tshannon

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July 26, 2003

Tradition, enthusiasm keep mascots going strong


By Michael Wallace
mwallace@clarionledger.com <mailto:mwallace@clarionledger.com>

Few mascots in the nation stand a chance against Jackson State's "Wavey
Dave'' when it comes to hip-shaking, hand-clapping and foot-stomping at
halftime during football games.

"Anybody can put a suit on and do antics," said Dave Chambers, 38. "But what
we do is put on a show. Forget the football game. Me and the Baby Tigers try
to give you your money's worth with the halftime show all by itself."

Chambers also has the market on longevity cornered. He's entering his 18th
football season running sidelines and thrilling thousands of fans in his
gold and black Tiger suit complete with a blue vest, oversized head and long
tail.

What amounts to a year of college fun for most has turned into a lasting
labor of love for Chamber, who graduated from JSU in 1988 but at the request
of school officials has held onto his side job ever since.

And just as Gladys Knight had the Pips and Huey Lewis rolled with the News,
Wavey Dave goes nowhere without his pint-sized sidekicks kids as young as
age four dressed as baby tigers.

Pranks aside, being a mascot is serious business at the Big Four colleges in
the state. Compensation for the job ranges from a small stipend to partial
scholarships in some cases, school officials said.

And school loyalties aside, even a seasoned vet like Chambers can agree with
rookie mascot Jake Wade on at least one thing. "You've got to be a little
crazy and a lot brave to do what we do," said Wade, a Laurel native and
incoming freshman at Ole Miss.

Wade beat out five others during an audition this summer to be the next
Colonel Reb. Wade said he was not discouraged by the recent controversy
surrounding Colonel Reb's fate. School officials said earlier this summer
they are searching for a new image to replace the aging southern gentleman
with the large hat, gray mustache and cane.

As Colonel Reb, Wade will not be present at sporting events, but will make
appearances in The Grove the school's prime tailgating area before games
and at other functions, Ole Miss dean of students Sparky Reardon said.

"Where I go is up to the school to decide, but I'm still going to have a
blast with it," said Wade, who was the mascot at Northeast Jones last year.
"I just love being there for my school. I'm looking forward to taking this
thing to the next level."

Wade said Ole Miss fans will be surprised at the moves they'll see from
Colonel Reb, a character appearing to be in his 70s.

"There's going to be a little 'Harlem Shake' and 'C'Walkin'," Wade said,
referring to popular Hip-Hop dance moves.

Southern Miss is represented by Seymour, a giant Eagle. Three students
rotate through the costume in bringing the big bird to life.

John Mills, who will be spending his fourth season inside Seymour, said the
selection process is essentially a word-of-mouth exercise, where departing
mascots choose their successor.

"There's some trying out, but mostly it's going to be someone who has
experience, who's done it in high school or someone you've instructed in a
camp or something," said Mills, who is from Oak Grove. "You kind of get to
pass the tradition along. You pass on your legacy to the next guy."
Mills inherited his role when Jamie Arrington of Oak Grove moved on.
Arrington will be the first-ever mascot of the Chicago Bears this fall.


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--
Quote of the Day for Friday, July 25, 2003
There are a terrible lot of lies going around the world, and the worst
of it is half of them are true.
-- Sir Winston Churchill

mark provenzano

tell me the honeybears are back...Bill Archer & the Big Bear band, too.

besides, we had a mascot...that Rocky guy with the megaphone...is he still
alive?

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