For the Record 10.22.14 - The Bearcat Centennial Issue

THE BEARCAT

OCT. 22— OCT. 28, 2014

TURNS 100

Bearcat Centennial Issue

October 22, 2014

Tracing origins of university’s iconic Bearcat mascot CHANDLER BONN | STAFF REPORTER

The University of Cincinnati’s beloved mascot, the Bearcat, was not named after the animal of the same nickname (officially known as the binturong). Nor was it a creation of the university’s marketing team or the athletic department. Instead, the name came from a chanting cheerleader and a cartoonist for the student newspaper 100 years ago this month.

On Oct. 31, Student Government and other campus groups will celebrate the Bearcat’s centennial on the front steps of Tangeman University Center where students can eat free cake and sing “Happy Birthday” to the UC mascot and meet Lucy the Bearcat from the Cincinnati Zoo. “By the time we adopted the Bearcat, colleges were starting to have identifiable mascots with their teams,” said Kevin Grace, head of UC’s Archives and Rare Books Library. “Before that they were simply called ‘varsity’ or called the ‘Red and Black.’ No official name.”

The origin of the Bearcat comes from the last name of UC football fullback and team captain, Leonard “Teddy” Baehr.

During a football game against the Kentucky Wildcats on Oct. 31, 1914, Norman Lyon, a UC cheerleader and editor of the student paper, created the name Bearcat through a play on words, using the Wildcat’s name against them. He chanted in support of Baehr, referring to him as a “Baehr-cat.”

For the Nov. 3, 1914, issue of the UC student paper — then called University News — cartoonist John Reece drew a depiction of an animal, named Cincinnati Bearcat, chasing away an animal named Kentucky Wildcat.

Greg Hand, former UC associate vice president of public relations, uncovered the mascot’s origin in 1997 while reading old newspapers on microfilm at the university.

He was researching UC’s earliest years of basketball for a book he co-authored with Grace, titled “Bearcats! The Story of

1900 The earliest logos for UC didn’t incorperate the Bearcat.

1914 The first image of the Bearcat appeared as a cartoon in UC’s student newspaper.

A Bearcat mascot wearing the current outfit is cradled by the Bearcat statue outside of Fifth Third Arena. Oct. 31 marks the 100th year of the Bearcat.

Basketball at the University of Cincinnati.”

“I probably spent 40 to 50 hours reading old newspapers at a microfilm station in Langsam Library,” Hand said. “At that time – 1997 – no one really knew where the Bearcat name came from. There were several theories.”

Those theories included the naming of the team in a 1912 article, a photo of a UC football player next to a Stutz Bearcat car and a reference to a player, Leslie Bryant, as “Bear Cat” in a 1913 Cincinnati Post article. Hand’s findings showed the first two theories to be unfounded. Although the last theory was true, it didn’t count because the name “Bear Cat” was only referring to a particular player, not the whole team.

The name and image of the Cincinnati Bearcat wasn’t put to regular use until after a Cincinnati Enquirer writer, Jack Ryder, used

’40s Early Bearcat incarnations depicted a more ferocious mascot.

Early ’60s The “gingerbread” Bearcat emerged in the early ’60s.

Mid ’60s The Bearcat returns to a more catlike resemblance later that decade.

the moniker in a 1919 article covering a UC game against Tennessee. From then on the name was officially adopted.

Many logos and mascots have been created since then, the first of which was a bear on its hind legs, standing in front of the letter C. The Bearcat’s image has changed over time through numerous redesigns that range in appearance from adorable to ferocious, with differing amounts of cat or bear influence.

There was even a “Lady Bearcat” mascot used between the 1950s and 1980s.

“It was for several decades really just a ferocious bear,” Grace said. “Then, probably 1940s, early 1950s, we started merging these images of both a bear and a cat. And ever since then there have just been variations on that thing. It’s sort of been an evolution of not only how it looks but what it means to the school.”

’70s

’80s

The ’70s saw a fat, racoonlike Bearcat logo.

The Bearcat seems to get madder as the years go on.

Late ’80s Later that decade the Bearcat took a break as the sports logo, replaced by this design.

FILE ART

Even now the Bearcat has multiple images associated with it from the menacing statue outside Fifth Third Arena to the gray “C paw” kitty.

“There are different representations of the Bearcat,” Grace said. “One is supposed to be somewhat warm and fuzzy to appeal to children – and that’s more related to apparel sales – and then there’s the one that’s ferocious in a way that lends itself to athletic teams.

