Wednesday, March 7. 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section B • Page 3
3
Jayhawk Mascots
'Hawks of a feather stick together
By Agron Fulk
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
For five KU students, a Jayhawk is more than a mythical bird — it is a hot, heavy, bulky and smelly excuse to dedicate hundreds of hours dancing around in front of thousands of Kansas fans, cheering teams and riling crowd spirits.
From left, Baby Jays: Jessica Butler, Albuquerque, N.M., sophomore; Eva Davis, Topeka junior; and Jaura Rupe, Wichita sophomore; and Big Jays: Jerry Pauly, Denton junior; and Meridith Ashley, Prairie Village junior. Photo by Selena Iahara/KANSAN
From the Lawrence Yellow Pages to bookstore calendars, from Memorial Stadium to the Fieldhouse, the "Big Jay" and "Baby Jay" can be found anywhere and everywhere.
You might have even met him — or is it a her?
Under the heat of the feathers and the bulk of the beak, Jerry Pauly, Denton junior, and Meridith Ashley, Prairie Village junior, play the role of "Big Jay." "Baby Jay" is performed by Eva Davis, Topeka junior, Jessica Baul, Albuquerque, N.M., sophomore, and Laura Rupe, Wichita sophomore.
Puttin' on the costume
Being a Jayhawk mascot requires a massive time commitment.
The squad members practice at 10 p.m. by themselves, in addition to the time they practice with the cheerleaders. They also attend a mandatory national mascot camp each year.
If a student makes the squad, he or she is given a $150 scholarship per semester as a first-year squad member.
Calculate the money with the average time spent per week — between 15 and 20 hours — and the members average roughly $0.45 an hour.
Then why do it?
"People who do it, love it," said Davis, a second-year member and captain. "If you don't love it you won't be able to find the time you need to do it. You have to love it."
Ashley, a second-year member, said she became interested when she was in high school.
"I didn't want to commit to a sport," she said. "This just fits my personality."
Davis, one of the three "Baby Jays," also saw being a mascot as an opportunity when she was in high school.
"I have always been short, and this is something I talked in high school about wanting to do," Davis said. "I was always a Jayhawk fan, and I just thought this could be an extension of my cheerleading background.
"My freshman year I watched the Baby Jay at the games and just knew it was something I had to do."
Javhawk Origin 101
These five students are part of a rich tradition of the Jayhawk mascot.
The mythical bird first appeared in 1886 as a character in the Rock Chalk Man. The Kansas football team was called the Jayhawkers when it took to the field in 1890.
The bird became a little more lifelike in 1912 when Henry Maloy, a cartoonist for the *Kansan*, drew the first picture of the Jayhawk. He gave it shoes so the Jayhawk could kick its opponents.
In 1960, after several more artistic renditions of the Jayhawk, the University brought its mascot to life as a 3-D reality. In 1971, during the homecoming halftime show, a huge egg was brought out to the 50-yard line, and fans witnessed the hatching of "Baby Jay."
A beak in the crowd
The mascots appear at every home and away football game, every home men's and women's basketball game and devote at least three appearances a season to baseball, softball, volleyball and soccer. They also find time to fit in at least one appearance
at a swim meet, tennis meet and both an indoor and an outdoor track competition.
The Jays make appearances at numerous alumni events, every University-sponsored pep rally, the spring football scrimmage, the yearly Football Kickoff, most local parades and all homecoming events. There will also be one of the Jays at every Big 12 and NCAA basketball
tournament game.
The pair of birds also attend numerous children's birthday parties, visit kids in the hospital and make special appearances in grade schools.
responsibility on the group's members. However, Ashley said that informality brought the group together.
Despite the long hours, hard work and little financial recognition, the Jays love their work. The group is functioning without a coach and on a limited budget, which adds extra
— Edited by Matt Daugherty
"The camaraderie of the group is the best part," she said. "Because of the small size of the group, we really know each other and we know what one another is going through."
Chargers, Flutie discuss plans for the future
The Associated Press
Chargers coach Mike Riley envisions Flutie bridging the gap to when Michael Vick, the likely first pick in the draft, is ready to play. And Flutie, who was cut by the Buffalo Bills last week, would be reunited with the general manager who brought him back to the NFL three years ago.
SAN DIEGO — Doug Flutie and the San Diego Chargers sized each other up yesterday and liked what they saw.
But the sides said they didn't talk about a contract because Flutie, the 5-foot-10 quarterback who turns 39 in October, plans to visit other teams, which he wouldn't identify.
"I really do like the situation here," said Flutie, who will turn 39 in October. "I do have to make a couple of stops and look at a couple of other situations. I couldn't put a time frame on anything. We haven't started talking numbers, if we talk numbers at all."
