Today, December 14th, is Sammy's actual 50th birthday! Happy birthday, big Kat!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Happy Birthday, Sammy!
Today, December 14th, is Sammy's actual 50th birthday! Happy birthday, big Kat!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Former Sammy PatG Named Best Mascot
This just in...
Former Sammy Bearkat PatG has just been named Best Mascot for 2009 by GameOps, a sports entertainment trade organization, for his portrayal of Thunder at the Lake Elisnore Storm.
This is the same PatG that was viciously mauled and suffered broken bones at the hands of a rabid gorilla earlier this season.
Congratulations, Pat!!!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Video of the Week: Sammy's 1999 UCA Nationals Skit
That's Mark Barry in one of the funniest skits I've ever seen. It would have placed him higher than 6th, but the judges felt that it wasn't "family friendly" enough.
Stupid judges.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Question of the Week
Did you ever "break character" when you were Sammy?
Fill out this form in triplicate...
Monday, October 19, 2009
Question of the Week
What was the craziest thing you ever did when you were Sammy?
Show your work for full credit...
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Homecoming Photo Set Posted
I've posted all the photos from my camera onto my flickr account. You can view theme here. Just click on an image to make it larger. Then click on the "All Sizes" link above the photo and select the size you'd like. The just click on the "download" link.
Thanks to Rick Stauffer for taking the photos while we were all down on the field.
Sammy Reception Photo
There were six former Sammys at the reception on Friday. The Huntsville Item took the photo that they used before Sherilan and Lana got there.
(R to L) That's Sherilan ('83-'84), Mark ('98-'99), Pat ('00-'06), Trent ('04-'08), Lana ('87-'88) and James '95-'98).
Sunday, October 11, 2009
News: Homecoming Parade
From the Huntsville Item:
Walker County residents lined Sam Houston Avenue Thursday night for the annual Sam Houston State University Homecoming Parade. Fraternities and organizations across campus celebrated the 50th birthday of Sammy the Bearkat with floats that included giant birthday cakes, balloons and noisemakers.The Department of Student Activities will give away free food and prizes to those in school colors today at 10 a.m. in the LSC Mall Area. Other various activities include the “Golden Circle Reunion” in the LSC Ballroom at 11 a.m. and the “50 Years of Sammy” Reception in the LSC Atrium at 1 p.m. The “Distinguished Alumni Gala” will be held in the LSC Ballroom, with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m., hosted by the office of Alumni Relations. The Bearkats will host the Nicholls State Colonels at Bowers Stadium at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Matthew Jackson /
Walker County residents lined Sam Houston Avenue Thursday night for the annual Sam Houston State University Homecoming Parade. Fraternities and organizations across campus celebrated the 50th birthday of Sammy the Bearkat with floats that included giant birthday cakes, balloons and noisemakers.The Department of Student Activities will give away free food and prizes to those in school colors today at 10 a.m. in the LSC Mall Area. Other various activities include the “Golden Circle Reunion” in the LSC Ballroom at 11 a.m. and the “50 Years of Sammy” Reception in the LSC Atrium at 1 p.m. The “Distinguished Alumni Gala” will be held in the LSC Ballroom, with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m., hosted by the office of Alumni Relations. The Bearkats will host the Nicholls State Colonels at Bowers Stadium at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Matthew Jackson /
News: Happy Birthday, Sammy
From the Huntsville Item:
Happy Birthday, Sammy
The Lowman Student Center Atrium at Sam Houston State University was bustling with excitement on Friday for the Sammy Reception.
Poster-size photos of Sammy the Bearkat lined the atrium, guiding viewers through a historic walk of the famous SHSU mascot, celebrating 50 years this year. In the photographs, those attending could see and celebrate how Sammy has changed throughout the years.
Students stopped by in between classes alumni smiled as they looked at the familiar photos. The real treat of the reception was the presence of current and former individuals who have played the role of Sammy.
“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” James Pharaon said.
Pharaon embodied Sammy from 1995 through 1998. Beginning as a cheerleader at SHSU, he found his way into a try-out for Sammy, completely transforming his college experience as he won the position.
“I was the one in the dog suit for a year and a half,” he said. “During a football game, it started raining and the suit practically disintegrated while I was wearing it as it was made of a paper mache material. It was then we knew it was time for a change.”
From this experience, Pharaon went on to create the look Bearkats know today.
“The process began in 1996. We went through hundreds of ideas and took it to the head of the school,” he said. “I personally wanted Sammy to have an aggressive look, but we ended with a friendly version. It took several months and then we unveiled the new design on Jan. 30, 1997.”
Pharaon went on to become a graphic designer and production coordinator for Germania Insurance in Brenham.
Mark Barry and Pharaon worked together as graphic designers in student activities, encouraging each other to become more creative and at times, mischievous. Barry stepped into the Sammy suit in 1998 and stayed in the position until 1999.
“It was a blast. It was like I had a VIP pass to get away with anything,” Barry said.