“When you hear [of the] Bearcat in this country, it’s unique to UC when it comes to universities. How many schools are there that are named The Wildcats or something like that?”

For more information on the history of UC’s mascot, visit the official Bearcat Centennial page at http://www.uc.edu/ bearcats.

1990 This familiar design is the first version of today’s logo.

Late ’90s This image was featured on apparel in the late ’90s.

CURRENT A bolder logo was developed in 2005 and is still used today.

HANNAH SELLERS | LEAD DESIGNER

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Images courtesy of the University of Cincinnati

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October 22, 2014

Bearcat Centennial Issue

Bearcat brand sees strong merchandise sales UC’s third live

mascot calls Cincy Zoo home

Alumni, students snatch up gear sporting iconic logo from various stores CASSIE MERINO | CHIEF REPORTER

Walking through campus, many students can be seen wearing University of Cincinnati spirit. Whether it’s the Bearcat or the claw scratch, the logo is a prominent image affixed to pants, hats, backpacks, T-shirts and more.

But while most students and staff recognize the logo, many may not know what goes into the production and creation of Bearcat gear.

When a company decides to use the logo, they will mock up the design and return it to UC’s trademark and licensing team. They will then decide if it is acceptable and it upholds the quality of the Bearcat logo.

“Any company wanting to produce items using the university’s name or logos must be licensed to do so,” said Martin Ludwig, director of trademarks and licensing for UC. “All of our licensees are required to submit artwork for review and approval prior to producing anything, so we can be sure the university’s marks are being used properly.”

According to Ludwig, Bearcat sales have increased in recent years as UC develops better branding strategies than implemented in the past.

“There is a wider distribution of products so there is more access and more availability,” Ludwig said.

UC currently utilizes 268 licensees approved to produce the Bearcat brand products — nearly 438 different types of products, from T-shirts to baby bibs — and to distribute those items to over 210 retailers who sell the Bearcat logo in their stores, including UC’s own bookstore in the Tangeman University Center, according to Ludwig.

Nicole Key, a second-year public and community health student, said that when she buys Bearcat spirit wear it is from the bookstore on campus because it is more convenient.

“I have a couple of pairs of sweatpants but I don’t have that much because it’s so expensive,” Key said.

Every licensee is required to work with the trademark and licensing department.

The department has worked to become more engaged with licensees and retailers, Ludwig said. UC receives more than 550 license requests per year.

“We are looking for opportunities to enhance the brand and increase visibility and access for a variety of products,” Ludwig said.

“We always look for companies that offer something new and unique, better access, more distribution and retail capabilities.”

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KATIE COBURN AND ELYSSE WINGET | THE NEWS RECORD

MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR

Mannequins dressed from head to toe in UC apparel advertise Bearcat merchandise in Rally House on Calhoun Street. Rally House is one of three apparel shops for UC gear around campus.

Some of the companies do not make the cut or lose their license for various reasons throughout the year. Once the department of trademarks and licensing approve a request, retailers can start selling.

“Any branding merchandise we have goes

“We always look for companies that offer something new and unique, better access, more distribution and retail capabilities.”

—Martin Ludwig, UC director of trademarks and licensing

through licensing,” said Andrew Gephardt, director of the UC Bookstore. “Every item also has to have the licensing sticker so that the purchaser knows it is authentic.”

Football season and summertime are when the bookstore sees the most revenue from Bearcat spirit wear, according to Gephardt.

Unless the UC basketball team is having a

good season, spring is when they have the slowest revenue.

“We get tours in here every day from prospective students and they buy stuff,” Gephardt said. “Alumni will come back for the football game Friday and they will buy stuff and students are here every day. It’s pretty split.”

The UC bookstore and the DuBois Bookstore on Calhoun Street are usually filled with perspective Bearcat students, alumni and current students wanting to show their school pride.

On Main Street, RallyCats — a student organization that goes to nearly every sporting event to cheer on the Bearcats — hands out cookies for anyone wearing Bearcat gear on football game days.

Every Friday is dedicated to students sporting their Bearcat spirit wear and showcasing their school spirit. It is almost impossible to escape the Bearcat craze on campus.

A university tradition that started in 1983 transformed an average bearcat from the Cincinnati Zoo into a national celebrity and icon for the University of Cincinnati student body.

