PUNXSUTAWNEY – Pennsylvania Lottery spokesman Gus the Groundhog will meet defending champ Punxsutawney Phil for the state groundhog championship this Friday. The contest starts at 6 AM on Phil’s home field in Punxsutawney, and thousands of fans are expected to attend.
Phil has long held the state’s number one ranking, but Gus is just behind him in second place. “Gus could surprise a lot of people,” Department of Natural Resources biologist Bob Brenneman said. “Gus looks to be in better shape than Phil, and he’s been doing a lot of scratchin’. That could help him late in the contest. Phil may be taking the challenge too lightly by sleeping all the way up to game time.”
Phil has thousands of supporters in Western Pennsylvania, and he endeared himself to Steelers’ fans in 2006 by emerging from his den holding a Terrible Towel. After a mediocre Steelers’ season, however, it remains to be seen if Steeler fans will come out en masse to support him. Gus, on the other hand, has built up a fan base throughout the state with frequent television appearances and by handing out cash to state residents.
"There’s so many intangibles here,” biologist Brenneman said. “Fan support is important. Weather could be a factor. Phil has championship experience and guys in top hats behind him, but Gus is young and hungry. It could simply come down to who wants it more.”
Governor Ed Rendell will present the championship block of wood to the winner. Both groundhogs are expected to sleep for six weeks following the contest.