“I’ll never forget the time I went to the National Mascot Championship at Disney Land. I ended up in fifth or sixth place, but the judges told me I could have had first if my performance had just been a little more family-friendly,” Barry remembered.
Coming from California to attend the reception, Patrick Gardenier played the part of Sammy from September of 2000 until April of 2006.
“It was a life-changing experience,” Gardenier said. “I came for school, but stuck around to be involved on campus. When I tried out to be Sammy, my mom didn’t think I could do it without my grades suffering.
“However, becoming involved with the student activities and going to hundreds of events each year, really helped me learn how to prioritize and multi-task. My grades got much better and I made the dean’s list seven or eight times.”
Trent Coots also played the role of Sammy and became good friends with Gardenier. After viewing an ad in the school paper, he tried out to be Sammy. Coots advised current and future mascots to keep up the tradition.
“There’s great history behind the character of Sammy and the school, yet there’s always new ways to present it,” he said. “Be creative and have lots of fun.”
Coots and Gardenier spoke with enthusiasm of their road trips to competitions, seeing snow for the first time and learning to embody a school spirit.
“Most people don’t realize that to be a good mascot, it takes two to three years to connect with the character,” Coots said.
For those attending the reception, it was clear, these men are more than simply mascots, they are good friends who will never forget their experience at SHSU.
“My time at SHSU as Sammy shaped my life,” Coots said. “From there I went on to become the mascot for the Houston Comets. I learned so much from the experience.”
Gardenier works with a minor league baseball team in California and described his time at SHSU as very influential in the course of his career.
“I’ll always be using the skills I learned while I was Sammy,” Gardenier said.
“When I was Sammy, I learned how view events with a creative mindset,” Pharaon said. “Now, in whatever I’m doing, I try to present it in a new way. The experience opened up so many doors for me. I’ll never forget introducing the new suit or proposing to my wife during a halftime performance. “
All of the former Sammy mascots wish the very best to SHSU and desire to encourage others to get involved with the university or community as it is never known what doors may be opened as the result or what skills may be gained by simply putting forth an effort.
Photo caption: Former Bearkat mascots, from left, Patrick Gardenier, Mark Barry, James Pharaon and Brent Coots pose with Sammy the Bearkat during Friday’s Sammy Reception. Sammy celebrates his 50th birthday this year.
Happy Birthday, Sammy
The Lowman Student Center Atrium at Sam Houston State University was bustling with excitement on Friday for the Sammy Reception. Poster-size photos of Sammy the Bearkat lined the atrium, guiding viewers through a historic walk of the famous SHSU mascot, celebrating 50 years this year. In the photographs, those attending could see and celebrate how Sammy has changed throughout the years.
Students stopped by in between classes alumni smiled as they looked at the familiar photos. The real treat of the reception was the presence of current and former individuals who have played the role of Sammy.
“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” James Pharaon said.
Pharaon embodied Sammy from 1995 through 1998. Beginning as a cheerleader at SHSU, he found his way into a try-out for Sammy, completely transforming his college experience as he won the position.
“I was the one in the dog suit for a year and a half,” he said. “During a football game, it started raining and the suit practically disintegrated while I was wearing it as it was made of a paper mache material. It was then we knew it was time for a change.”
From this experience, Pharaon went on to create the look Bearkats know today.
“The process began in 1996. We went through hundreds of ideas and took it to the head of the school,” he said. “I personally wanted Sammy to have an aggressive look, but we ended with a friendly version. It took several months and then we unveiled the new design on Jan. 30, 1997.”
Pharaon went on to become a graphic designer and production coordinator for Germania Insurance in Brenham.
Mark Barry and Pharaon worked together as graphic designers in student activities, encouraging each other to become more creative and at times, mischievous. Barry stepped into the Sammy suit in 1998 and stayed in the position until 1999.
“It was a blast. It was like I had a VIP pass to get away with anything,” Barry said.
“I’ll never forget the time I went to the National Mascot Championship at Disney Land. I ended up in fifth or sixth place, but the judges told me I could have had first if my performance had just been a little more family-friendly,” Barry remembered.
Coming from California to attend the reception, Patrick Gardenier played the part of Sammy from September of 2000 until April of 2006.
“It was a life-changing experience,” Gardenier said. “I came for school, but stuck around to be involved on campus. When I tried out to be Sammy, my mom didn’t think I could do it without my grades suffering.
“However, becoming involved with the student activities and going to hundreds of events each year, really helped me learn how to prioritize and multi-task. My grades got much better and I made the dean’s list seven or eight times.”
Trent Coots also played the role of Sammy and became good friends with Gardenier. After viewing an ad in the school paper, he tried out to be Sammy. Coots advised current and future mascots to keep up the tradition.
“There’s great history behind the character of Sammy and the school, yet there’s always new ways to present it,” he said. “Be creative and have lots of fun.”
