|
Syracuse University needs one official mascot who
should be a student, incorporated into the cheer squad and under the
supervision of the cheerleader advisor.
I am a member of the cheerleader squad, next year
will be my third year on the squad. . .I have had over four years
experience in being inside and working around the humorous costume
characters that are of the type that I am proposing. I also have had
the opportunity to build three of these costumes while I was at Ringling
Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown College.
Whether or not my idea is accepted I am extremely
willing to aid in helping to create it or another mascot costume idea that
is found satisfactory, I want to see this idea become a reality.
First of all the mascot must be something that is
very representational of Syracuse University. It also must be
unique, attractive, colorful, functional and durable. The idea that
I am proposing is that of an "Orangeman" . . . It would be
basically an orange shaped and colored creature with arms and legs as well
as eyes and a mouth. The costume would be constructed of foam rubber
which would give it shape and covered with orange and blue fabric (acrylic
pile). The person inside would see through the fabric that covers
the mascots eyes. The mouth should also be able to opened and closed
in order to eat basketballs, footballs, and such, the mouth will
normally stay in the closed position though. Eyebrows would
move up and down either simultaneously or one at a time. The eyes
should be able to look to the right or left, up or down, and spin.
In order to do these things the person will have to manipulate both eyes
and mouth from inside the costume. Therefore the arms of the mascot
would be attached to the orange body, would be hollow and allow the person
inside to withdraw or replace his arms as he wishes. When the
mascot's arms are not filled they should hang at his sides and be free to
swing.
The back side of the orange should have a marking
similar
to that of the "Sunkist" marking on real oranges, but should say
"Syracuse".
This mascot would be a superb public relations tool -
it could be used at such things as freshman convocation, parents and
prospective student functions, alumni and Orange Pack functions, local appearances
at benefits, goodwill ambassador to or of the city, parades or anything
else that would be appropriate or good public relations for the
University. Eventually we could probably have the entire football
team and mascot doing orange juice commercials!
One sure way to entertain and excite the crowd at
games next year is through the use of a humorous, energetic, bright,
colorful and adorable mascot.
Eric Heath
S.U. Cheerleader
506 Univ. Ave. Apt 1-E
February 1982 |
