, Taylor Swift.
Oh my god the edible Pop-Tart mascot is here and has emerged from his firework-and-smoke-machine-enabled toaster.
This is the greatest football game I?ve ever been to. Bar none. pic.twitter.com/USuD4CVApy
— Tejay Cleland (@KWCHTejay) December 28, 2023
Strawberry's next glorious moment occurred mid-game, when it crept up behind the Pop-Tart Bowl's head referee and slapped him on the backside. While he haven't heard an official comment from Larry Smith — the referee whose backside Strawberry slapped — he seemed to be laughing at the slap like the rest of us.
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) December 29, 2023
I want all of the coverage of this mascot. Give me a YouTube series. TikTok show. Every crowd angle.
Screw the football game, I want to go for the Pop Tart Bowl for the mascot shenanigans. pic.twitter.com/ObnGo8SRYN
— Courtney Kramer (@CourtKramer39) December 29, 2023
Strawberry's greatest moment came after the came, when the edible pop-tart mascot conducted a self-sacrifice, lowering itself into a toaster while holding a sign that said, "Dreams really do come true." A few moments later, Strawberry's deliciously dead body reappeared sans arms and legs on a tray, ready for Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson, head coach Chris Klieman, and then the entire Kansas State team to consume.
Here we are... the edible mascot in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.. pic.twitter.com/0XgKGoXseS
— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) December 29, 2023