Coots and Gardenier spoke with enthusiasm of their road trips to competitions, seeing snow for the first time and learning to embody a school spirit.
“Most people don’t realize that to be a good mascot, it takes two to three years to connect with the character,” Coots said.
For those attending the reception, it was clear, these men are more than simply mascots, they are good friends who will never forget their experience at SHSU.
“My time at SHSU as Sammy shaped my life,” Coots said. “From there I went on to become the mascot for the Houston Comets. I learned so much from the experience.”
Gardenier works with a minor league baseball team in California and described his time at SHSU as very influential in the course of his career.
“I’ll always be using the skills I learned while I was Sammy,” Gardenier said.
“When I was Sammy, I learned how view events with a creative mindset,” Pharaon said. “Now, in whatever I’m doing, I try to present it in a new way. The experience opened up so many doors for me. I’ll never forget introducing the new suit or proposing to my wife during a halftime performance. “
All of the former Sammy mascots wish the very best to SHSU and desire to encourage others to get involved with the university or community as it is never known what doors may be opened as the result or what skills may be gained by simply putting forth an effort.
Photo caption: Former Bearkat mascots, from left, Patrick Gardenier, Mark Barry, James Pharaon and Brent Coots pose with Sammy the Bearkat during Friday’s Sammy Reception. Sammy celebrates his 50th birthday this year.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Alumni Center Sammy Exhibit
out the Sammy photo exhibit.
Former Sammys on Parade
the Sammy Bearkat float.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
All my memories of being an SHSU mascot are incredible! Each moment was wildly unpredictable, joy-filled, and so much fun! From push-ups in the end zone to dancing on stage with the Beach Boys in the Astrodome, these are truly my most treasured moments. I LOVED my top hat and tux, the clown suit I made and of course my jersey as Sammy the Bearkat. I drove Sammy farther than we ever thought he could go in a blue and orange golf cart all OVER the campus! The media blitz announcing Sammy's reported "accident" allowed us extra time to get our new uniforms. Sammy and Samantha arrived at that first pep rally in a balloon-filled ambulance to the roar of an awesome Bearkat crowd!
Give 'em hell Bearkats!
Give 'em hell Bearkats!
SFA Lumberjerks
Reading Formersammy09's post about getting speared by a lumberjack (I'd love to read the full story on that one, BTW) jogged my memory on a couple of SFA Lumberjerk experiences of my own:
1995 - On the SFA campus there's a statue of Stephen F. Austin standing proudly with his hands on his hips. It was my first season as Sammy (as well as the chair of the Program Council Spirit and Traditions committee), and I wanted to do something a little bit ... rebellious. So I found a way for the school to pay for orange Kool-aid, streamers and a big red hooker dress with huge falsies on the front out of my mascot prop budget. We bought every packet of orange Kool-aid that Wal-Mart had. It was somewhere around 200 packets. We opened them all and put the orange powder into a big tupperware bowl.
And under the cover of darkness, several of my friends and members of the Sprit and Traditions committee left Huntsville and drove to Nacogdoches. We got there about 10pm and snuck around the campus avoiding security, trying to find their fountain. We finally found the fountain and began dumping the orange Kool-aid into it. We also emptied a bottle of dish soap into it. Some of us "TPed" the trees with the orange streamers while others climbed the statue and put the red hooker dress on the statue of Stephen F.
By the time we left, there were orange bubbles floating everywhere, streamers hanging and Stephen F. Austin, the proudest hooker ever, standing stoically in the center of the fountain, complete with huge fake boobs. I've got a photo in storage somewhere. If I ever dig it up, I'll post it. If the statute of limitations has expired, that is...
1996 - The game was in Nacogdoches this year. I was on the track headed to the field house for a break when out of nowhere a costumed lumberjack mascot ran up behind me and gave me an elbow to the kidney, then ran away. I was down on the ground rolling around in pain and didn't see a thing. Luckily, I was taping for my nationals tape and got to see the whole thing go down on tape later. That's the day I peed blood.
Later the same game... Sam Houston won (to my recollection, anyway) and the SFA fans were TICKED OFF. I was in the Sammy suit walking back to the bus. Unbeknownst to me, there was a group of about ten Sigma Chis from SFA following me. They were just about to make their move and beat the crap out of me when my cheer sponsor's husband saw what was going on and cut them off. He was a big, muscular dude - a Houston police officer - and happened to be a former Sigma Chi himself. So he was able to stop them so I could board the bus. I didn't even find out what had happened until a few minutes later. That was the day I probably cheated death. Whew!
1995 - On the SFA campus there's a statue of Stephen F. Austin standing proudly with his hands on his hips. It was my first season as Sammy (as well as the chair of the Program Council Spirit and Traditions committee), and I wanted to do something a little bit ... rebellious. So I found a way for the school to pay for orange Kool-aid, streamers and a big red hooker dress with huge falsies on the front out of my mascot prop budget. We bought every packet of orange Kool-aid that Wal-Mart had. It was somewhere around 200 packets. We opened them all and put the orange powder into a big tupperware bowl.
And under the cover of darkness, several of my friends and members of the Sprit and Traditions committee left Huntsville and drove to Nacogdoches. We got there about 10pm and snuck around the campus avoiding security, trying to find their fountain. We finally found the fountain and began dumping the orange Kool-aid into it. We also emptied a bottle of dish soap into it. Some of us "TPed" the trees with the orange streamers while others climbed the statue and put the red hooker dress on the statue of Stephen F.
By the time we left, there were orange bubbles floating everywhere, streamers hanging and Stephen F. Austin, the proudest hooker ever, standing stoically in the center of the fountain, complete with huge fake boobs. I've got a photo in storage somewhere. If I ever dig it up, I'll post it. If the statute of limitations has expired, that is...
1996 - The game was in Nacogdoches this year. I was on the track headed to the field house for a break when out of nowhere a costumed lumberjack mascot ran up behind me and gave me an elbow to the kidney, then ran away. I was down on the ground rolling around in pain and didn't see a thing. Luckily, I was taping for my nationals tape and got to see the whole thing go down on tape later. That's the day I peed blood.
Later the same game... Sam Houston won (to my recollection, anyway) and the SFA fans were TICKED OFF. I was in the Sammy suit walking back to the bus. Unbeknownst to me, there was a group of about ten Sigma Chis from SFA following me. They were just about to make their move and beat the crap out of me when my cheer sponsor's husband saw what was going on and cut them off. He was a big, muscular dude - a Houston police officer - and happened to be a former Sigma Chi himself. So he was able to stop them so I could board the bus. I didn't even find out what had happened until a few minutes later. That was the day I probably cheated death. Whew!
Formersammy09's Sammy memories
Good to see all these great minds in one blog.
A few memories I have of my tenure as that ol bearkat included:
Unicycleing and having the thing break and end up in an uncomfortable place
Mini-biking and having my styish shirt get sucked in the tire behind me and strangling me off the bike
Getting speared by a LARGE SFA lumberjack after kicking him in the butt
Having a mom ask me if I was a guy then giving me a hug and saying "oh yea you are a guy..."
Watching someone outside of the suit on the four-wheeler run over the Eastern Central Oklahoma's head coah with Airkat on front...man that guy could roll
Counltess hours in the paint room practically breathing spray paint then sneezing black.
Parasailing in Daytona with a few USC girls and Sam paid for it
completing a whole competition video then having my computer crash
Doing a punch front at a mens basketball game and having my head fly off in the middle of the court...I landed it by the way. Surprisingly no video was taken of this.
A few memories I have of my tenure as that ol bearkat included:
Unicycleing and having the thing break and end up in an uncomfortable place
Mini-biking and having my styish shirt get sucked in the tire behind me and strangling me off the bike
Getting speared by a LARGE SFA lumberjack after kicking him in the butt
Having a mom ask me if I was a guy then giving me a hug and saying "oh yea you are a guy..."
Watching someone outside of the suit on the four-wheeler run over the Eastern Central Oklahoma's head coah with Airkat on front...man that guy could roll
Counltess hours in the paint room practically breathing spray paint then sneezing black.
Parasailing in Daytona with a few USC girls and Sam paid for it
completing a whole competition video then having my computer crash
Doing a punch front at a mens basketball game and having my head fly off in the middle of the court...I landed it by the way. Surprisingly no video was taken of this.
Sammy's 1998 UCA Competition Video
Unearthed by popular demand...
This is Mark Barry's video, which qualified him to go to National Competition at Disney World. It also features the only known occurrence of using Ronald McDonald as a prop. Hilarious.
You'll get to meet the legendary Mr. Barry this weekend. Look for the guy with the beard.
This is Mark Barry's video, which qualified him to go to National Competition at Disney World. It also features the only known occurrence of using Ronald McDonald as a prop. Hilarious.
You'll get to meet the legendary Mr. Barry this weekend. Look for the guy with the beard.
Shirt Size?
Question:
If you're coming this weekend, what's your shirt size?
Either leave your message in the comments section or reply to this e-mail.
If you're coming this weekend, what's your shirt size?
Either leave your message in the comments section or reply to this e-mail.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Homecoming FAQs
SwmMom and I spoke this morning, and she had some questions - some of which I had never even considered. We thought it might help other Sammys, so here they are, along with the answers:
Q: What should I wear?
A: Parade - casual
Reception- business casual will be fine
Football game - whatever you would normally wear to a football game. You will receive a Sammy Bearkat T-shirt, so you can change into that if you'd like.
Q: Will there be food?
A: There is usually tailgating-type food at the Student Activities tent in the tailgating area before the game. There will also be food available at the concession stand at Bowers stadium.
Q: Where do we go?
A: The parade lineup is in the Bowers Stadium parking lot. This is also where the Student Activities tent will be during tailgating before the game on Saturday. The reception on Friday will be in the Lowman Student Center, which is in the center of campus.
Q: Where the heck is Bowers Stadium?
A: (Note: It never occurred to me that many former Sammys performed at Pritchett Field and have never even been to Bowers Stadium) Bowers Stadium is near the library and the coliseum. If you remember how to get to the library or the coliseum, just go there and look across the Intramural fields up the hill. You can't miss the stadium.
Q: Will tickets be available for my family?
A: Yes! Pick up tickets to the game for you and your family free of charge at the Department of Student Activities tent at the tailgate event before the game.
Q: Will we all be sitting together?
A: Yes. All the complimentary tickets will be in the same section.
Q: Where do I park? Does it cost to park?
A: It doesn't cost anything to park. There is parking available in several parking lots near the stadium, although not IN the stadium parking lot. Tailgating will be going on there. Try parking in the intramural field lot, at the library, or in the lot near the criminal justice building and the university hotel. There is also some parking on the street near the stadium.
If you think of any additional questions, be sure to let us know and we'll try to get them answered ASAP!
Q: What should I wear?
A: Parade - casual
Reception- business casual will be fine
Football game - whatever you would normally wear to a football game. You will receive a Sammy Bearkat T-shirt, so you can change into that if you'd like.
Q: Will there be food?
A: There is usually tailgating-type food at the Student Activities tent in the tailgating area before the game. There will also be food available at the concession stand at Bowers stadium.
Q: Where do we go?
A: The parade lineup is in the Bowers Stadium parking lot. This is also where the Student Activities tent will be during tailgating before the game on Saturday. The reception on Friday will be in the Lowman Student Center, which is in the center of campus.
Q: Where the heck is Bowers Stadium?
A: (Note: It never occurred to me that many former Sammys performed at Pritchett Field and have never even been to Bowers Stadium) Bowers Stadium is near the library and the coliseum. If you remember how to get to the library or the coliseum, just go there and look across the Intramural fields up the hill. You can't miss the stadium.
Q: Will tickets be available for my family?
A: Yes! Pick up tickets to the game for you and your family free of charge at the Department of Student Activities tent at the tailgate event before the game.
Q: Will we all be sitting together?
A: Yes. All the complimentary tickets will be in the same section.
Q: Where do I park? Does it cost to park?
A: It doesn't cost anything to park. There is parking available in several parking lots near the stadium, although not IN the stadium parking lot. Tailgating will be going on there. Try parking in the intramural field lot, at the library, or in the lot near the criminal justice building and the university hotel. There is also some parking on the street near the stadium.
If you think of any additional questions, be sure to let us know and we'll try to get them answered ASAP!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Official Invitation from SHSU
Received in my inbox this morning:
Dear SHSU Former Mascot,
The 2009 Homecoming theme for Sam Houston State University is "SAMTASTIC: Celebrating 50 Years of Sammy". In celebration for this year's festivities, we would like to invite you (as a former mascot) to attend some of our events.
We encourage you to attend the following events:
Thursday, October 8th
SHSU Homecoming Parade
Sam Houston Avenue
Parade Line-Up 5:30 p.m.
Parade Start 6:30 p.m.
*There will be an official float for previous mascots. If you are interested in riding on this float please contact Brandon Cooper so that he can arrange it.
Friday, October 9th
50 Years of Sammy Reception
Lowman Student Center Atrium
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
*A pictorial reception honoring Sammy. Dress is Bearkat Casual and it is a come and go reception.
Saturday, October 10th
Bearkat Alley
Bowers Stadium Parking Lot
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
*Free food and fun before the football game.
Saturday, October 10th
SHSU vs. Nicholls State
Bowers Stadium
2:00 p.m.
*Free tickets are provided for former mascots. You can receive your ticket before the football game at the Student Activities tent at tailgate.
We are looking forward to seeing all the former mascots. If you have any questions please contact me at 936-294-3465 or brandon@shsu.edu.
Sincerely,
M. Brandon Cooper
The Department of Student Activities
Sam Houston State University
936.294.3465
936.294.3652 FAX
brandon@shsu.edu
Dear SHSU Former Mascot,
The 2009 Homecoming theme for Sam Houston State University is "SAMTASTIC: Celebrating 50 Years of Sammy". In celebration for this year's festivities, we would like to invite you (as a former mascot) to attend some of our events.
We encourage you to attend the following events:Thursday, October 8th
SHSU Homecoming Parade
Sam Houston Avenue
Parade Line-Up 5:30 p.m.
Parade Start 6:30 p.m.
*There will be an official float for previous mascots. If you are interested in riding on this float please contact Brandon Cooper so that he can arrange it.
Friday, October 9th
50 Years of Sammy Reception
Lowman Student Center Atrium
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
*A pictorial reception honoring Sammy. Dress is Bearkat Casual and it is a come and go reception.
Saturday, October 10th
Bearkat Alley
Bowers Stadium Parking Lot
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
*Free food and fun before the football game.
Saturday, October 10th
SHSU vs. Nicholls State
Bowers Stadium
2:00 p.m.
*Free tickets are provided for former mascots. You can receive your ticket before the football game at the Student Activities tent at tailgate.
We are looking forward to seeing all the former mascots. If you have any questions please contact me at 936-294-3465 or brandon@shsu.edu.
Sincerely,
M. Brandon Cooper
The Department of Student Activities
Sam Houston State University
936.294.3465
936.294.3652 FAX
brandon@shsu.edu
Monday, September 28, 2009
Former Sammy PatG Viciously Mauled, Injured by Rabid Gorilla
From the LA Times:
And off they go, eight of the 11 mascots of this plush toy of a baseball team, a mid-inning race across the outfield, a menagerie of madness.
"Outta the way!" the ice cream cup shouts.
"Somebody's going down!" the lobster shouts.
The banana takes the lead, the lobster runs a close second, then here comes the gorilla, waving his arms and bulldozing his buddies.
Down goes the sunglasses-wearing rabbit. Down goes the giant green dog. Down goes the gangling blue sea creature.
The race ends with the gorilla leaping across the left-field line while the sweating, swearing mascot carnage piles up on the field behind him.
"You knocked off my freaking head," the rabbit shouts.
"Dude," the sea creature shouts. "You just ran over me."
But nobody is injured worse than the dog, who is dragged to his feet and pulled gently to the locker room, where he collapses on a folding chair in severe pain.
"I'm hurting, man," he whispers, nodding to his right shoulder. "I'm hurting big time."
The dog's huge green head is removed, the enormous high-top tennis shoes are unlaced, the furry green body is peeled off, and the soaked man inside is driven to a nearby hospital where he is diagnosed with a broken collarbone.
"We go all out here," Pat Gardenier says before leaving. "This is the price you pay."
His fellow creatures nod their cumbersome heads and shake their elongated snouts in resilience and remorse.
Except for the offensive ape, who can be found happily break dancing behind the plate.
"I feel terrible about what happened, but what am I supposed to do?" Robby Gillett says. "I'm a gorilla."
Welcome to a veritable Baseball Country Jamboree, the Class-A Lake Elsinore Storm, the mascot capital of the sports world, a place where the characters are complex but the motto is simple.
"When our fans leave here, most of them don't remember the final score," says Allan Benavides, assistant general manager. "But they all remember the fun."
The mascots indeed go all out here, far out, way out, and the return is truly priceless.
A summer evening at this charming Riverside County field known as the Diamond is like a walk through a motley, magical park.
Between every inning, it seems, a different type of creature runs on to the field to run, jump, dance or just hit someone. Sometimes they toy with fans, other times they taunt opposing team, often they just spend the 90 seconds humiliating each other.
At various points on this weekday night in a game against the Stockton Ports, the field was filled with male strippers, thuggish cats, a monkey pounding players with pool noodles, and a cardboard robot who so furiously danced, his duct-taped head fell off.
And, of course, there was that strange, scary race.
"Sometimes we wonder if anybody is even watching the actual game," Gillett says.
Virtually every minor league team in baseball employs characters like this. What makes Lake Elsinore unique is the scope of their zoo.
They have 11 mascots, more than the number of players in their team's lineup.
They have an actual director of mascot operations, a college graduate with a budget and a mandate.
They have a real locker room for the mascots, complete with air conditioning and closet space.
They even employ mascots to perform normal club duties while in uniform, having them serve as both mascot and stadium worker at the same time.
Thus, the rabbit scoreboard operator.
I am not making this up.
Every game at the Diamond, a kid sits on a rickety lawn chair behind the scoreboard, behind a tarp, working the numbers while wearing a rabbit costume.
When Lake Elsinore scores, Jackpot the Rabbit throws on his head, runs through a door and dances in the outfield until the celebration music ends, then returns to change the runs and hits.
"When I tell my friends what I do, they laugh," Robert Cervantes says. "I guess I can't blame them."
But the last laugh belongs to the Storm fans, particularly the children, who fill the stands each night to cheer their favorite athletes, er, animals.
"Because we have different players every year, nobody knows the name of number 21," Benavides says. "But ask any kid, any year, and he knows the name of all the mascots."
Beginning with Thunder, the leader of the Lake Elsinore mascots, the giant green dog who is clearly the most popular person in the organization.
He growls, he barks, he giggles, he even breaks wind, for which the human inside will not apologize.
The first universal rule of all mascots is that they never speak, but the Lake Elsinore folks believe there are important exceptions.
"We all understand that kids love [flatulent] sounds," says Gardenier, the team's director of mascot operations who doubles as Thunder.
When Gardenier broke his collarbone last week in the mid-fourth inning mascot race, it possibly sidelined him for the rest of the season and ended the most fun part of his job.
Earlier in the evening, Thunder was so swarmed by fans during a walk through the stands, less than half the crowd was even watching the game.
"My three kids are more interested in him than the players," says Monica Sandberg, who followed her young children as they danced by Thunder's side. "He's silly, and kids love silly."
When Thunder disappeared after the race, there was unrest in the stands until it was announced that he had been injured. Leaving no subtlety unturned, the Lake Elsinore folks then played a video montage of Thunder accompanied by the sort of sentimental music that made you think he was dead.
Of course, this only set up the cheers for the next night, when Thunder made a triumphant return while being played by another employee.
"We're entertainers, and isn't sports all about entertainment?" says Gillett, who plays several characters.
Sports is also about the luck, which is pretty much how Lake Elsinore came to acquire all these mascots in the first place.
Last year, a local costume shop went out of business and offered costumes for $50 apiece. Thus, the Lobster, the June Cat and the Grounds Crew Gorilla were born.
Jackpot the Rabbit was a costume left behind by a former sponsor.
Scoop is a human ice cream cup given to them by an ice cream store.
Hamlet, the light blue sea creature, is an old Storm mascot that is supposed to be some sort of dragon from the nearby lake.
"The Loch Ness monster of Lake Elsinore?" Gardenier says. "Works for me."
The banana was purchased this year as a dance partner for -- surprise -- the Gorilla.
Then there is the Robot, which was something that Gillett built this year for '80s Night. Great idea, but not very practical, as he learned earlier when he lost his head.
Then there is Rally Cop and Party Boy, two truly human mascots who race on to the field at odd times and act racy.
Rally Cop, who is Gillett dressed like an officer, runs out in the ninth inning of a close game and throws foam baseballs inscribed with insults into the opposing team's dugout.
Party Boy is an intern who runs out and does a male strip tease whenever the skit requires that one of the mascots be distracted.
Various employees play the characters, with the only requirement being that they must be willing to go through several shirts and lose several pounds each night in the 100-degree heat.
"You drink a lot of water," Gardenier says. "And you hope the kids don't hit you where it hurts."
The most appreciative kids are Storm players, who howl nightly at the antics.
"Face it, baseball can be boring; we love our mascots," says Jeremy Hefner, the Storm's pitching ace. "It's the other teams that get bothered."
On this summer evening, the other team doesn't seem bothered, plays hard, Lake Elsinore and Stockton battling pitch for pitch until the very end, when the game reaches its climax.
This occurs, of course, when Jackpot the Rabbit finishes his scoreboard work and walks across the field to return to the locker room.
Kids line the railings to wave and scream and ask for his autograph. He stops for every child, poses for every photo, and by the time he drags his overheated, exhausted body into the tunnel, the stadium is empty, leaving many with only one unanswered question.
Who won?
Who cares?
For those that don't know, former Sammy PatG is the mascot Thunder for the Lake Elsinore Storm baseball team. Hate to hear that you were injured, Pat. Hope you're recovered. See you in a few weeks.
Thanks to Sammy's pal KidSimba for passing the article along.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Discount code at LaQuinta
If you're planning on coming for Homecoming, you need to make your hotel reservations soon! A couple of hotels in Huntsville are already completely booked.
If you still need to make reservations, consider this: at LaQuinta, when making your reservation online, use promotion code GRMNIA and get a discount that beats AAA rates!
I've linked directly to the Hunstville LaQuinta page with the code applied here.
BTW- This code works at all LaQuintas. It's the Germania Insurance discount code (where I work). You don't need to be a policyholder or employee to use it, so no worries!
If you still need to make reservations, consider this: at LaQuinta, when making your reservation online, use promotion code GRMNIA and get a discount that beats AAA rates!
I've linked directly to the Hunstville LaQuinta page with the code applied here.
BTW- This code works at all LaQuintas. It's the Germania Insurance discount code (where I work). You don't need to be a policyholder or employee to use it, so no worries!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Sammy's 2004 UCA Competition Tape
This is also PatG in the suit. This video features the now-infamous skydiving footage that Pat wrote about AND a bonus blooper reel at the end. Enjoy.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Why The Kat Pack?
Why "The Kat Pack," you might be wondering. Why not "Sammy's Adventureland" or "Old Sammys Rock" or "Sammys Don't Grow Old, They Just Smell That Way?"
Well the name is a play on The Rat Pack, the famous - and completely awesome - group of entertainers from the '50s and '60s that included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.
The image up top is also a bit of a reference to that. It was based on an image from Ocean's 11 (the original one from 1960).
Here's the original photo:
The Kat Pack image is all seven Sammy suits walking down the street in black or gray suits and ties.
I hope you like.
-James
Well the name is a play on The Rat Pack, the famous - and completely awesome - group of entertainers from the '50s and '60s that included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.
The image up top is also a bit of a reference to that. It was based on an image from Ocean's 11 (the original one from 1960).
Here's the original photo:
The Kat Pack image is all seven Sammy suits walking down the street in black or gray suits and ties.
