Gus

Gus was trained by Andy in Yugoslavia using the command "oyage," which is "voiage" (voyage) spelled backwards. This unique verbal trigger is the only command that activates Gus's kicking ability. When Debbie tries to command Gus during the playoff game, she initially fails because she doesn't know the word, but she figures it out just in time.

Earlier scenes show Andy giving Gus the command during training sessions, establishing the special bond between them.

Charles Gwynn and Cal Wilson loan Hank Cooper a significant amount of money for gambling. When Cooper can't pay them back, they offer a risky deal: if the Atoms win the Super Bowl, Cooper's debt is cleared. But if they lose, the bookmakers take full ownership of the team, giving them complete control over the franchise.

Cooper's gambling debts are mentioned early in the film, establishing the stakes that drive much of the plot.

During a game, Spinner contaminates Gus's water with alcohol. The mule becomes visibly intoxicated, stumbling and unable to perform his kicking duties properly. This sabotage causes the Atoms to lose that particular game, demonstrating the extent the villains will go to undermine the team's success.

Earlier, the villains are shown plotting to stop Gus any way they can.

When Spinner and Crankcase trick Andy into believing Debbie has been in a car accident, Andy gets stuck in a hospital. Without Andy, the Atoms struggle. Debbie then puts on Andy's uniform and approaches Gus, successfully invoking the "oyage" command to get him to kick the winning field goal. The crowd believes Andy made the kick, not realizing Debbie was the real hero.

Debbie has been overseeing Gus's training throughout the season, establishing her connection with the mule.

Right before the Super Bowl, Crankcase and Spinner kidnap Gus and lock him in a truck. However, Gus sees the Super Bowl game playing on a television inside the building where he's held. The mule breaks free from captivity in a hilarious frenzy and runs toward the stadium, eventually reuniting with Andy and Cooper just in time for halftime.

The villains have been escalating their sabotage attempts throughout the season, leading to this desperate kidnapping plot.

During the Super Bowl comeback, Gus attempts a field goal but slips on the wet turf, causing him to miss the kick. However, instead of giving up, the intelligent mule improvises by passing the ball to Andy, who then runs 95 yards for the game-winning touchdown. This moment turns what would have been a devastating miss into the decisive play of the game.

Gus has shown intelligence and problem-solving abilities throughout the film, such as when he encourages the relationship between Andy and Debbie.

The bookmakers hire two bumbling crooks, Crankcase and Spinner, to systematically undermine the team. They trick Andy and Gus into getting lost before a game, spike Gus's water with alcohol, and ultimately kidnap Gus right before the Super Bowl. Their incompetent but persistent sabotage creates comedic obstacles that the team must overcome.

The villains' bumbling nature is established early when they are introduced as incompetent criminals.

The bookmakers, Gwynn and Wilson, are frustrated that the Atoms are winning despite their attempts at sabotage. By forcing Cooper into a bet where they can take ownership if the team loses, they see an opportunity to gain control of a professional sports franchise. The team represents a valuable asset, and taking it over would be financially beneficial for the criminals.

Cooper's gambling debt is established as a major source of tension from the beginning of the film.

Andy brings Gus to Los Angeles because Debbie discovers the mule's remarkable ability to kick soccer balls through goalposts from any distance. When she shares this with owner Hank Cooper, he sees it as an opportunity to boost the team's failing fortunes. Andy, who faces constant criticism from his family for lacking soccer skills compared to his brother, sees this as a chance for both him and Gus to find success.

The film establishes early on that Andy feels overshadowed by his more successful soccer-playing brother.

Gus seems to actively encourage the romantic connection between Andy and Debbie. During training sessions overseen by Debbie, their relationship blossoms while Gus performs his kicking routines. The mule's antics and presence create opportunities for Andy and Debbie to bond, with the film suggesting Gus intentionally acts as a matchmaker for the two.

Gus displays unusual intelligence throughout the film, shown in moments like his knowing glances at Debbie.

The Atoms' turnaround begins when Gus makes his halftime show debut and demonstrates his incredible kicking ability. Andy strategically realizes the rules don't require the kicker to be human, so he instructs the team to pass to Gus, who can kick the ball the entire length of the field. This innovation gives the Atoms a massive competitive advantage that propels them from last place to division leaders.

The film's humor includes the absurdity of using a mule in a professional football game, which becomes the key to the team's success.