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Experienced mascot gets Rowdy
By Ruthanne Johnson
rjohn180@mscd.edu

Photo by Heather A. Longway-Burke • longway@mscd.edu Amber Michael, the current Rowdy, stands with the mascot’s head on Nov. 14 outside the Auraria Event Center. Michael will relinquish her role as Rowdy in the spring, passing the torch to Tyler Barnes.

Whenever there is a changing of the guard for the Metro mascot, tradition holds that the identity of the new student donning the Rowdy costume will remain anonymous until sometime during his or her final year of performance.

After almost four years as Rowdy the Roadrunner, psychology major Amber Michael “came out” as Metro’s mascot in June. She is graduating in December and will hand over the Roadrunner costume to a new student in January – one who hopes to fill the big yellow beak as well as she did.

The new Rowdy said that although he plans to try to remain anonymous during his tenure at Metro, he would agree to “come out” temporarily.

“Amber is the best mascot I’ve ever seen,” said the assistant athletic director of compliance, Jennifer Fraser. “And what she did for us (at Metro) should be commended.”

Fraser said she has only seen Michael’s replacement, Tyler Barnes, perform on video as the University of Northern Colorado’s grizzly bear mascot Klawz, and that he came highly recommended.

Fraser and Michael held mascot tryouts previously this year, but only two students auditioned, despite a full-tuition scholarship accompanying the position. Michael said she was concerned over Rowdy’s prospects until learning that Barnes was transferring to Metro.

“I didn’t want to leave Metro with no one to take over the family business,” Michael said, adding that whoever filled the Rowdy position would have to be the right person – “someone with loads of team spirit and a special connection to the school.”

Michael said she was relieved to find a replacement with an extensive mascot resumé.

“I know Tyler from the mascot community, and when I learned he would be transferring to Metro it seemed like a perfect fit,” she said.

The future Rowdy will graduate from UNC with a bachelor’s in history this December and will be attending Metro through 2008 to obtain his teaching certification.

“I began my mascot career wearing a Bugs Bunny costume at Six Flags and worked there for seven or eight summers,” Barnes said, who has been performing as Klawz for the last three and a half years.

“The mascot circle is tight, and we get together for events like Rocky’s birthday party, full-costume volleyball and soccer games, and barbecues, where we exchange mime techniques and other moves that can help us perform,” Barnes said. “The best training is going to see other mascots, and I personally know Dinger from the Colorado Rockies and Woolly from the Colorado Mammoth,” Barnes said, adding that Dinger is a close relative.

Both Michael and Barnes said they would enjoy continuing being mascots after graduation.

“But positions rarely come open,” said Barnes, who hopes that connections to Dinger and Woolly will help open mascot opportunities after receiving his teaching certification from Metro in 2008.

Professional mascots, such as Rocky from the Denver Nuggets and Skully from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have been known to rally fans to the tune of six-figure incomes, and the positions can include endorsements and outside bookings.

Rowdy’s busiest season will roll around during homecoming in February, when the hours expected of the Metro mascot will jump from under 10 to around 20 hours per week. The new mascot, however, seemed undaunted by the heavy schedule.

“I have been an athlete all my life, and in addition to being a member of the UNC cheerleading team, I am used to working at least 10 or more hours a week as Klawz,” Barnes said.

Barnes will perform as Klawz at UNC events until transferring to Metro in January.

“I know it will be hard to replace Amber, but hopefully most fans won’t be able to tell (the difference) because I am experienced, energetic and move around the crowd a lot,” said Barnes, who hopes for a seamless transition.

For information about Michael’s last performance as Rowdy sometime in December, contact her at michaeam@mscd.edu or contact Jennifer Fraser at jfraser9@mscd.edu.