BY Samantha Fass > Senior > Communication & Art History > University of Maryland
PHOTO BY Alexander Bushhell > Senior > Photography > Savannah College Of Art And Design

During class, he looks just like everyone else: your average student, taking notes wearing an exhausted expression on his face. His classmates barely question his half-open eyes, assuming that he may have pulled an all-nighter. But this guy has a secret. After class, he dons a large furry animal costume, assumes an alternative identity and steps into a sea of screaming fans.  Professors, students and even close friends will never know he’s that fuzzy guy they idolize—the school mascot.

With the intense time commitment, the strict level of anonymity and no pay, the position is less than glamorous. George Mason University’s Patriot mascot performs for 8,000 people on a regular basis. He attends basketball games, special events and makes appearances around town which takes up almost all of his free time. But to this mascot, bringing joy to his fans makes it worth it, he says.

Schools like GMU adopt a firm anonymity clause when it comes to their mascot’s identity. GMU maintains secrecy to protect the student performers. “If everyone knew, it would cause drama,” the Patriot says. Universities worry about favoritism with game giveaways and possible harassment issues. The same goes for Western Kentucky University and their mascot, Big Red. According to one Big Red performer, only his roommates know of his secret life. “[Big Red] is his own person. Attention is on Big Red. You don’t want to take attention away from Big Red,” claims his interpreter, who acts as the voice of Big Red.

A mascot’s identity, then, becomes largely attributed to its attire. Big Red is often described as the spawn of the Kool-Aid man, whereas the Patriot is a more human-like mascot. Preparation for game day, in addition to being a full time student and maintaining the required 2.8 GPA, makes the secret even more difficult to keep. The Patriot, for example, prepares for two hours before a big game at GMU, not including the practices Monday through Thursday. Like many college mascots, he’s considered part of the athletics program in the cheerleading department. Practices include stretching out, creating ways to get the crowd pumped, jumping around and dancing to music. It’s all about getting in the zone.

Big Red’s practice includes a workout of endurance and strength building exercises similar to that of the cheerleaders. Mascots are required to learn the intricate dances and traditional cheers. From audition day to game day, they must continually prove that they can improvise. For Big Red, the focus is all on the details during practice—mainly his walk. “Each mascot has a different walk that separates them,” says Big Red. Being the focal point of 20,000 screaming fans (on a slow day) requires some major skills on his part. While the intensity of the crowd would cause anxiety in most, this Big Red keeps his cool.  He is a veteran mascot from high school. “[I] picked it up and fell in love with it,” he says.
Both student performers from GMU and WKU are event management majors, which allows for their mascot positions to also serve as internships.  As mascots, they have the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes perspective at how their university handles events and they get to assist in the process. And having the position on their resume screams dedication and spirit.

Come game day, the showering of affection from fans is an added bonus.  Big Red admirers hit on Big Red constantly by giving him numbers, flowers, candy and drinks. Virginia fans of the Patriot are more aggressive. According to the Patriot, fans come on very strong in a flirty manner, a situation made funnier if you know them.

Nonetheless, the mascots are trapped in a Clark Kent-Superman relationship with their Lois Lane fans. Their ambition, high energy and devotion drive them. But more than anything else, these giant fur-covered icons do it for their fans.