Tuesday, June 17, is National Mascot Day, and we’re celebrating at Lander University by honoring our very own Lander power couple, Mr. and Mrs. Bearcat. You can sporadically find this dynamic duo around Lander’s campus throughout the academic year, but their favorite pastime is cheering on our Lander athletes at home sporting events.
In honor of National Mascot Day, here are six facts you may not have known about Lander’s mascots.
1. Mr. Bearcat’s birthday is February 7.
Lander University students and fans first met Mr. Bearcat at his debut during Homecoming on February 7, 2004. That year, Lander University also celebrated 100 years in Greenwood -- the institution moved from Williamston, South Carolina, in 1904. Mr. Bearcat has been cheering for our Lander athletes for 22 years and counting!
2. Their favorite foods? Popcorn and cheeseburgers!
Popcorn is a popular treat at Lander Basketball games, but there’s one fan who eats more of it than anyone else. According to “inside sources,” Mr. Bearcat usually gets pepped for game days with some freshly popped popcorn .
Mrs. Bearcat, on the other hand, enjoys a Greenwood favorite. We’re told she “loves to sneak up the road to the Dixie (Drive-in) for a Dixie Cheese Half and Half with sweet tea.”
3. How did they meet?
“He thought she was super cute and asked her out,” we were told. “It was a whirlwind romance and then they married.” The couple loved the song (“Do Wah Diddy Diddy” by Manfred Mann) so much that it was played for them when Mrs. Bearcat was introduced during Lander’s 2019 Homecoming game.
Sorry! If you’re ever curious as to which students have the honor of portraying Mr. and Mrs. Bearcat, you’ll have to wait until they graduate. Similar to other colleges and universities, these students keep their identity a secret until the very end. You can spot those students by paying close attention to their attire at commencement, usually wearing the claws or feet as part of their regalia.
5. The Bearcats are Lander alumni.
Mrs. Bearcat was an English major, and she certainly does love to read in her spare time down in their Bearcat den. Mr. Bearcat is said to have been a history major, and he almost would have to be! “He has a plethora of Lander history floating around in his brain daily,” our source said.
6. Mr. and Mrs. Bearcat have a “Mascot Mama.”
Every young celebrity couple needs a cheerleader, of sorts, to encourage them and assist in preparations for their public life.
At Lander, the behind-the-scenes handler for Mr. and Mrs. Bearcat is Kim Schoolfield, head coach for Lander Cheer and Dance, who escorts them during appearances.
“I love seeing the genuine reactions from their fans. Mostly it's pure excitement … Being able to witness the joy they spread and smiles they generate around campus and in the community is one of the most rewarding perks of my job,” Schoolfield said.
“I secretly love being known as the Mascot Mama. It's a privilege to have constant access to the celebrity couple and know all the details of their lives.”