Monday, December 1st, 2008

Unwritten rules of Big Jay

The students who bring life to the biggest bird on campus share what it’s like

Two junior and two senior men share the identity of Big Jay. These four students share the unwritten rules of being a college mascot at the University of Kansas.

By Ashley Barforoush

Friday, February 22nd, 2008

Editor’s note: “It’s an unwritten rule in the mascot world to always conceal your identity. It’s kind of like a Superman/Clark Kent thing,” Spirit Squad Coordinator Catherine Jarzemkoski said. Therefore, students in this article remain anonymous for their protection.

Sport fans feel like they know him. Between the high fives and the occasional noogie, students bond with Big Jay like an older brother. However, there’s a lot more to the mascot than feathers and a beak.

There are four students keeping Big Jay’s secret. They are two junior and two senior men sharing one identity. The men who rotate being Big Jay are like a brotherhood with traveling pants. They’ve shared some of the unwritten rules to their otherwise confidential lives as a mascot.

Rule No. 1: Sweat until the job is done.

“The suit is 30-40 degrees hotter than the temperature outside of the suit. Even your ears perspire. Once you are the mascot for a while, you learn to sweat on command. We have one of the biggest heads in the nation, so it is one of the toughest suits to wear. We don’t have perception of where our beak is, so we beak people,” junior No. 1 said. “I take out at least three kids a game, on accident of course,” senior No. 1 said.

Rule No. 2: Keep the secret.

“The suit probably weighs 50 pounds, even more when it’s all soaked in sweat. The suit stays in the nest. The whereabouts of this nest will not be disclosed,” senior No. 2 said.

Rule No. 3: Drink profusely.

“Hydrating before the game is like a job. We wake up a couple hours before the game to start drinking water or Gatorade. Also, no eating Chipotle before you get in the suit,” junior No. 1 said.

Rule No. 4: Be creative…and then some.

“We don’t lose. But if we do, it is hard to keep the crowd going when everybody is so down,” Junior No. 2 said. “Really what it comes down to is that you all have to get along together. I mean you have to be creative and good at what you do but we all get along so well and that’s what makes it so much better,” senior No. 2 said.

Rule No. 5: Follow the fans.

“It’s a huge time commitment. Volleyball, women’s basketball, anywhere there are fans we are there. What people don’t realize is that there are also charity events, grocery store appearances, birthdays, weddings, funerals,” junior No. 1 said.

Rule No. 6: It’s all about the children.

“We love kids. The best thing is giving a little kid a hug that is just so happy to meet you. He just smiles and wants a high five or something. The worst part is disappointing them when they’re waiting in line and we have to go. Yeah, the best part about the job is definitely the kids…and the Rock Chalk Dancers,” senior No. 1 said.

Rule No. 7: Live the dream.

“I’ve wanted to be a mascot since junior high and I didn’t make the team. I didn’t make it as a Spartan. Now being Big Jay is that much sweeter,” junior No. 2. “My favorite part about basketball is running out with the team, at the four minute mark, it gets you so hyped up,” junior No. 1 said.

Rule No. 8: Vote online every day.

“To celebrate the first NCAA football on the Wii they decided to put a college team mascot on the cover by having fans vote for their favorite. Go to www.easports.com/ncaa09 and vote for Big Jay. It all ends on March 14, so vote every day or more on different computers. We went to the library and voted five times at once. It would just be the perfect culmination of Orange Bowl and basketball victory,” junior No. 2 said.

Rule No. 9: Being Big Jay is always worth it.

“Going to the game as a human is awesome. But going as the mascot is the best. You don’t get to watch most of the game, people watch you,” junior No. 1 said. “Our parents think it’s cool that we’re this big, fluffy bird, but the fact that we’re so close to athletics and we can travel with football and basketball…we’re going to remember that stuff for a lifetime. I mean you can’t beat the Orange Bowl,” junior No. 2 said.

Rule No. 10: There is only one Big Jay.

“We’re all so close this year our program has been the best it’s been in the past 4-5 years. You got to be able to fit in or else you aren’t going to want the same person wearing the suit as you. We have to be the same person,” senior No. 2 said. “Yeah, I get excited when I see Big Jay on TV because that’s me. No matter who is in the suit, we are one Big Jay.”

—Edited by Russell Davies

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