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What Happens When The Panthers Are Your School Mascot In Broncos Country?

By Suzanne McCarroll

DENVER (CBS4) - What do you do the week of the Super Bowl if you're a Denver student with a panther as your school mascot?

The Denver Broncos take on the Carolina Panthers this Sunday. That's why fourth grader Lily Fisher at Valdez Elementary School in Northwest Denver convinced her school to change mascots.

SCHOOL MASCOT CHANGE
Valdez Elementary School (credit: CBS)

"I said we need to be the Valdez Broncos," the 9-year-old told CBS4.

The student body and teachers agreed. In fact, parents got in on the Bronco spirit and made Valdez Bronco T-shirts for the entire student body.

SCHOOL MASCOT CHANGE  (2)
(credit: CBS)

The Broncos sent their new namesake Bronco banners to hang in the hallway.

"You take your Broncos very seriously?" asked CBS4's Suzanne McCarroll.

"Yes, we do," said Fisher. "That would have been embarrassing to be the Panthers this weekend."

SCHOOL MASCOT CHANGE  (3)
(credit: CBS)

The lingering question is when should the Valdez Broncos go back to being the Valdez Panthers? Fisher has a logical answer.

"It depends if we beat the Panthers. If we lose, we'll go back to Panthers on Monday. If we beat them, we'll stay the Broncos one more week."

The only trace of the Panther logo in the school, is the doormat where kids wipe their feet as they leave.

Suzanne McCarroll is a general assignment reporter at CBS4. Her stories can regularly be seen on CBS4 News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Connect with her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @SuzanneCBS4.

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