• June 20, 2021

Makeup of a college mascot

As a spectator at a college football game in early September, my eyes scanned the stadium as I entered to find it filled with fans, coaches, cheerleaders, team players, the marching band, the media, and last but not least. not least, the school mascot. . I often wonder who is inside that cute (sometimes huge) costume and what it must be like to see their world from the inside. Are you a man or a woman who entertains fans and poses for photo opportunities? If you met this person outside of costume, would he have the same exuberant personality that I witnessed in the game? How uncomfortable do they feel when they are dressed in the costume? Are they burning? Is it hard to breathe? What thoughts run through your minds when people eagerly gather and prepare to pose for a photo? Ahh, the things a college mascot must (and must do) put up with for the price of notoriety and fame, even when there’s so little of both that goes with work. Aside from classmates and teachers, no one really knows who the college mascot is and who brings it to life.

I remember my first college football game when I specifically attended to see my son be a part of the opening event that welcomed the team onto the field. I soaked up everything to do with that game and felt like a teenager all over again thinking about my high school days. This was the first time I saw the school mascot who, with every look he received, was quite entertaining and funny. This mascot certainly did his job well because I was even more proud to be associated with the university.

As in any profession, there are requirements that clearly define the makeup of the perfect candidate. Pets must be in good physical shape and energetic. You don’t have to stand still (unless they’re posing for a photo) when you need to be visible to fans and actively participate at all times. Pets that are sporty, fairly agile, and extremely flexible, such as a cheerleader, have the upper hand. Gymnastics, dance, and recreational sports have their advantages. Candidates must be able to withstand the heat. Temperatures can easily reach 120 degrees inside those costumes, and they often do so especially if they’re parading down a soccer field in sunny Florida in mid-September. Staying hydrated is an absolute must. And last but not least, a pet must be entertaining, which requires personality, humor, creativity, and spontaneity. Personality is a gift and not something that can be learned. Either you have it or you don’t. This also applies to having a humorous side and a knack for being creative.

Practice makes perfect. We’ve all heard that cliche before. There is nothing more to add to that. It is just common sense. What better way to critique your performance than to watch a video of yourself? Pets must know the rules of the game. There is nothing more embarrassing than a mascot cheering the crowd on for something that benefits the visiting team. Scared kids, unpleasant fanatics, devastating losses, these things are a given and a good pet should always know exactly how to negotiate, act and perform the improvisations necessary to deal with the surrounding circumstances: win or lose, in the splendor of victory or victory. agony of defeat.

The job is a voluntary position, but depending on the college or university, one can receive a scholarship. Being able to travel with the team, work with cheerleaders and band members instills teamwork and builds lifelong friendships. Some might say that a mascot has a chance to act a fool since the general public has no idea who fills the costume; But don’t be fooled, there is a method to madness. There are numerous rewards for a college pet, but the greatest of all would be self-actualization. Underneath all that makeup, you are sure to find a unique person who represents their alma mater with a great sense of pride, incredible stamina, and perhaps even an astonishing outlook on life.

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