Arizona Wildcats vs. ASU Sun Devils rivalry game featured player and mascot fights, mass ejections

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“The Duel in the Desert” between Arizona State and Arizona is no walk in the park. Just ask the schools’ mascots.

The Sun Devils and Wildcats faced off in yet another iteration of The Copper State’s favorite rivalry on Friday. As one would expect after years and years of tightly-contested clashes, the atmosphere was tense.

And tempers flared not just on the playing field, but on the sidelines, when fiery demon Sparky the Sun Devil put his dukes up against Wilbur Wildcat.

Not convinced? Check it out:

Based on that clip, it looked like Sparky got the better licks in before the two were pulled apart. One can never really count out Wilbur, though, who looked like he had plenty in the tank even after taking a few blows that landed flush.

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The clip immediately spread like wildfire on Twitter, with the fighters — and their cheerleading entourages — becoming the image of Friday night.

Well…almost. That’s because towards the end of regulation, a cadre of Sun Devils and Wildcats players decided a brawl at the middle of the field was the perfect way to conclude this rivalry game.

The confrontation led to a mouthful of ejections. Literally. The referee was having some difficulties communicating just how many players got the boot for their role in Friday’s fisticuffs, per this clip:

After all the dust settled, it was Arizona that walked out of State Farm Stadium as victors. If you thought that meant playing things cool on social media…well, then you’ve never experienced the ups and downs of a college rivalry:

That’s got to sting.

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Best mascot fights

Those woolly suits aren’t the only thing that gets hot during college football games. Mascots have feelings too, something that was on clear display on Friday afternoon.

So, it goes us thinking: what other mascot fights have captivated the sports’ landscape.

Without further ado, here are some of the greatest matchup of mascots to ever be caught on camera.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Bristol City’s piglets

A late-1990s Wolverhampton Wanderers-Bristol City soccer match descended into chaos when Wolves’ mascot Wolfie got into it with Bristol City’s three little piggies.

Wolfie got some decent shots in, although it’s hard to say he walked out the winner given the fact that both mascots were escorted off the field by stewards.

The Oregon Duck vs. Houston Cougars’ “Shasta”

We return to the college game for this clash, which saw aptly named “The Oregon Duck” get into it with beloved Houstonian Shasta. It was a battle of wits…until it wasn’t, with the Duck mounting on top of the Cougar and getting some serious damage in before it was called.

Ohio State’s Brutus vs. Ohio University’s Rufus

There are few mascots as iconic as Brutus Buckeye. It seemed Ohio University’s mascot, Rufus, took exception to all the fame his famous neighbor receives, striking Brutus down with a beautiful form tackle.

You have to wonder if the person underneath the suit earned a tryout for that suplex.

San Diego Chicken vs. Barney

Not all beatdowns have to be physical. In this example, the feathered force that is San Diego Chicken showed off its dominance by besting everyone’s favorite purple thing Barney in a dance battle for the ages.

And to drive that point home, our avian friend then put Barney on the turf, executing the most legal block in the back you’ll ever see to fell the weird-looking dinosaur.

Southern Mississippi’s “Seymour” vs. Alabama’s “Big Al”

Everything seems to grow in stature in the good ole’ state of Alabama. That includes the conflicts, too.

Southern Miss’ beloved fowl Seymour came to blows with long-winded Crimson Tide icon Big Al in a clash neither set of fans will forget any time soon.

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