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COLUMBIA (WACH) - Starting Monday Gamecock fans can vote daily for their beloved mascot, Cocky, in the 2012 Capital One Mascot Challenge.

Regular season voting for the competition opened at 12 p.m. on Sept. 3 and will continue through Nov. 26.

Cocky was selected as one of 16 members of the Capital One All America Mascot Team. He will start the competition in a head-to-head contest against Brigham Young University's mascot Cosmo.

The top eight mascots with the best head-to-head records will move on to the next round; a bracket-style, single elimination competition. Each member of the All-America Mascot Team will receive $5,000 for their university mascot program.

The overall winner will be announced on Jan. 1, 2013 at the Capital One Bowl. The winner will be awarded a $20,000 scholarship to help fund the winning school's mascot program.

According to the Capital One Bowl website, mascots are ultimately selected from a panel of judges from Capital One who use the following criteria to determine the 16 team members: Interaction with fans and demonstration of the mascot's originality, signature-move originality and creativity, ability to create enthusiasm among the fans, and contribution to an exhilarating atmosphere; Originality, creativity and professionalism of mascot appearance or costume; Pedigree, awards earned by the mascot during the past five years and national prominence.

Click here to vote. 

Full list of participants:
Wilma T. Wildcat of the University of Arizona
Sparty of Michigan State University
Cosmo of Brigham Young University
Mike the Tiger of Louisiana State University
Testudo of the University of Maryland
Wolfie Jr. of the University of Nevada
Cam the Ram of Colorado State
YoUDee of the University of Delaware
Truman the Tiger of the University of Missouri
Bucky Badger of the University of Wisconsin
Ms. Wuf of North Carolina State University
The Duck of The University of Oregon
Scarlet Knight of Rutgers University
Cocky of the University of South Carolina
Sebastian the Ibis of the University of Miami
Raider Red of Texas Tech University

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Use hashtag #CapitalOneCocky on Twitter