Students yearn for school mascot

     A group of super fans, known collectively as the Thundercats, have faithfully supported GCSU’s basketball program this season at home and at away games. The rowdy group has also managed to rejuvenate school spirit and pride with their loud chants, body paint, posters and abundance of energy and enthusiasm. A few Thundercat members are now hoping to acquire the ultimate symbol of school spirit: a life-sized Bobcat mascot.
     “Most students encourage the idea of a school mascot,” said Jason Hendrix, a junior computer science major and member of the Thundercats group. “They think it would be a great additive to not just sporting events but also to the school as a whole.”
     A mascot can be a person, animal or object and is historically supposed to bring good luck for the organization it represents. High schools and universities have been using mascots since the late 1800’s. Being a mascot for a university today requires a lot of skills and talents, and a mascot usually has a significant place in their school’s history.
     Stan Aldridge, Athletic Director at GCSU, supports the idea of getting a Bobcat mascot suit, but the only problem is the cost.
     “I think there are a lot of people who are interested in being the mascot, who would do a good job,” Aldridge said. “But, a good uniform is about $ 2,400 to $4,000, so that is the major hurdle right now.”
     Aldridge has said that it would most likely be up to students or an organization to fund the attraction. Mascot suit advocates have brainstormed some ways they could raise the money they would need to purchase a suit.
     “I have suggested collecting money and donations from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members,” Hendrix said. “I have also suggested doing a road race around GCSU, but because of the Bobcat Rumble road race, that idea was shot down.”
     Figuring out how to raise the money needed to buy the Bobcat suit is going to be difficult for proponents of the idea. But the issue of who will wear the suit, once it is purchased, does not seem like it will be a problem.
     “A Bobcat suit would get everyone so excited and pumped up,” said Scott Murray, a junior environmental science major. “I would put it on in a heartbeat.”
     Aldridge has said if they did get a suit they would most likely hold auditions through the cheerleading program to determine who wears it. But there aren’t many other restrictions for wearing a mascot suit.
     Hendrix feels that he is more than qualified to play the part of the Bobcat mascot. He believes he is best known for having the most school spirit at GCSU. The eager fan was the mascot for his high school, the Northgate Vikings, which gave him plenty of experience.
     “I love to go crazy and could care less what people think about me,” Hendrix said. “Heck, I already wear the oh-so popular Spiderman suit to our games.”
     If a mascot suit were purchased, the life-sized Bobcat would not make its debut until the next school year but Thundercat members welcome all donations. They can be found at any home basketball game and  at the group called Thundercats on www.facebook.com.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 9 2007. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry