Clemson University’s Tiger mascot has been around for more than half a century. And since its younger, smaller sidekick, the Cub, was introduced in the early 1990s, the duo has entertained the Clemson faithful in various public settings, most notably at athletic events.
But take it from a couple of former mascots: Wearing a getup for a few hours on a game day is only part of the gig. Martin Jernigan spent multiple years as the Cub before graduating in 2009, while Michael Bays ’97, M ’99 was the Tiger during his time as a student.
They offer up their tips and tricks to effectively embody the mascot roles.
Hydrate!
The temperature can quickly rise inside the roughly 45-pound suit, which is made of faux fur. Fill up on water and electrolytes the night before a game, Bays advised. And resist the urge to go out. “Don’t party,” Jernigan said. “It’ll just make it an overall bad experience for you and, in turn, for the fans.”
Keep the air flowing
Breathing is kind of important, too. Circulation in the suit is somewhat limited (through the eyes and a small opening at the top of the head), so use breaks in the action to inhale as much fresh air as possible. “Cheat a little bit,” Bays said. “Drop that head down a little bit when you’re on a knee and just grab a whole bunch of air that you can breathe.”
Be creative
The mascots are largely responsible for planning their own gameday skits, so get creative when it comes to entertaining fans during timeouts. Jernigan suggested contacting other teams’ mascots for ideas if inspiration is needed. “Keep it spontaneous,” Jernigan said. “You don’t want to do the same routine over and over.”
Train for those pushups
The Tiger has a longstanding tradition of celebrating each Clemson point with a pushup, and the tally starts over after every score. Fatigue can set in if you’re not adequately prepared to handle the workload, so start hitting the gym months before the season in order to build up some endurance, Bays advised. “You don’t want to be the guy that’s on TV where Kirk Herbstreit or whoever is announcing is saying, ‘Oh, look at how bad those pushups are,’” he said.
Read the room
Public appearances mean plenty of fan interactions, and those can differ depending on the age. For example, a child may find the Tiger’s large, bright yellow eyes much more intimidating than an adult would. Observe people’s temperament respond accordingly. “If a little kid is afraid of you, be a little hesitant,” Bays said. “Don’t put your paws out in front of them. Get down on their level and let them approach you. Sometimes the teenagers and college students like to wrestle and tackle up. Get into that with them. Always just mirror the way people are, is what I’d say with any type of appearance.”
Leave the hand gestures alone
Disparaging hand gestures toward the opponent, including the throat slash, are a no-no. Jernigan said he was also instructed not to flash hand signs of any sorority or fraternity to avoid showing perceived favoritism. “Leave it alone,” he said. “And absolutely no speaking at all.”
Remember what you’re representing
The mascots are goodwill ambassadors for the University and should carry themselves as such. Leave your ego at the door. “Everything you do represents what the school is,” Bays said. “Everyone from 2 or 3 years old to 80 years at one point will want to get a picture with you. So you’ve always got to keep that in mind and what you’re representing.”
