BULLDOG MASCOT, SPIKE shoots T-shirts into the crowd during an event in the Knapp Center. Spike earned a No. 6 seed in the competition set for January 2010. Photo: Sarah Andrews
The cheers are getting louder and the competition is getting more intense. The crowd is not rooting for a last-second 3-pointer or a final run for the touchdown, but for the best tail-shake and cartwheel.
On Jan. 15, the Universal Cheer Association will host the best furry, fuzzy and feathery spirit leaders from across the country at the College National Mascot Championship.
Drake’s own Spike the Bulldog will travel to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney World to bring home the gold.
Competitors were chosen through two-minute audition tapes with four required areas, including game-time performance, fan interaction, on-campus student interaction and community volunteer work. The videos were also evaluated on broad categories, such as character development. Spike’s video was sent in on Nov. 1, and the recently reported results seeded the Bulldog No. 6.
Who are the students behind the mask of Drake’s favorite bulldog? The Drake Mascot Team is a secretive group dedicated to bringing smiles to the fans and increase “bleed-blue” spirit. Members’ identities are kept secret to establish Spike as his own character, rather than a recognized student in a costume. Only one member will actually be able to compete, but the entire team hopes to travel to Florida to cheer Spike on.
Cheering at the games requires a large effort on all of the team members, and the unidentified Spike correspondent reported that the team was “absolutely ecstatic” to be chosen to nationally compete. The team recognizes that there is a lot of creativity and cooperation that will go into making Spike’s routine the best it can be.
“It feels amazing to have national recognition for all of the effort that we have put in this year,” the unidentifiable mascot representative said. “It will be a lot of work to put everything together before the semester ends, but we’re up for the challenge.”
At the competition, Spike will be judged on a one-and-a-half-minute choreographed performance to showcase the best of his spirit skills. The mascots all hope to leave a lasting impact on the spectators.
“Spike will be judged on crowd appeal, crowd interaction, creativity, animation, use of props and overall impression,” the Drake mascot representative said.
Competing with the best, such as the defending national champion “Chip” from the University of Colorado, Spike will need to practice his moves. The “fist-pound and explode” move is a signature cheer that gets everyone, from kids to alumni excited for the games. Along with Spike’s specialty bouncy swagger, dancing is sure to be incorporated into the routine.
“Dancing is also something that Spike likes to do,” a mascot team member said. “He doesn’t always have the best moves, but he has more than enough energy.”
This energy has fueled the Drake sports teams throughout the semester.
He helped with morale on the football team, ended its successful season with an 8-3 record, including a 6-2 league record.
“He’s always energetic and enthusing the crowd,” football player Cam Good said. “I’d be looking at the field and hear the crowd laughing behind me, I’d turn around and it was all because of something Spike did.”
Spike is not only a star on the field, but also a cheerleader for the community. The Bulldog has accompanied sports teams when they do volunteer work and projects off campus.
“I remember one time we were volunteering at a school and there were about 80 kids cheering and yelling as Spike ran out to meet them out and signed shirts with the rest of the team,” Good said.
Catch Spike in action tomorrow at the men’s basketball game against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in the Knapp Center at 7:30 p.m.
