New mascot has big shoes to fill

Billy Haddad extolled the benefits of being one of few “dudes” at cheerleading camp.

As the Quakers’ mascot for the last three years, attending ‘mascot school’ at the cheer team’s annual summer camp was only one of the perks he received.

“It’s a pretty surreal experience, to meet kids who are really into it,” Haddad said of the three-to-four-day training.

But Haddad, a senior, will be graduating in May and will leave some large blue shoes to fill.

As a result, the Penn Athletic Department has announced open auditions to be the next Quaker.

While there are currently two students who suit up as the Quaker (the other, a junior, will remain anonymous until the end of his or her senior year in keeping with tradition), Penn cheerleading coach Joe Neary is looking for two to three more students to fill out his roster.

“Being a mascot is a different type of skill,” Neary said. “You really need to be outgoing, you need to put on a persona that’s not yours. At the same time, the mascot takes on the personality of the person that’s in the suit.”

Hopeful Quakers have to go through an intense audition process before they can join the cheer team as its silent face.

This month, Neary is accepting YouTube videos of students who want to represent the Red and Blue explaining why he or she wants to be the next Quaker.

Neary hopes to get about 20 submissions, from which he can bring in five or six students for in-person auditions, suit and all.

“I was intimidated — I didn’t know anything about it,” Haddad said of his audition.

“You should be in decent physical shape,” Neary said. “Being in the suit can be taxing. You’re going to be sweating your butt off.”

In exchange for a little perspiration, the next crop of Quakers will get front row seats for every home game.

But while the mascot is known for roaming the sidelines at football and basketball gamesn the Quaker appears for a host of other sports, such as volleyball in the fall or baseball and women’s lacrosse come spring.

Additionally, the Quaker often makes appearances at weddings, parties and even the occasional business meeting.

And when marquee sports like basketball and football hit the road, the mascot travels right alongside them.

“It’s not being on a sports team, but it might as well be,” Haddad said. “It’s every season.”

Despite being hidden behind an always-smiling facade, Neary said the position bears a lot of responsibility.

“It’s a privilege.”

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