CAM the Ram dies day of Showdown

The 24th CAM the Ram died Saturday, the same day as the Rocky Mountain Showdown, Colorado State University President Tony Frank confirmed.

CAM's successor, No. 25, took the field for the annual CU-CSU football game.

The Rambouillet sheep was 6 years old. CSU officials said they didn't have details on how he died.

CAM was a regular at campus events, from CSU's Ice Cream Social to its fall concert welcoming students back to campus.

At Hughes Stadium, he would run from one side of the end zone to the other in celebration of a Rams' touchdown.

CAM, who fathered five lambs earlier this year, was cared for by a team of 15 student volunteers who were responsible for daily care, grooming and appearances. He lived with a local Fort Collins family on a farm that also houses horses, chickens and other animals.

Rams like salty food and CAM's all-time favorite snack was nacho cheese Doritos, his handlers told the Coloradoan earlier this year.

The first ram mascot was named Buck. He made his debut at a basketball game in January 1946. CAM, which stands for Colorado A&M, got his name in 1954.

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