Editing YoUDee (section)

=== Hatching ===
YoUDee was first seen (or "hatched") at the Delaware-[[Lehigh University|Lehigh]] football game in [[Delaware Stadium]] on September 4, 1993,<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://mascothalloffame.com/mascots/current-mascot-inductees/|title=Get to know our 20 Hall of Famers! {{!}} Mascot Hall of Fame|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105214536/https://mascothalloffame.com/mascots/current-mascot-inductees/|archive-date=November 5, 2019|access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/01-02/jointheteam.html|title=YoUDee - Join the Team|website=www1.udel.edu|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105214535/http://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/01-02/jointheteam.html|archive-date=November 5, 2019|access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref> after being created by Tom Sapp of Real Characters, Inc. (an Atlanta-based advertising agency.)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://delawareonline.newspapers.com/image/165046603/|title=29 Jan 2006, Page 39 - The News Journal at Newspapers.com|website=The News Journal|location=Wilmington, DE|language=en|url-access=subscription|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref> Student performers were scouted to wear the costume. After two students applied and performed in tryouts, Robert Boudwin became the first performer of YoUDee. Boudwin worked to build YoUDee's personality and far-reaching image from "Delaware's infamous mascot" to "ass kickin' chickens."<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/5699|title=Blue Hen Yearbook 1996, Student Life|last=Vavala|first=Carol|date=1996|website=UDSpace|pages=16, 22|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909221008/https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/5699|archive-date=September 9, 2015|access-date=November 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://delawareonline.newspapers.com/image/165046123/|title=29 Jan 2006, Page 33 - The News Journal at Newspapers.com|website=The News Journal|location=Wilmington, DE|language=en|url-access=subscription|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref> With help from David Raymond, the original [[Phillie Phanatic]],<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|url=https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/14947|title=Who will be the new YoUDee?|last=Bacolo|first=Adrian|date=October 12, 1999|website=UDSpace|page=A7|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912012031/https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/14947|archive-date=September 12, 2015|access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref> the university mascot program has become a gateway to several professional mascot careers.

Chris Bruce, a 2002 graduate earned YoUDee its initial first-place finish. Brandon Williams, a 2003 graduate became the [[Baltimore Ravens]] mascot [[Poe (mascot)|Poe]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2009/jul/poe071408.html|title=Ravens' mascot Poe, former YoUDee, voted fiercest mascot|last=Mbugua|first=Martin|date=July 14, 2008|website=UDaily|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118145829/http://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2009/jul/poe071408.html|archive-date=January 18, 2017|access-date=November 7, 2019}}</ref> Other YoUDee alumni went on to perform [[Philadelphia Eagles]]' mascot [[Swoop (Philadelphia Eagles)|Swoop]], and Boudwin went on to perform as [[Clutch (mascot)|Clutch]] of the [[Houston Rockets]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://delawareonline.newspapers.com/image/165046603/|title=Mascot: Former YoUDees often go on to pro teams|date=January 29, 2006|website=The News Journal at Newspapers.com|location=Wilmington, DE|page=39|language=en|url-access=subscription|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2004/youdee021304.html|title=Many faces of YoUDee to attend 10th birthday bash|last=Moncure|first=Sue|date=February 13, 2004|website=UDaily Archive|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050306074227/http://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2004/youdee021304.html|archive-date=March 6, 2005|access-date=November 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2006/nov/mascot112305.html|title=Alum named NBA Mascot of the Year|last=Moncure|first=Sue|date=November 23, 2005|website=UDaily|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035141/https://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2006/nov/mascot112305.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=November 7, 2019}}</ref>

Some controversy was aroused in November 1995 when YoUDee "mocked" middies ([[Midshipman|Midshipmen]]) at the [[United States Naval Academy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://delawareonline.newspapers.com/image/159460089/|title=Ruffled feathers, clipped wings|last=Tomashek|first=Tom|date=November 14, 1995|website=The News Journal at Newspapers.com|location=Wilmington, DE|page=1|url-access=subscription|access-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref> According to reports some time after the incident, the disturbance was YoUDee [[mooning]] Midshipmen, then attempting to carry away the academy's two [[Bill the Goat|goat]] statues. It is speculated that the act was part of some fraternity [[hazing]] requirement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://delawareonline.newspapers.com/image/159310532/|title=A primer when college football really starts|last=White|first=Brian|date=September 4, 1996|website=The News Journal at Newspapers.com|location=Wilmington, DE|page=23|url-access=subscription|access-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref> Though, not everyone viewed this as mocking, as there were purportedly "many fans, both Navy and Delaware" that enjoyed the mascot's behavior and performance, both before and during the game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://delawareonline.newspapers.com/image/159432771/|title=No apology need for mascot's behavior|last=Woolard|first=James|date=December 3, 1995|website=The News Journal at Newspapers.com|location=Wilmington, DE|page=82|url-access=subscription|access-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref>

YoUDee was "listed as one of the 16 worst college mascots in the nation" in a ''[[Newsweek]]'' issue in 1997. By those interviewed at the time, it is believed this designation was given because YoUDee is "unique" or "not tough enough."<ref name=":6" /> In contrast, in 2005, YoUDee was chosen to star in a nationwide [[ESPNews|ESPN News]] advertisement,<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal|url=https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/11208|title=YoUDee struts its stuff on television|last=Dieffenbach|first=Kate|date=September 27, 2005|website=UDSpace|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911233520/https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/11208|archive-date=September 11, 2015|access-date=November 13, 2019}}</ref> and allegedly appeared on [[Wheel of Fortune (American game show)|''Wheel of Fortune'']], [[Hardball with Chris Matthews|''Hardball'' with Chris Matthews]], and ''[[Good Day Philadelphia]]''.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=http://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2007/aug/youdee081606.html|title=YoUDee inducted into Mascot Hall of Fame|last=Mbugua|first=Martin|date=August 16, 2006|website=UDaily Archive|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821214601/http://www1.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2007/aug/youdee081606.html|archive-date=August 21, 2006|access-date=November 13, 2019}}</ref>

Another dispute was with concerns over a [[Sketch comedy|skit]]. In 2006, YoUDee would be carrying a [[cake]], and a staff member would be displaying a sign that read "Happy Birthday Megan!" As the mascot climbed the stands, it would trip and crash into someone with the cake. Later on, the person covered in cake would be wearing a shirt that read "I got caked by [YoUDee.]" Sharon Harris, then Mascot Coordinator at the University of Delaware, in an interview said these skits were staged, and the person receiving the cake would always be a mascot team member.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://delawareonline.newspapers.com/image/164256684/|title=Ask Spark? Anything. Really.|last=Spark|date=October 4, 2006|website=The News Journal at Newspapers.com|location=Wilmington, DE|page=56|url-access=subscription|access-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref>