AAMU Mascot Invites Crew for XXL Homecoming 2023
AAMU Mascot Butch Henry and a few of his celebrity friends joined the AAMU Bulldogs when they entered Louis Crews Stadium for Saturday’s Homecoming game. Bulldogs Big Daddy LaFlare with owner Brittani Purifie ‘19, and Barkley tha Bulldog with owner Tabitha Moore boast over 2.5 million combined social media followers. The two celebrity dogs were part of the first-ever Butch Henry’s Court along with Keedog, with owner John Landry.
“Last year my husband surprised me with a gift I didn’t know I needed, a Bulldog we named Barkley,” said Moore. “I started posting videos of Barkley being Barkley, and now he has a huge following.”
Purifie, a teacher in Birmingham, earned her English degree at AAMU in 2019. “When I was in graduate school, I started posting videos of my babies doing Fine Teacher Friday segments on TikTok,” she said. “In 2021, Big Daddy LaFlare went viral for being stubborn and not coming in the house.”
Purifie’s viral pets go by the collective name “Big Daddy Nem” and includes bulldogs Big Daddy LaFlare, Phillip Kartel, and Lillian Kodak Grace and two bullies – Ms. Daisy Clarice and Autumn Knight. The Homecoming court for dogs was an idea pitched by Purifie via social media when she replied to an AAMU post over the summer.
“This was literally a dream come true,” says Purifie. “I always knew Big Daddy would get to hang out with Butch Henry!”
Moore says Barkley’s day was made by all the love received by his fans before and during Saturday’s sold out Homecoming game. “Barkley and I were thrilled to be part of Butch’s Court,” she said. Another one of Butch’s friends, Keedog, with owner John Landry, were also part of the first-of-its-kind court.
“I want to the thank Alabama A&M for allowing Keedog, myself and the other bulldogs to take part in such a magnificent event,” says Landry. “Butch Henry knows how to get in touch with us. We’d love to come again.”