Lucy — UC’s living bearcat mascot — belongs to the Cincinnati Zoo, the second oldest zoo in the country, which opened in 1874, just 14 months after the Philadelphia Zoo, according to Mike Dulaney, the curator of mammals at the Cincinnati Zoo. The Cincinnati Zoo is home to five bearcats, including Lucy. Lucy’s habitat facility is separate from the other bearcats which are at the zoo for breeding purposes.

Lucy was not the first bearcat to serve as UC’s live mascot. She is preceded by two former female bearcats, Bo and Alice.

A bearcat, officially called a binturong, has a body and short legs like a bear, with whiskers and a long tail like a cat. The name is derived from natives of Southeast Asia who referred to the animal as a bearcat, Dulaney said.

Dulaney has worked full time with the Cincinnati Zoo for 40 years, serving as an animal keeper for 21 years and a curator of exhibits for the past 19 years. He also worked part time for four years before being hired full-time. A Cincinnati native, Dulaney said he became involved with the zoo and followed the keepers around at 9 years old.

Dulaney started working with the zoo’s bearcats while he was overseeing the nocturnal department in the late 1980s. It was during this time that he initiated UC’s live mascot tradition.

“I thought let’s have some fun,” Dulaney said. “So I called up UC and said, ‘I’m bringing a real Bearcat to the game,’ and they thought I was crazy!” Dulaney said, laughing.

Bo turned out to be a hit with students and UC began inviting the duo to every football game.

Donated to the zoo from a private owner, Bo was the original live mascot to make appearances at UC and regularly attend UC football games.

Because Bo was not conditioned to interacting with people, Dulaney pushed for a new bearcat that he could raise and train to interact with humans so that it would be more sociable with UC’s students SEE LUCY PG 7

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Bearcat Centennial Issue

October 22, 2014

Students suit up, audition to become legendary Bearcat UC Cheerleading holding tryouts to discover university’s next group of undercover mascots ALLIE ALU | STAFF REPORTER

BAILEY DOWLIN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ABOVE: A student wields a flag while auditioning to become one of UC’s next Bearcat mascots. BELOW: Mr. and Mrs. Bearcat, former mascot characters, hold each other on campus in 1978.

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Serving as the University of Cincinnati’s iconic Bearcat mascot requires much more than just a costume. It warrants a vow to secrecy, upbeat interaction with students and unwavering dedication to the university.

UC cheerleading coach Tabby Fagan, and other members of the cheerleading squad hosted auditions to find the next Bearcat mascot Monday at Fifth Third Arena. Ten students participated in the search, hoping to be chosen to don the furry black, white and red costume at campus events next year.

“The demand for the Bearcat mascot both on and off campus is so great, so we currently have four mascots,” said Fagan, who oversaw mascot tryouts Monday evening. “We usually have three to six guys depending on the year.”

The mascot’s identity has always been and will always remain a secret.

“Obviously their close friends will know, but they have to keep their identity a secret,” Fagan said. “I do think it is definitely a challenge to keep the secret.”

A lot of thought goes into picking a student to serve as one of UC’s next Bearcats, and the decision is not simple.

Students chosen have to do a lot of physical work both on and off the field, and the job is not as easy as it looks.

“What has come to be more important over the past five or so years is the stature of the guy,” Fagan said. “We are looking for someone who is tall and strong, to represent what the Bearcat is.” It is also important for the man in the suit to be outgoing, even though they never show their face.

There have been many changes in the mascot program over the years. When students first served as mascots, they only made appearances at a few games. According to the university, students began dressing as the Bearcat in the 1950s. Today, there are multiple Bearcats who attend hundreds of events throughout the year.

During tryouts, the current Bearcat mascots, who must remain anonymous, gave a small presentation about what really goes into being the Bearcat and how much they love doing what they do. After the presentation, the current mascots practiced tasks with Bearcat hopefuls such as running with the UC flag.

Students auditioning concocted aliases to keep their identities concealed in case they were chosen.

“I’ve tried out twice before, and I’m doing this again because I love UC and school spirit is everything to me,” said ‘Represent-er of the C.’ He is confident that keeping his identity a secret will be very easy, he added.

Although having fun is a significant part of the job, mascots are expected to follow a series of rules. It was stressed that mascots always have to be upbeat when in the suit, even if the student is having a bad day. Talking while in the suit is prohibited, unless it is related to health.

Changing into costume in public is also prohibited to protect the identity of mascots.

