Written by Arianna Hurst
Harding welcomes mascot guru, Buff the Bison, to this years’ sporting event season.
Harding University is adding some celebrity talent to this year’s cheer squad, with Buff, a nationally acclaimed mascot. Due to mascot code, and hopes of maintaining a mysterious relationship with the mascot, Buff has requested to be called “Beauregard” when referring to his real identity in this feature.
“Beauregard” has an impressive resume boasting performances at the Capital One Bowl game in Orlando, FL for 3 consecutive years, an invitation to the 2006 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, and extensive work with collegiate and professional teams such as a minor league baseball team and the National Aquarium in Baltimore to list a few accomplishments.
“Beauregard” and his mascot coach of 8 years, Robbie Dunning, will commute to Harding from Maryland. They will attend home football and home men’s and women’s basketball games in the spring.
Dunning has collaborated with talented seamstresses to make a unique costume just for Harding.
“There is no other like it. We worked with a designer out of Atlanta,” Dunning said.
They have professional sports teams, big companies like the Olympics, Coca-Cola-major corporations. In other words, you can’t get a costume better than what Harding has now.
Interestingly, despite his repertoire of talents and experiences, “Beauregard” suffers from severe depression but uses mascoting as an outlet.
“Mascoting helps me deal with some of my depression; it is a way for me to feel happy” Beauregard said.
“Sometimes the way that an individual thinks about the world plays an important role in the occurrence of depression. Although others may see them as having ‘a lot going for them,’ their own thinking about themselves may be very different from that, and they may make errors in how they think about their own experiences,” says psychologist, Dr. Travis McNeal from Harding University.
Since “Beauregard” and Dunning both belong to the church, the duo feels by faith and reputation that Harding offers a great opportunity.
“We wanted to be somewhere that had caring Christian people to be associated with”, said Dunning.
Furthermore, “Beauregard” and Dunning have brainstormed new ideas for this fall.
“I want to help Harding become a dominant Division II school,” Beauregard said.
He yearns to establish a big fan base, encourage the team, and get the crowd hyped up to lead the team to the winning game.
Dunning’s goal is to “start some new traditions with Buff because there hasn’t been a mascot for so long.”
Buff is excited to make his debut at the Bison’s first home football game Friday, Sept. 3.
“I enjoy the sports atmosphere by being in and being part of the game at some point. As well as making people laugh and being crazy, but not being embarrassed by it,” “Beauregard” said.
I want it to be a good football game. Win or lose I want the energy to be there. I want it to be fun for everyone,” Buff said.
A thrilling season is expected from incoming and returning players, Dunning said you can bet Buff will be their biggest fan.