New Chargers defensive end Marcellus Wiley, a teammate of Flutie's the last three seasons, said he heard Washington, New England and Tampa Bay were interested in Flutie. However, Tampa Bay signed Brad Johnson, the most coveted free-agent quarterback, on Monday.
Flutie was clearly enthusiastic about the Chargers, though, and not scared off by their NFL-worst 1-15 record last year.
"It just seems like a good atmosphere," Flutie said. "Obviously it's a team that has had a talented defense the last couple of years and has been in position to win a lot of lot of games and just hasn't."
Flutie had a hand in shaping the Chargers' record. He came on in relief of Rob Johnson — who last week survived the Bills' long-run quarterback controversy — and led the Bills to an overtime victory against San Diego.
It was John Butler, the Chargers' new general manager, who signed Flutie from the CFL to the Bills in 1998. Flutie was 21-9 for the Bills in three seasons.
good, that's the kind of people you want to have around you." Butler said. "To be here would be great. That's a winner."
"When you look at a player like that, they're so successful, so
Flutie said there was no rush on either side, and a big consideration would be his family, which included school-aged children, staving behind in Massachusetts.
"I'm going to go where the best football situation is for now. It's only a few more years for me, and wherever that may be, I want to make the most of it on the football field." Flutie said.
Riley was asked how Flutie might fit in if the Chargers do indeed pick Vick.
Riley said it was an issue, given the age difference between Flutie and Vick and the limited number
of years Flutie would play.
"That's a pretty subjective thing, but it has been talked about." Riley said.
"I think he sees a situation that presents a quarterback with a good opportunity," the coach said.
Flutie has a big fan in Wiley, who on Monday signed the biggest deal in Chargers' history, a $40 million, six-year contract that includes a $9 million signing bonus.
"As much as he's a friend off the field, on the field, I just think he can make the biggest impact for us at that position, out of all the other names out there," Wiley said.
Men's tennis experiences highs,lows
The Kansas men's tennis team has been through a lot in the past week.
The week began on a high note as the Jayhawks completed a doubleheader sweep last weekend, beating Boise State and Missouri-Kansas City at Alymer Racquet Club.
Then the Jayhawks, fresh off a successful weekend, got wind of some unfortunate news. The men's tennis program, as well as the men's swimming and diving program, are being eliminated in 2001-2002.
Despite the
devastating
news,
the Jayhawks (9-4)
are riding a
five-game win-
ning streak
entering their
pivotal match against Texas A&M at 2 p.m. today at Alvamar.
Texas A&M enters the match as one of the elite tennis teams in the nation — the Aggies are 9-2 and ranked No. 5 nationally. Kansas coach Ross Nwachukuw said he understood the intensity this match provided.
"My guys have been looking forward to playing Texas A&M since the beginning of the season," Nwachukwu said. "They will be ready to play despite the awful, horrific news."
The important match could not come at a better point in the season for the 'Hawks in terms of winning streaks.
Kansas junior Quentin Blakeney has lead the charge for the Jayhawks, winning seven singles matches in a row. He has also gone 12-1 in the spring.
Blakeney helped the Jayhawks defeat Boise State last weekend, 4-3, when he defeated the No.95 player in the country, Mark Roberts.
Blakeney's play has also rubbed off on his doubles partner. Kansas sophomore Pete Stroer has won five matches in a row and seven of his last eight.
As a doubles team, Blakeney and Stroer have provided the 'Hawks with seven victories in a row at the No. 2 doubles slot.
The Jayhawks enter the match against Texas A&M as the No. 57 team in the country and the No. 4 seed in Region V.
Nwachukwu respects Texas A&M, but said his team would be ready to play.
"They are definitely a quality team," Nwachuwu said. "I expect our guys to play really hard and take advantage of the home crowd and home court."
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THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 7-8:30 PM
PRESENTS STAGED READINGS OF FOUR NEW ONE-ACT PLAYS BY K.U. STUDENTS
AND YOU GET TO PICK THE WINNING BABIES IN THIS FINAL FOUR!
8 PM Friday March 9:
8 PM Saturday March 10:
Vote for "When It Rains" by Chace Ramey
Vote for "When It Rains" by Chace Ramey or "Running With the Big Dogs" by Nathan K. Gonzales
8 PM Sunday March 11:
Vote for "The Waiting Game" by Joanna Davis or "Thresholds" by Sean Stacey
The two winning babies get paired in one final showdown! Directed by PAUL STEPHEN LIM
ALL PERFORMANCES AT 100 SMITH HALL —ADMISSION FREE