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Features I Monday, December 8, 1986 5 GAMECOCKHHIMMnHMmHMMHMnMHHi I Cocky's like any ot This n tumors note: /his is the second of a three-part series on (JSC's mascot, "Cocky." By TRACY MIXSON Senior reporter Santa Claus should be so lucky. Here's a guy who has no enemies, has hugged almost every beautiful woman in South Carolina and is more recognizable than Strom Thurmond. He's Cocky, USC's mascot and the No. 1 college character in the nation. || Ironically, while the red and yellow bird is known and loved by thousands, only a handful know the identity of the man who plays him. AND COCKY likes it that way, or so says the man who speaks for him. Because of tradition, the student who fills the mascot's hie vellow hoots re mains anonymous, and admits he enjoys keeping the secret. "It's a lot of fun, because pco| pie don't know who I am, and Cocky can do things I could never do in front of thousands of people," he said. "He can get away with anything, because he's so lovable and projects a friendly image." Would Don Diego tell the world he was Zorro. or Batman Mountaineer By DAVID CHANDLER Features reporter ^ Edwin Skinner, an engineering s a heap of unsorted papers. "Being the president of the Moi is more difficult than a lot of p says. "There is always some papei or some equipment to check." The USC Mountaineering, Wl and Rock-Climbing club member seen scaling up the side of a buildir or Food Lion in Five Points. Mountain climbing involves not miles up a mountain, but climbi ? mountain's rock face. Yet, in th ^ club's existence, there has neve accident. "IT'S REALLY not that dang you're careful," Skinner said, perfectly safe when climbing a roi harness that is fastened around cradle." A r?l i m W/acIai; Dn i * 1WUU1115 viiiiiuvi ) ?t v^ivjr uu tional relations senior, said he w when he began climbing becaust climbers took an interest in him a a learned quickly. * "I was doing a lot of surfing a out with Jean Piere and Edwin Martin," Bunch said. "They took Linville gorge called the daddy. I climb, but it was long. "When I got off the mountain, was 'bug bitten' since then. I'd trees, anything," he said. WESLEY HAS gone on to 1 ?? v ii will Sunday, De Sunday, De 5:00 p.m Full liquor And t v_=_=_= (Tjscfly i 1YJLCI : Tuesday, Dea <9 ij Room 112 ;! All members pie \\ New members o: I; welcome. Refreshments wil ij of meeting. o her superhero lascot st admit he was really Bruce Wayne in disguise? Of course not. In the same way, the student said, anonymity is the key to Cocky's success. "Fans want to see something positive that reflects their university, not some guy in a bird suit," he said, adding that his personality is somewhat reserved compared to Cocky's. But once he puts on the costume, he assumes the character of the nation's No. 1 bird. "COCKY'S GOT his own personality," said the student, who refers to the mascot in third person "Hp's one of the few mascots who can look mean or friendly, just by throwing a look. "There arc a lot of aspects to his personality and all are lovable. He's confident, but not over-confident. At times, he's scared, but ultimately he knows he's king of the roost." Annual auditions to play the mascot are held by judges from the Universal Cheerleading Association, which named Cocky the country's best college mascot earlier this year. USC's bird beat out Buzz the Yellow Jacket of Georgia Tech, Northwestern's Willie the Wildcat and Johnnv Reb of Ole Miss for the top spot. Members of the UCA have ing Club met Tcatons with F and Dave G enior, sits among biology. They and Idaho. "It intaineering Club walking on sm eople think," he A veteran < rwork to be done Cofficld, a gra at Everest and litewater Rafting Alps and th s are periodically Everest, but d ib such as Preston "Many of I Club rejoin e only hiking 3 to 5 congenial sc ing the side of a "There's prot c 12 years of the in the club. M r been a serious side, or hikin Mountaineerii erous, as long as "Girls ofter "One is almost said Sonya Ch :k because of the a lower cente the body like a climbers. The especially on inch, an interna- is climbing wii as very fortunate : the experienced WESLEY i nd as a result, he proved them mentally, be nd 1 was hanging spiritually, mj Skinner and Bill All of the r ' ^^ M KnrtH hii hittr k IUW IU a LIUIIU 111 WI1U I/; wvn t wasn't that big a lends support Bunch said, ' I was tired, and I year. You get climb buildings, like seeing grc feels real goo climb the Grand "In society s Chr& be open cember 14, 1986 and cember 21. 1986 . to 10:00 p.m. wine Mrvlce avaiUbia > ING CLUB eting jmber 9th 7:00 P.E. Center ase attend. r anyone interested are I be served at conclusion ?vMn^vvvyMvvvWvVv?w^ \ avs anon B seen Cocky grow up since his debui in 1980, and look for a continuation of the character. Fans expect the mascot to remain the same, even if the man beneath is not. INDEED, COCKY has gone through little noticeable change in the past seven years. His suit has been redesigned several times in the past, although the only marked difference is his shirt ? he began wearing a white T-shirt with a block "C" and has since changed to a black "00" jersey. The suit itself, which is about 20 pounds of foam, wire and fur, has undergone some changes to make the costume more durable, iwu5vi laoini^ auu vadici ikj tait for. Conditions for wearing the suit have improved over the years, but they're still not ideal on a hot day. The temperature in the costume is about 10 degrees warmer than outside, and the man inside estimates he loses between 12-15 pounds during the course of a game. Tryouts for the position are anonymous, with each candidate auditioning in costume. He's judged on projected personality, character, mobility and crowd appeal. Then comes an interview without the suit, and judges f" noers say cun >aul Peterson, a chemistry professor, loudeman, a graduate in marine made climbs in Colorado, Wyoming s great to be in 70 degree weather and ow," Wesley said. af the Mountaineering Club, Dana duate student in geology, has climbed various peaks in South America, the e Rockies. Coffield also climbed idn't reach the summit. the members of the Mountaineering ach semester simply because of the icial atmosphere," said Bunch. 