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Show Friday, April 17, 2009 StatesmanSoorts Page 9 Big Blue: Not your average mascot GRADUATION... U continued from page 8 I wanted to be that figure, the person students love but never know. I went to Zimmerman soon after the basketball season was over and asked when and how I could try out. Two weeks later I was drawing a number out of a hat. Zimmerman takes this seriously - there are no favorites and no leg ups, even for her former cheerleaders. It's all about the best fit for the part. There were nine people judging the seven contestants: two former Big Blues, a\u\ representatives from the local community and athletic department. I hoped to draw the first spot - I figured I would blow the judges away while they're still fresh and let everyone else catch up to me. Unfortunately, my number-picking skills aren't quite up to par so instead of getting lucky and picking number one I got extremely Lin lucky and picked number seven. Not only would this mean I was going last, after the judges had sat in the hard Spectrum chairs for almost two and a half hours, but I would also be wearing a suit that had been drenched in sweat. It's impossible to understand the conditions inside the suit if you've never tried it on. It's extremely hot, impossible to see from and the helmet has a stale sweat mixed with Lysol smell to it. As I put on the semidamp suit I realized the head I had practiced my skit with was currently being used by contestant number six. One might think, "So what, they must be the same," but the truth is they are very different. With helmet number one, the helmet 1 practiced in, the person inside the suit primarily sees out of Big Blue's eyes. With helmet number two, the one I did my skit in for real, the person sees out of the nose. This presented a much larger problem than I thought it would, which only became apparent after I started my skit. 1 began my skit repelling from the jumbotron. Halfway to the floor I paused for a little air guitar solo, and upon reaching the floor I broke out with some of the best dance moves I could muster (which admittedly weren't very impressive). After catching a ball dropped from the jumbotron I completed a small obstacle course while dribbling and shooting, but I twice lost the ball and horribly missed both my shots. The next part of my skit was my most unique stunt. I climbed a third of the stairs on the east side of the student section to where I had planted a snowboard. With my limited vision I ran a good 10 steps past the snowboard and looked like a fool while searching for it. After finding the snowboard 1 shot down the stairs factually pretty cool), got stuck in the bindings and attempted to unicycie across the floor, which I succeeded doing on my third attempt. When I made it to the tunnel I grabbed the awaiting skateboard and started to ride it down the ramp. Just when I got in sight of the judges a child ran too close to me and I was forced to bail. At that point I was dripping sweat, upset with my multiple screw ups and still had two parts of the tryouts to go. After a quick drink I ran to the changing room, grabbed the second head and returned to the floor. Here the judges asked me to step to the middle of the floor to put me in a couple scenarios. They first presented me with the "annoying kid" scenario. Out of nowhere a little girl charged out of the stands and begins to pull my tail. I fell to me knees and acted as if I was in agony - no kid would want to hurt Big Blue right? Wrong. This girl seized the chance and began yanking on the nose ring. The judges were still watching and when I was able to escape I figured I'd just try to outrun the kid. I gave her a fake karate chop and booked it to the nearest stairs. The child was relentless and gave chase. After a few of my best Reggie Bush juke moves the judges finally called her off and asked me to return to center court. Next they introduced me to the scared baby scenario. As I approached the child she backed further into her mother's leg. I got to her step and ducked down low, holding my hand out I motioned for a high five, she gave me a timid one after which I pulled my hand back and shook it like the high five hurt. 1 held it out again and pulled the same routine, she was looking more comfortable and the mother tried to hand her to me. Of course, this didn't go over well and the baby began to cry and try to get back to her mother's arms. So far my Big Blue charm wasn't working on the child so I handed her back and instead asked for a little kiss on the cheek. Instead of the kiss I got slapped. The judges once again asked me back to center court. The dance off was next. Two Aggiettes came down from the stands and did two wellrehearsed dances. I stood no chance and faked it the best I could. Next came one of the male cheerleaders who did a pretty impressive break dancing routine. Once again I had nothing and just tried to be as enter- taining as I could. After the dance off came the improv. They had a bucket of stuff - hula-hoops, soccer balls, stuff like that. As embarrassing as it may be I think of mysell as a pretty skilled hulahooper so after a quick "Bend It Like Beckham" imitation I tried to hulahoop. Before my first hip thrust the hoop was on the ground. Confused, I tried again, but nothing better came of it. I figured out after the fact that I had slipped on the hula-hoop under my tail so as soon as I began the tail just pushed the hoop to the ground. After what seemed like 10 minutes the judges put me out of my misery and said I was done. After getting out of the suit I returned to the floor where all of the prospective Big Blues and people watching had gathered. The judges met in a private room and locked themselves in for nearly an hour, writing pros and cons on each of the seven, eliminated and did it again. At 10 p.m. they called us back into the windowless room and announced the winner. The process was long and hard, but one that I won't soon forget. Big Blue is the face of our school, and the person inside the suit deserves more respect than most people will ever realize. My tryout went from a joke, to a desire, to one of my favorite memories and now to a story. So next time you see the big blue bull and think you can do better, just think about doing it with no vision, sweat covering every inch of your body, and a 10-pound suit on. For fr'u^dltj, txytritMtd service co^-t to callawaij'z We open carh on Sal. Ma\ 2nd 11 :;}o a.m. reservation rttov^v^tv^dtd 56)5-9179 ^Extensive Wine & Beer Menu available^ Downloading bo laptops is what we do best. The Utah Statesman -, •* \ I Got Caii Reading Brad Watkins Connor Jones is a junior majoring in print journalism. Comments can be sent to him at c.h.j&aggh email, usu. edu. Brad Watkins is a junior majoring in biochemestry and is from Smithfield, Utah. He says he can be caught reading the Opinion section of the Statesman regular!)' in the HUB. Thanks for reading Brad, and enjoy your T-shirt and sandwich coupon! Statesman I any burger or I sandwich with • coupon. j ^ Logan Burgers any hu^er or sandwich with s & Sandwiches L coupon. IOS'\ \n/f/i Mum, \>r I >0. i " BIG BLUE performs during a women's basketball game earlier this year. Tryouts for the mascot were held in early April, as seven participants battled for the title of the beloved mascot, photo T1VEE Center (Diamon with Engagement ''Ring purchase 1 a mono courtesy of CONNOR JONES 'Main 41575347 cr til 'Persian 'Peacock) 'Jfliv 'Bell) •1737 Ofurfcy <Drive focatdo, W 83202 (ftcrossfrom Ross) T- |