Mascots are quintessential aspects of college life. Students buy apparel with their image plastered on it as a way to show dedication for their school.
Everyone knows what the symbol represents; however, barely anyone knows who is inside the familiar suit.
Frank Aquino, along with the other co-president of Fairfield’s fan base, “Stags in the Stands,” takes on that role of the “Stag.” Aquino ’13 told The Mirror why anyone would be crazy enough to sign up for this demanding and sweaty job.
Question: How did you become one of the people inside the familiar Stag suit?
Answer: Well, through my involvement with athletics the school asked me and the co-president of Stags in the Stands, the fan group on campus, if we wanted to split time as the mascot. Personally, if I was the only one behind it I wouldn’t have wanted to do it, but the school said if we accepted they would pay for our books, and give us a stipend of $500. Then I was like you know what my mom is going to love to hear that news!
Q: How is being in the suit different than being in the stands?
A: Obviously the fans can’t hear me in the suit, which I don’t like. I like being loud in the stands and getting everyone else going, but in the suit you can be whoever you want to be. You pump people up, do a couple of dance moves, it’s a good time. Plus you get all-access passes to go wherever you want to go.
Q: At games, how are you received by the opposing fans?
A: The classic “boos” and stuff like that, maybe some chanting and making fun of me. They don’t know who I am, so I don’t care. I do whatever I want.
Q: What is your relationship like with our players and coaches?
A: They love the mascot. It is a symbol of something to rally around. They look to me to get them going and pump them up.
Q: So could you say you are kind of the center of it all?
A: A little bit, yeah.
Q: What are some of your embarrassing moments?
A: I mean when people find out it’s me, they are like “Wow, Frank cannot dance.” After games someone usually says, “Oh, nice dance moves out there.” [laughing]
Q: What is the funniest thing you have witnessed during a game?
A: I was the mascot in Albany last year. During our game against Canisius, one of the kids punched our player, Derek Needham, in the “crotch” region. [laughs] He was a senior and got ejected from the game. I mean it’s pretty embarrassing for him, it was his last game and he got ejected for punching Derek.
Q: You travel with the teams?
A: I only went to the Albany tournament, and that was because we were going as fans anyway. Since we agreed to be the Mascot there as well the school gave us free stay at a hotel, money for food, and pretty good treatment.
Q: How uncomfortable and hot is it inside the suit?
A: It is really hot especially when I’m moving around, it gets to be sweaty. Also, the face mask has one eye which is broken from little kids who like to punch and play with the mascots’ head.
Q: What do you wear under the suit?
A: I definitely would not be caught without a change of clothes; if you jumped in a pool that is what your clothes would be like by the end of a game. It is absolutely disgusting, but I know the ladies love it. [chuckling] During the game I just wear a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt, you do not want to wear too much or you will be a lot hotter than necessary.
Q: Against what team, is it the most exciting to be the Fairifleld mascot?
A: Siena. Everyone knows who they are. They are the team to beat and everyone knows that and comes out.
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