'ttuiy umy IUUI av^iivt i\;uiai^ viuuucid ost of the other girls enjoy being outg, or camping. There's more to the lg Club than just rock climbing." ) 'show up' their male counterparts," onczynski, a biology junior. "Having :r of gravity makes females perfect y are also more graceful than males, friction climbing." Friction climbing th no handholds, on low angled rock. ^ND Sonya said rock climbing imphysically, making them stronger; >osting their self-confidence; and iking them more in touch with nature, nembers of the club share a common ig memoers 01 an organization mat to the weak and praise to the strong. 'I've made friends for life in just one to know these people really well. It's iwn men cry. Whenever you fall off, it d to have your partner catch you." we only see one side of a person, but \ Spec // CAROLINA - / IJ Remembering tt II Pathways to a { | \\ Harrison's hai Vl marshes and , M enlivened witl j & _ A Babcock Fan | SOUTH CAROL j: Iff sale ! n Rrnnwon thp T C H U/I VI Iff VI I) ?| IV j n autographed j // COLUMBIA/ GREENVILLE A True Likenes j Reminiscenses ji \\ Island by Roi > I ^^^wsexmBl i vmous look for the proper attitude and a strong commitment for the job. A STRONG commitment is essential, according to the present Cocky, because the position is so demanding. On an average day he takes about 15 phone calls pertaining to Cocky, including about five requests for personal appearances. The mascot appeared publicly 266 times in 1985, and should break that record this year. But with all the people he's able to please, Cocky has to decline some requests because of scheduling. "It's really tough to turn people down," the student said. "I come in, sometimes after making three or four appearances that day, all sweaty and tired, and someone needs Cocky again that night. "I try to fit it in, but sometimes I have to turn people down. That's not easy, especially if it's for a good cause like a charity drive or something." HE SAID there have been suggestions to have two students play Cocky, so the mascot could perform at simultaneous events. "There's been talk of having two suits and two people, but I just don't think it would work," he said. "I think that would hurt ibing isn't di when you're climbing a mountaii yourself and of others that you I seen before. This also increases t pie," said Peterson. "I feel as if I'm on top of the e mountain. It's the real 'rush' fo member Russell Gruber, a gradi SPECIAI Receive ; Carolina I W ! Colliaum _ ASSEMBLY ST. tO K- H c/> -J <n I a *? g w S S \ O ff O PC I 5i ? ~Jlg I 794. Hanlpn m. (Five Points) ial Boob ^ umvtJisiiy rumau ie Days ? a nostalgic look southern Coast by Jim Hari jntingly beautiful oils and w lighthouses are complimenl 1 folklore and local tradition ? We have six of his titles .INA ? a great pictorial es raw and the Shape-Shifter Portrait of a Capital City b; - Woven from the Past bv s ? The Black South of F on a Sea Island Heritage laid Daise Csc JNIVEUSITY ^pKSTOKE I fc.." Bfl ?b|| Wz-.-j ^7"T; T-.,<^ ~ Cocky makes over 200 appearances a yet before the Miami-USC game. The student b anonymous. Cocky's personality. ch "Cocky is unique, and to make Cc two of him would confuse his sh ingerous, but b n, you see a side of "You see the sights have perhaps never the way God meant >onds between peo- dances off of the tre a sea of greens and arth when 1 climb a little by us, and the >r me," said 4-year worth any risks that jate in psychology. to sec it." yw *r 1 iiliiiHilliiiiiuiiiH I" Nnff CHINK GARDEN Wc Ml RESTAURANT & LOUNGE li L CHRISTMAS OF! a CHINESE CALENDAR ith any purchase (limited time onl) I~" ta i r i T-? ee I uany Lruncneon ouiict JL (11:30-4:00) M EAT IN or TAKE OUT F1 - 799.530*1 1 /> /V . /2i , ;s tor Uit't ; at Carolina through the ages . 'ison & Jerry Blackwelder ? 'atercolors of sand dunes, salt :ed by Blackwelder's prose, is. A supendous gift at in hardback ? each say of our State, and best of ali by James Dickey ? can be * / Walter Edgar & Deborah Woole Nancy Vance Ashmore iichard Samuel Roberts 1920-19 Legacy of Freedmen on St. Hel Usual Mail Order form flfg J KEITH JONES/The Gamecock ir, such as this one at a pap rally ehind the mask prefers to remain aractcr. There's only one )cky, and that's the way it ould stay." eautiful and think to yourself, 'that is for the world to be.' The sun es and your eyes arc drowned in yellows. True beauty is seen so chance to see perfection is well one might have to take in order SCROLL I OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK j ON-THURS 11:30-10 p.m.8 U-SAT 11:30-11 p.m.l JNDAY 12-10 p.m.l m - \\ .... $30.00 J .... 50.00 ;; iqq<; n I V.V/V i~a on R 4.98 W .. .. 13 95 \\ ;y .. 27.50 ] .... 24.95 36.. 19.95 ena JJ .... 16.95 SL