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Happy birthday, Smokey! Vols fans celebrate mascot’s 64th

No matter what struggles the football team is going through on the field, Friday means celebration time for Vols fans and students in Knoxville.

The university is holding a birthday party for mascot Smokey around lunchtime Friday, the school announced:

Love Smokey? Come celebrate the best mascot in the nation from 11-2 on Ped!! pic.twitter.com/nthDtlLUVX

The event, conducted by the university’s student government association, lasts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and – best of all – includes cake (though the variety isn’t specified).

The university introduced Smokey as a mascot in 1953.