Fowl play goes viral
Local 5th-grader shares his thoughts on sideline rumble with Atlanta Falcons mascot
The following article appeared in the Oct. 26, 2022, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with original business and general news for Charlotte. Sign up for free:
Selwyn Elementary 5th-grader who brawled with Atlanta Falcons mascot says, ‘I think we’re the better Falcons’
DIRTY BIRD: 10-year-old Braxton Snyder, a 5th-grader at Selwyn Elementary, went toe-to-claw with Atlanta Falcons mascot Freddie Falcon on Sunday during halftime entertainment at the Carolina Panthers game. Braxton is seen here throwing a football at the mascot’s head after an unnecessary shove.
The Selwyn Elementary 5th-grader who took on NFL mascot Freddie Falcon at the Carolina Panthers game Sunday says that he was “just trying to entertain the crowd and have a good time.”
Braxton Snyder, 10, is a running back for the SouthPark Falcons U11 youth football team.
When asked if the sideline brawl had anything to do with their similar team mascots, Braxton told The Ledger, “I think we’re the better Falcons.”
“It was just a cool experience,” he added. “I’m glad that the Panthers gave us that opportunity to have a great time.”
Battle of the Falcons: For halftime entertainment at Sunday’s Panthers game, the SouthPark Falcons were chosen to play a group of sports mascots including Hugo from the Charlotte Hornets, Sir Minty of Charlotte FC, Homer the Dragon from the Charlotte Knights, Chubby from the Charlotte Checkers and Lug Nut of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The annual event is known as the “Sir Purr Bowl.”
Videos show Freddie Falcon instigating fights from almost the beginning of the game. When Braxton picked up 30 yards on a run to the left, Freddie popped him with a hard shoulder-to-shoulder hit, driving him out at the 3 yard line. Freddie strutted up to Braxton and pushed him. They exchanged a few shoves, and Braxton threw the football at Freddie’s feathered head. But before the talons could come out, the referee and Braxton’s teammates separated them.
The SouthPark Falcons won the 6-minute-long game.
By Sunday night, the video clip was circulating around the internet, with sensationalized headlines that included:
“Fight breaks out after Falcons mascot lays vicious hit on youth football player and shoves him after the play” (OutKick)
“Watch the bizarre moment Atlanta mascot Freddie Falcon tries to FIGHT a kid during a pee wee game” (Daily Mail)
“Atlanta Falcons mascot tried to fight a whole kid’s football team during halftime peewee game” (The Sun)
The video also traveled around Braxton’s school. The next morning, back in 5th grade, Braxton said his classmates told him that they had watched the video and thought it was “cool.”
History of trouble from Atlanta mascots: It’s not the first time an Atlanta mascot has taken down a child during a halftime entertainment game. In August, Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper stiff-armed three peewee players on his way to a touchdown.
Related Ledger article:
“5th-graders on SouthPark youth football team rumble with Atlanta Falcons mascot Freddie Falcon” (Monday)
The full edition of the Oct. 26, 2022, Charlotte Ledger for paying members included the following articles:
An insider’s look at what it’s like to attend High Point Furniture Market, which is the largest furniture trade show in the world and sets the stage for what retailers will be selling in the months to come.
The plain-English summary of why North Carolina’s state treasurer says he thinks Atrium Health, Novant Health and other hospitals are being less-than-truthful about their finances. He released a report Tuesday contrasting how much N.C. hospitals say they lose caring for Medicare patients, compared with different figures showing profits, which are filed with regulators.
An update on the newest Mecklenburg County creek that will soon have a greenway running along it — and it is one that doesn’t now have any stretches of greenway. 😢
Ledger members also received Tuesday’s Ways of Life obituaries newsletter. This week’s edition highlighted the life of Marilyn Price, founder of the Charlotte Folk Society. She signed up for guitar lessons at Central Piedmont Community College and fell in love with folk music when she met her future husband at a square dance.
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project