“When you are in that costume you get to be that guy who gets the crowd’s spirits up, even if the team is not doing well,” said ‘Goofy Goober.’“Being the Bearcat is bigger than just being yourself. With the crowd being so important, you can really change the way they act.”

Pumping up the crowd is one of the most important aspects to being the Bearcat.

“Boosting spirits of the students as well as the players is what being the Bearcat is all about, and that’s why I’m excited,” said ‘Boy Wonder.’“You really get to spread the culture of UC to so many people, which is awesome.”

A second round of tryouts will be held 6 p.m. today at the arena.

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October 22, 2014

Bearcat Centennial Issue

Student-athletes talk pride in being Bearcats

MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR

Chris Burton, football redshirt freshman defensive lineman Q: What is your favorite football memory so far?

A: My favorite memory would have to be when I got in my first collegiate game against University of Toledo and got a sack.

Q: What do you look forward to doing the most after the football season?

A: I look forward to going back home to see my family friends.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a student-athlete?

A: My favorite part about being a studentathlete is the popularity on and around campus.

FILE ART

Ashley Nickens, basketball sophomore forward Q: If you and the Bearcat played a game of one-on-one, who do you think would win?

A: The Bearcat can’t check me.

Q: Why did you choose to attend UC? A: I chose to attend UC for a few reasons. First, basketball of course.

Second, the location was pretty close, it’s only four hours away from my home in Michigan, and UC has a team that I felt like I could make an impact on. I loved the coaches and the academics available to me here at UC. This decision wasn’t a hard one!

Q: What does being a Bearcat mean to you?

A: To me, being a Bearcat means being a person who is positive and gives good attributes to the UC community.

MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR

John Manga, soccer senior forward Q: Why did you choose to attend the University of Cincinnati?

A: I chose to attend UC because I felt very welcomed here when I first stepped foot on campus for my visit. I really liked how supportive everybody was to student-athletes from the coaches to all of the Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) staff. I really just fell in love with the campus and it’s also very close to my home (Lexington, Kentucky) which was a big thing for me because I always told myself that I wouldn’t go to a school that’s more than a three hour drive away.

Q: What does being a Bearcat mean to you?

A: Being a Bearcat to me is about having pride, representing the city of Cincinnati and also fulfilling my obligations as a student and an athlete.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a studentathlete?

A: My favorite part about being a student-athlete is just the time that I get to spend with my teammates [and] brothers, making memories on and off the field.

That, I will cherish the rest of my life.

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DJ Dowdy, football sophomore tight end Q: Of the UC colors (red and black) which is your favorite and why?

A: Black. Simple and powerful. The blackout games in Nippert at night are unreal. Can’t wait to get those back!

Q: What does it mean to you to be a Bearcat?

A: It’s an honor to be a Bearcat because many people are afforded this wonderful opportunity to be a part of something as special as this university.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a student-athlete?

A: My favorite part about being a Bearcat is partaking in brotherhood with my teammates. Also, being able to represent UC in an honorable fashion.

FILE ART

Shelbi Chandler, basketball junior forward Q: Of the uniforms, which is your favorite color to wear and why?

A: Out of all of our uniforms, my favorite one to wear is the black one. First off, black is my favorite color, and secondly, the black uniform just is just the best. It means business when you look at it in my opinion.

Q: Why did you choose to attend UC? A: I chose to attend UC because I wanted to attend a program whose history and culture was not yet defined. I wanted to be a part of that mold and start something special.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a studentathlete?

A: My favorite part about being a student-athlete is being able to be represented on a higher level than everyone else. By that, I mean I enjoy being looked up to and I enjoy being counted on to represent this school and our [women’s basketball] program.

Interviews by staff reporter JAELYNNE JOHNSON

MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR

Christopher Greene, track and field junior jumper Q: If you and the Bearcat were to have a foot-race, who would win?

A: Well, I run track so I hope that I would be able to beat him. If not, that would be embarrassing.

Q: What does it mean to be a Bearcat to you?

A: Being a Bearcat means being a part of great tradition, receiving a great education and having a sense of pride in our city.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a student-athlete?

A: My favorite part is getting a whole lot of free clothes (shoes, shirts, shorts, hoodies, and sweat pants).

MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR

Laura Rose, soccer junior forward Q: What is your favorite soccer memory so far?

A: My favorite soccer memory so far was my game winner goal against St. John’s University with two seconds left in double overtime my freshman year.

The entire team rushed from the bench and dog piled me into the goal.

Q: What do you like most about the University of Cincinnati?

