The ACC mascots take New York City: A photo essay

Yesterday marked the official entry of Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame into the Atlantic Coast Conference. To commemorate the event, the ACC had events all over New York, including the ringing of the NASDAQ closing bell by ACC commissioner John Swofford, Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer, Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher and former Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. (That's right, Fitzgerald is now officially an ACC legend, so folks up and down Tobacco Road are now entitled to complain about how he should have won the 2003 Heisman.)

They also fanned their mascots out all over the city, resulting in some fun images you can check out on the conference's Facebook page. Here are a few favorites:

They took the time to visit some kids at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore:

NC State's Mr. Wuf does some fishing:

The Clemson Tiger is the king of the world:

Chief Osceola wasn't invited, but Florida State's Cimarron took the opportunity to hang with some locals:

Things got a little dark when the Notre Dame leprechaun ate Otto's cousin atop the Empire State Building:

And what's a reunion without a little awkwardness? Testudo showed up from Maryland, and with the Terrapins heading to the Big Ten next year, the other mascots didn't let him play all the mascot games.

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