Gallatin will remember Emily from her days as Bulldog mascot
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Emily Miller, Bearcat mascot, and the entire Southwest Baptist University Spirit Squad received first place at the Christian Cheerleaders Association National Championships (CCA) in Winston Salem, N.C., held March 15-16.
Gallatin will remember Emily from her days as Bulldog mascot at GHS during her senior year.
The national championship had competitors from pee wee through third grade and all the way to college level. Emily was the only mascot that participated in the competition.
The SBU spirit squad includes the cheerleading squad which involves dance and pom pon and the mascot. Emily says her role as mascot in the competition was to put the pep in pep rally and a lot of the judging points came from crowd participation. Emily did a dance routine to music with stunting incorporated into the routine.
Emily’s Bearcat is unique.
“It’s not like any of the other bearcat costumes,” Emily says. “Ours was drawn up by the librarian of the school. It’s a custom made mascot. Ours is a kinder bearcat. Some of the others look really mean. Ours has big blue eyes and his mouth is not open as wide. He doesn’t look like he’s going to bite little kids heads off.”
This is Emily’s second year as SBU mascot. Her Bearcat costume is still new, only four years old. She’s only the second person to wear it.
SBU has not held competitions for the Spirit Squad over the past 10 years because of the cost.
“The coaches thought we were a good squad that could compete and do good and not make fools of ourselves. This is the first time this costume has ever gone to competition.”
Emily dons her mascot costume for basketball and football, August to November. She got to go to the girls team games and the championships for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) at the Municipal Auditorium. Outside of sorting events, the Spirit Squad donates its time for charitable appearances and also does birthdays and other receptions.
Emily’s job is to be funny, act wacky, energize and entertain people. It’s not a thankless job.
“I’m a crowd pleaser. The kids love me. Adults want to come and sit by me. I cheer with them and get them into the game. Even when we’re losing. That’s what I’m there for.”
Being the unsung hero has its drawbacks. One of the ground rules is never let them see you sweat — “I basically sit there and sweat,” says Emily. The temperature inside the suit is estimated at 120 degrees. “Sweat rolls down my face and into my eyes. I’m totally drenched in sweat.”
Emily says it’s worth it.
“It’s really fun,” she says. Nobody at the school, except for a select few, know I’m even the Bearcat. It’s very hush-hush. I’m able to go up to my friends and tease them and they don’t know it’s me.”
The secrecy is an age-old golden rule among mascots.
“It’s been agreed with the coaches that if I pass out, if something goes wrong, as long it’s not life threatening, they are not to take my head off. They can take my body off. The head stays on until I’m out of eyesight.”
Emily is a senior at SBU studying children’s ministries. She is going on a mission trip to South Africa. She leaves May 30 and will be back on July 1.