A: What I like most about UC is the urban setting of campus and the diversity of students that attend this campus.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a studentathlete?

A: My favorite part about being a student-athlete is the friends you make from other sports teams and how we all come together as one team and consider ourselves a Bearcat family.

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Bearcat Centennial Issue

October 22, 2014

Sorority sisters come together for centennial celebration

MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR

Leah Nguyen, an active Kappa Kappa Gamma, shows off a class photo from the 1940s to sorority alumnae during the Beta Rho Deuteron chapter centennial celebration Friday afternoon.

Guests range from new members to alumnae during Kappa Kappa Gamma’s 100-year commemoration ALLIE ALU | STAFF REPORTER

The Bearcat isn’t the only one celebrating a birthday this month.

The Beta Rho Deuteron chapter of the 144-year-old Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority celebrated 100 years at the University of Cincinnati last spring. Because the centennial fell on May 16 when school was not in session, the group held its celebration Friday at the Kappa Kappa Gamma house.

Sisters held an open house during the event. Thirty students currently live in the house.

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The Kappa house welcomed alumnae and current sisters to celebrate the centennial.

The group hosted an open house and ended the night with a ritual for the alumnae that is special to Kappa, said Leah Nguyen, newly graduated centennial chairperson.

The group also held a celebration banquet at downtown’s Millennium Hotel on Saturday.

Lately, the sisters of Kappa Kappa Gamma have been trying to mix up the type of events they hold to keep activities fresh.

But there are two philanthropies specific to the sorority that are long-running traditions.

Every sorority or fraternity has a specific philanthropy, where they raise money for a cause they are passionate about.

Kappa’s national philanthropy, Reading is Fundamental,

aims to motivate young children to read and is the largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the country.

Specific to Ohio chapters is Kappa Kidney Camp, a weeklong camp for children ages 8 to 18 who are on dialysis or have had a kidney transplant. This event is completely funded by donations from local chapters of Kappa.

A silent auction at Saturday’s banquet benefitted Kappa Kidney Camp.

“There is a true passion we have for each other, the organization and our philanthropies. I have never been so inspired by a group of people,” Nguyen said.

There is a noticeable passion and love between the sisters of Kappa, from members both new and old.

“It is so amazing, you go into this having an open mind, meeting complete strangers, and after a year you get so close to these girls,” said Margaret Ross, a second-year industrial management student.

“There are a lot of amazing women I have met, and it’s amazing how inspiring they are.”

Liv Dulle, a third-year marketing and operations management student, also showed her passion for Kappa at Friday’s celebration.

“Getting to know the history of Kappa is really amazing to me,” Dulle said.

“You really get to see how many women have made Kappa what it is today.

It is really a home away from home.”

The alumnae of Kappa have just as much passion as the sisters today for the sorority and what it stands for.

Becky Casteel, who was initiated in 1972, is also the House Board President for Kappa Kappa Gamma. The house board meets four to five times a year.

“It is my job to take care of the house and make sure it is a safe place to live for the girls,” Casteel said.

There are not many changes within the house itself since she was a sister at Kappa, Casteel said, besides little things like bedroom sizes and wall colors. But the campus is a different story.

“Back in the ’70s, UC was such a commuter school; people just came and went so it was hard to meet people,” Casteel said.

“I joined Kappa because it was a great way to meet new people and a fun thing to do.”

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October 22, 2014 FROM LUCY PG 3

LISA VENTRE | UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

Lucy rests on the shoulder of the Bearcat mascot, both famed members of the university community.

and fans.

Along came Alice, a 2-week-old bearcat from the Philadelphia Zoo that was named after a character from the 1950s television show, “The Honeymooners.” Dulaney raised Alice inside his home for her first year in Cincinnati.

“For the first year I didn’t even need a leash or anything. She thought I was mom and just followed me everywhere,” Dulaney said. “As she got older she got more inquisitive.”

The zoo phased out Bo and trained Alice to serve as UC’s new live mascot in 1985 when she was only a few months old, Dulaney said.

“She was the mascot for about 13 years,” Dulaney said. “She was great.”

Alice, who was much more sociable than Bo, regularly attended UC football and basketball games.

“Alice was quite the trendsetter and world traveler,” Dulaney said. “She’s been a lot of places.”

Alice was featured on multiple talk shows, including Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Larry King, Regis, Kathy Lee, and Good Morning America. She has even met Prince Charles. Dulaney accompanied Alice on each of these journeys. Alice died at 18 years old in the late ’90s, Dulaney said.

