Goldy Gopher Is Sorry for Mocking Praying Penn St. Player

Goldy Gopher, the University of Minnesota mascot, has had time to reflect on his decision to mock Penn State defensive end Jerome Hayes as he prayed in the end zone prior to last week's game. And Goldy is very sorry for his behavior.

Okay, he didn't really say that -- Goldy isn't real, like, say, Steely McBeam, just some dude dressed up as a oversized gopher.

But University spokesman Dan Wolter issued the following statement.

"On behalf of Goldy and the University of Minnesota, I want to apologize to the Penn State player involved and anyone else who may have taken offense from this incident. We have reiterated to Goldy the importance of exercising appropriate religious sensitivity in the future."

I wonder if Goldy was scolded in full get-up, or if they made him remove his head first. Whatever, Hayes told the Morning Call of Allentown that "When I got up, I couldn't hear what he said, and he tried to shake my hand ... I wasn't trying to have any part of that." Before adding that his teammates told him that "the Gopher got the best of me."

Which would seem to embolden future mascots into clowning players as they prayed. Like most things, though, this will work itself out. All it will take is for somebody to administer a mascot beatdown in the name of the Lord. Problem solved.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

10-23-2009 @ 11:17AM

vcponsardin said...

10-23-2009 @ 9:22PM

budman said...

The Bible also says to "pray without ceasing," so he was obeying that part.

10-23-2009 @ 11:23AM

greatqb44 said...

Ryan seems to have a problem with christians..But as for this case.much ado bout nothing

10-23-2009 @ 11:28AM

danbfas said...

Hmmm, I wonder if "Goldy" would even still be alive if he had mocked Islam. But it's OK, it's only a player practicing his right of freedom of religious expression guaranteed by the Constitution. But since he's Christian, he's fair game. Islam, Jewish, any other religion, and this would be on the nightly news.

10-23-2009 @ 4:28PM

T J said...

Amen,,danbfas

10-23-2009 @ 4:54PM

Lisa said...

Maybe Goldy was praying with him!

10-24-2009 @ 9:25AM

alphabluewolf1 said...

that is right.. even the penn state player stated that "and he tried to shake my hand"

10-23-2009 @ 5:07PM

nd317 said...

That was not cool at all,why do people think they have to mock people who are praying. That is the problem we have today if it avends you that I pray walk away and let me pray to God. For who knows I may be praying for you to find love in God someday for we all are going to need God in our lives very very soon.

10-23-2009 @ 5:27PM

srg031565 said...

Yeah? So what? Jesus himself said that when you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who pray in public for everyone to see. Instead, go to your room and pray. Jesus said it. Why won't Christians listen to their own savior?

Who said just because he prayed before a game makes him a Christian......don't use other people actions to denagrate Christinity

10-23-2009 @ 5:34PM

douttfire said...

Had that mascot mocked someone face-down praying to Allah, President Hussein would have been on national TV giving him the riot act and the "spokesman" for the college would have been relegated to shoveling gopher manure.

10-23-2009 @ 7:42PM

donorsino said...

If the university feels it needs to reiterate to this cheesedick the importance of exercising appropriate religious sensitivity, they need a new Goldy.

10-23-2009 @ 8:35PM

kyleb said...

I believe Jesus said if you are praying in public, just to be seen then you get your reward by being seen, however; this boy obviously was not praying just to be seen. He was praying for strength and wisdom to play his best and safty for all of the athletes. What better place to pray such a prayer but at the place you need the request to be heard? The Mascot will probably get his punishment since the Bible says that anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.This is known as The Unpardonable Sin. This player was praying through the Holy Spirit, since that is the way we have been instructed to pray. Before you ask me How I know what he was praying, I am a college coach and pray with my team quite often.

10-24-2009 @ 12:52PM

gaystreet said...

Man, if that's true, I'm glad I'm not a christian

10-23-2009 @ 9:20PM

Xian said...

how absolutely ignorant and simpleminded you are to suggest that a person has committed the unforgivable sin merely by imitating a praying player. its a good thing i dont believe in this act of desparation that people call religion anymore. seriously people, get over yourselves, you're no better off than the rest of us.