I hope you like.
-James
Monday, September 14, 2009
Pushing the envelope of Sammy
Some of my fondest Sammy moments happened out off costume. I was always trying to think of the next stunt to add to Sammy's repertoire. Needless to say things didn't always work out for me.
There was the broken hand that came from me trying to learn a back flip. I was able to still wear the Sammy costume with a cast on my broken hand. I did eventually learn it though, and Sammy did it on several occasions with the help of some cheerleaders. Most of the time I ended on my butt though.
Twelve weeks later I broke my ankle when two of the guy cheerleaders were throwing me from the free throw line at the basketball rim. How else is Sammy gonna dunk! I was wearing the Sammy head and hands during practice. The hands slipped on the rim and my landing was less than graceful. I had to get my first college roomate to fill in as Sammy for four weeks of the basketball season until I was able get a boot on my cast. The day after I could walk again I was back in the Sammy costume. Lucky for me that was the year that the Bearkats made it to the NCAA tournament.
Lets not forget the time I bruised my heel after I landed wrong when our largest guy cheerleader threw me up in the air. I was supposed to do a backflip, I did, but I over rotated and landed right on one of my heels. I figured something was wrong when my heel was all purple and black. That kept me out of Sammy for another four weeks.
I almost lost my job as Sammy the time that I thought it would be a great idea for Sammy to skydive into the stadium for a televised game against #1 Montana. I managed to practice the jump in the Sammy costume down in Houston. Unfortunately, some of the administration didn't like the fact that I made the jump without their consent, more like against their will. Needless to say I was sat down and talked to and Sammy never made the jump into the stadium. SHSU had no problem using the video of Sammy skydiving in their videos. No worries though.
All of it was worth it.
There was the broken hand that came from me trying to learn a back flip. I was able to still wear the Sammy costume with a cast on my broken hand. I did eventually learn it though, and Sammy did it on several occasions with the help of some cheerleaders. Most of the time I ended on my butt though.
Twelve weeks later I broke my ankle when two of the guy cheerleaders were throwing me from the free throw line at the basketball rim. How else is Sammy gonna dunk! I was wearing the Sammy head and hands during practice. The hands slipped on the rim and my landing was less than graceful. I had to get my first college roomate to fill in as Sammy for four weeks of the basketball season until I was able get a boot on my cast. The day after I could walk again I was back in the Sammy costume. Lucky for me that was the year that the Bearkats made it to the NCAA tournament.
Lets not forget the time I bruised my heel after I landed wrong when our largest guy cheerleader threw me up in the air. I was supposed to do a backflip, I did, but I over rotated and landed right on one of my heels. I figured something was wrong when my heel was all purple and black. That kept me out of Sammy for another four weeks.
I almost lost my job as Sammy the time that I thought it would be a great idea for Sammy to skydive into the stadium for a televised game against #1 Montana. I managed to practice the jump in the Sammy costume down in Houston. Unfortunately, some of the administration didn't like the fact that I made the jump without their consent, more like against their will. Needless to say I was sat down and talked to and Sammy never made the jump into the stadium. SHSU had no problem using the video of Sammy skydiving in their videos. No worries though.
All of it was worth it.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Celebrating Sammy at Homecoming
Thursday, Oct. 8: 6:30pm - 9:30pm - Homecoming Parade (former Sammys will have our own float)
Friday, Oct. 9: 1:00pm - 3:00pm - Sammy 50th Anniversary reception
Saturday, Oct. 10: 2:00pm - Homecoming game (former Sammys will be recognized at Halftime)
It would be great to see you there. Who's coming?
Welcome to the Kat Pack
In all the years of Sam Houston State's existence, in all the hundreds of thousands of students who have roamed its hills, there is a very special, very elite group of a couple dozen people. This small group of people share a common bond that not many can understand. It's a bond forged in heat and sweat. It's a kind of fraternity, if you will. A Brotherhood of the Fur. Thousands of people have seen them, shaken hands with them, laughed at them. And most people never even knew who they were.
These people are people who have been Sammy Bearkat, the official mascot of Sam Houston State University. And this blog is for them. For you.
This is a place to connect with other former Sammys, to share stories, events and thoughts. Have a great story from when you were Sammy? Share it here. Have some photos from back in the day? Post them here to share.
This blog doesn't belong to any one person. It belongs to all of us. And it will be what we make it.
So let's have fun. Let's connect and reconnect. And let's revel in the fact that we are Sammy Bearkat alumni.
These people are people who have been Sammy Bearkat, the official mascot of Sam Houston State University. And this blog is for them. For you.
This is a place to connect with other former Sammys, to share stories, events and thoughts. Have a great story from when you were Sammy? Share it here. Have some photos from back in the day? Post them here to share.
This blog doesn't belong to any one person. It belongs to all of us. And it will be what we make it.
So let's have fun. Let's connect and reconnect. And let's revel in the fact that we are Sammy Bearkat alumni.
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