Born in Texas, Lucy was brought to Cincinnati when she was 8 weeks old. As she grew, Lucy was conditioned to human interaction, making her very comfortable

Bearcat Centennial Issue around people.

“We kind of wanted to put [Lucy] in a special place,” Dulaney said. “So, we put her here in our nursery. She’s a celebrity, so we want to have her on exhibit.”

Lucy’s daily routine is similar to an average bearcat’s day. Bearcats are nocturnal, so the majority of her day is spent sleeping.

However, Lucy is fairly active during the morning and late afternoon with a midday resting time.

When she’s not lounging, Lucy loves climbing around her pen in the nursery or eating a plate of fruits, veggies and protein, such as hardboiled eggs.

As Lucy grew older, she bonded with a particular bird trainer named Eddie Annal, who became Lucy’s primary caretaker and trainer.

Originating from Southeast Asia, bearcats are the largest members of the mongoose family and live 15 to 20 years on average, Dulaney said. Lucy will celebrate her seventh birthday Jan. 17, and Dulaney said the zoo will probably treat her to a specially baked cake.

Annal cooperates with the university when it requests Lucy’s appearance at certain events. An hour or two before a UC football game, Lucy can often be found in the fan zone or being featured on the field before the game’s kickoff.

“For many years, people thought they were mythical animals,” Dulaney said. “They’re all individuals.”

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Bearcat Centennial Issue

October 22, 2014

Former Bearcat mascot gives advice, shares experiences ELLEN HADLEY | SPORTS EDITOR

As students audition this week to become the next Bearcat mascot, one former student who donned the suit remembers what it took to play the part.

Jake Basnett, a 2013 graduate of UC’s College Conservatory of Music’s electronic media program, proudly (and anonymously) held the mascot post for three years, starting in 2011.

“I got a mass email one day in the spring to try out and be the Bearcat mascot and thought, ‘what the hell, it sounds fun,’” Basnett remembered. “‘Wouldn’t hurt to just go and see.’”

A two-day process, Basnett recalls how “intense” the tryouts were. The first day consisted of learning how to walk like the Bearcat outside of the suit, “which was awkward.”The group of mascot hopefuls then had the opportunity to interact with the cheer squad during tryouts.

On the second day, the group was tested in front of the cheer coaches. They were asked to do things like pump up the crowd and show how they would act around children.

The coaches then decided who they thought looked best in the suit based on how they walked and how they communicated with the crowd without actually talking.

“The most rewarding part of the job was being able to be the face of the university,” Basnett said. “That’s a big responsibility but it felt good knowing I was making a huge impact with the university.”

Basnett’s favorite memory from his time being the

FILE ART

The mascot attends a number of UC home events during the year.

Bearcat was when he went to the NCAA basketball tournament in Philadelphia.

“It was the largest stage I got to mascot for and being in front of that crowd knowing I was being watched on TV by thousands of people hyped me up,” Basnett said. “I didn’t get out of the suit for six hours. By the time I was done I was so dehydrated but it didn’t even matter to me.”

The time commitment was the hardest part for Basnett.

He noted that it required the same amount of time as a student-athlete only without an off-season.

“At least 50 percent of my week was devoted to mascot duties,” he said.

Turning into the Bearcat was no small feat.

“Getting into the suit is a process. It takes about 15 minutes,” Basnett said. “One person can do it — it’s just easier with some help.”

It helps to get a little hyped up before the event but Basnett said nothing replaces the crowd atmosphere.

“The noise, the people, the arena or stadium. It’s nuts.

That’s where the real hype comes from,” Basnett said.

Basketball games were Basnett’s favorite events to attend because of how often he was able to be on the court, in the action and on TV. “Fifth Third gets rocking, too,” Basnett said.

The number of Bearcats changes from year to year, but usually falls between three and six.

One of the perks of the job for Basnett was getting to hang out with the real deal: Lucy the Bearcat.

“There are two people who get to handle Lucy: her keeper and the Bearcat,” Basnett said. “So yeah, you could say Lucy and I are real close friends.”

Now a brand activation manager in Cincinnati for SweetWater Brewing Company, based out of Atlanta, Georgia, Basnett is proud to “drink and buy beer for a living.”

For anyone aspiring to represent the red and black, Basnett advised to just “be your crazy self. It takes someone with no shame and a huge personality to be able to pull off being the Bearcat. Let your freak flag fly.”

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