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They run rampant across our nation's football fields and are displayed proudly on letter
jackets and water towers. They range from the most obscure to the obvious, and from
the outrageous to the modest, but regardless of their distinctive appearances and
reputations, they all share a common purpose--to add enjoyment to a game and to
evoke unbridled enthusiasm from the fans!
Remember way back when--when you learned that the vowels were the basic building blocks of the alphabet? Well, these very same letters serve as the basic blocks to successful mascotting! Before you head out on that field and strut your stuff, make sure you've got what it takes! Attendance... a mascot has got to be accounted for at every sporting event, be it football or basketball, and sometimes even soccer! If you've got a hectic schedule, and you can't possibly clear that calendar, then it's best to give the sport of mascotting a second thought! Some schools prefer to have two mascots on their roster, so they can rotate performances. However, UCA's Mascot Director, Bo Payton, warns mascots of rotating turns at half-time. Each mascot brings with him a distinctive personality. You'd be surprised at how easily the crowd can tell the difference! Endurance... a mascot needs the agility of a gymnast and the endurance of a long-distance runner. Besides being extremely heavy, a typical costume undoubtedly gets very stuffy. On a 90° day, the temp in a costume can rise to 130°!! Being in stellar physical shape is an absolute must. Attendance at dance classes and aerobics is a definite help in building that necessary stamina. And don't forget to chug plenty of water!! Involvement... Along with the cheerleaders and the drill team, as a mascot, you're a key player in the pep department. In fact, some would say that you're the most valuable player! Sara Srnec, an ex-"Bulldog" and a current cheerleader for Poland Seminary High, found that the crowd was more receptive to her when she was a mascot! As a mascot, your sole responsibility is to build that crowd's excitement to a crescendo! That's an impossible task if you don't take a personal interest in the team yourself. Be involved, be loyal and be sure to be up on the latest stats. Remember are the very Go To Page: 1 2
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