Just as members of the Stag Basketball teams must endure rigorous pre-season tryouts and training, so must the much furrier, mammalian member of the team. Preliminary tryouts to become the next Lucas the Stag began this past Saturday afternoon, and the heat was on between students competing for a shot to wear the stag suit.
The search arose after the previous Stag, Dave Catalane ’05, graduated, leaving the furry feet of Lucas to be filled.
A novel approach has been taken by the Ham Channel to find a student willing and able to embody the not-so-intimidating Fairfield mascot, Lucas. Twenty students showed up at Donnarumma Hall during Stagstock to take their shot at becoming the next stag.
The twist behind the tryouts is that they will be filmed and made into a series of reality TV shows to be aired on the Ham Channel. This show, entitled “The Hunt: The Search for the Next Mascot,” will follow the contestants as they compete for the very (well, sort of) prestigious title of Lucas the Stag. If Donald Trump can do it, why can’t the Ham Channel?
John Daly ’08 is heading up this endeavor.
“We are trying to find someone that will make both the TV show and the basketball games interesting and exciting,” he said.
The position of mascot cannot simply be handed over to anyone. Dancing and basketball skills, in addition to enthusiasm and energy, are just a few of the essential requirements for a mascot. Nevertheless, Daly believes the applicant pool is strong.
“We have some good competition so far. The school will be proud of whoever wins,” he said.
The 20 students who came Saturday were interviewed and filmed as they tried to convince judges why they were the perfect enthusiasts for the job. The contestants were then narrowed down to seven.
These remaining few will go on to endure some rigorous (and rather humorous) challenges in an attempt to prove that they are “mascot material.” The first challenge will take place during the women’s soccer game on Sept. 27. The reality show will begin airing soon after this on the Ham Channel, depending on when the staff completes the editing process for the episodes.
Mike Deluca ’08 filled in as the Mascot during Spring break of the 2004-2005 season. After that experience, there was no doubt in his mind that he would be forgoing tryouts this year.
“Maybe, if the suit was remotely comfortable I’d consider it,” he said. “I’d rather endure Chinese water torture than wear that helmet again!”
As of press time, the position of Lucas the Stag is on a volunteer basis. However, unlike Fairfield, many other schools offer signifigant monetary compensation to their mascots. For example, St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia entices students to tryout to be their mascot of the Hawk by offering the winner free tuition for the year. The Hawk is one of the most recognizable mascots in college basketball. Needless to say, competition for this position is quite intense.
The Fairfield Stag arose in 1948, when the formation of Fairfield’s first varsity sport, basketball, called for a mascot. Previously, the only other athletic team of Fairfield, the cross country team, had been calling themselves the “Men in Red,” according to Fairfield’s athletic website, Fairfieldstags.com.
However, the male deer was not an obvious choice. The Stag was the victor over its competition, the Chanticleer, after a decisive vote of the Board of Trustees. The Board was swayed by the idea of the deer because of its connection to the word “hart,” which means a “European red deer” or “stag.” Since Fairfield was part of the Dioceses of Hartford, the idea of a “hart,” or stag, fit perfectly.
Since the suit is uncomfortable, the position is unpaid, and the job requires willingness to dance around in front of a bunch of your peers while dressed as a deer, it is hard to see why students would be interested in such a job.
Without hesitation, competitor Eric Falcone ’08 explained his motivation: “I’m a crazy kid and have nothing better to do.”
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