It was late August in 1982 when the Bellport Clippers started double sessions. About halfway through practice, one of the players noticed a dirty, little dog that smelled of stale gasoline and motor oil watching the practice and moving along the sidelines with the plays. For the rest of the week the dog was at the practices but would disappear at the end of the day. Soon the players started leaving food and water for the dog and he became more and more friendly. At the end of the last session, the dog followed the boys into the locker room. The boys, being what they are, adopted the dog as their mascot and named him "Clipper" after the team.

All cleaned up, "Clipper" was on the field for the season's first scrimmage. When Coach Cipp spotted the dog on the sidelines, he asked, "Who's dog is that and what is it doing on my field?" The boys told the coach their story and begged to keep "Clipper." Just as Coach Cipp gave his permission to keep him, "Clipper" started to lie down near the goal post. "If that junk yard dog does anything but walk on my football field I'll feed him to the team at the Saturday Morning Breakfast!" yelled Coach Cipp.

For the rest of the season "Clipper" stood on the sidelines, barked when the team scored and growled when an official made a bad call. During the Division Final, after three quarters of the usual one-sided calls by the officials, the ball was spotted just inches short of a first down. The coach wasn't the only one upset by this ruling. "Clipper" slowly walked over to the umpire, lifted his leg and showed his displeasure. 'Clipper suddenly realized he not only did his thing on the official but he had gone on the field as well. Unaware that the coach was amused, "Clipper" pictured himself, at best, as part of the next week's breakfast and discretion being the better part of valor, fled from the field and has not been seen since.

After winning the NY State Championship that year and in honor of their missing mascot, the team named themselves the "JUNK YARD DOGS."

It is in the memory of "Clipper's" first day, that the team piles on the ground near the goal post upright at the beginning of a home game and why the team and the coaches walk the sidelines following the plays during each game. It is also why the frankfurters sold at the concession stand are called "HOT DOGS."

Rumor has it that "Clipper" was found shortly after that fateful day by a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant and became the mascot for the First Marine Recon Battalion. While serving nine years with The Corps, he was credited with and decorated for the capture of twenty-three Iraqi Republican Guardsmen during Operation Desert Storm. It is also rumored that "Clipper" has left the Corps and is now attending Yale University, where he walks the sidelines, barks, growls and shows his displeasure with all football officials as Yale's official mascot.

THE MORAL OF THIS FABLE IS: Bellport Football instills, in each of those it touches, such a strong sense of pride, spirit and heart, that each one goes on to achieve their own greatness.