It\u2019s another home football game in the September heat: Fans are cheering, football players are locked in and the crowd is getting tense. But there he is, Buff the Bison, withstanding the tremendous heat, encouraging fans to get on their feet, to cheer louder and to have as much faith in the football team as he does.
\nStudents see him everywhere \u2014 at football and basketball games, during orientation and so many other events on campus. Fans see a funny, energetic bison ready to cheer on Harding\u2019s athletic teams and stand with them through their victories and even their downfalls. Most people don\u2019t know, however, that the man behind the mask has dedicated over half his life to being a mascot.
\nSenior Austin Dunning has served as Harding\u2019s mascot, Buff, for almost 10 years and has challenged himself to be the most committed mascot Harding has ever had. Before Harding, Dunning served as mascot for Western Guilford High School in North Carolina, and Frederick Community College in Maryland. After not feeling complete at either of these places, the search for another school began. The road to Harding wasn\u2019t easy, but Dunning said he believes that being Buff was his calling.
\n\u201cI think this is what God wants me to do,\u201d Dunning said.
\nDunning was born 11 weeks premature and diagnosed with autism and attention deficit disorder. On his first day of high school, students threw Dunning into a trash can because he was different. Emotion overcame Dunning that night. With feelings of embarrassment, sadness and anger, an even more dominant feeling arose \u2014 determination.
\n\u201cI was not going to be remembered as the kid who was thrown into a trash can,\u201d Dunning said.
\nHis journey of becoming a mascot began.
\nAfter trying out and making it as his high school\u2019s mascot, Dunning realized this was what he was meant to do. Bringing joy and happiness into people\u2019s life was his purpose. Fulfilling this task has not been easy, though, and has taken a toll on Dunning at times.
\n\u201cMy body can\u2019t handle everything like it used to,\u201d Dunning said. \u201cIt is catching up with me \u2014 being [a mascot] for almost 20 years.\u201d
\nWith all the sacrifices, however, comes reward. Being a mascot not only brings joy to others, but it also brings happiness and fulfillment into Dunning\u2019s life.
\nMascot handler and coach Robbie Dunning has been with Austin every step of the way. As his coach and mother, Robbie has seen firsthand how being Buff has changed Austin\u2019s life.
\n\u201cBuff doesn\u2019t struggle with the same things Austin does,\u201d Robbie said. \u201cInside the costume, he\u2019s confident and doesn\u2019t have to worry about being misunderstood. He is very comfortable as Buff.\u201d
\nAlthough being Buff has played a significant role in Austin and his family\u2019s life, he is still not sure how long he will continue to be Buff. He is a few years away from graduation, but moving on is still a constant thought he has.
\n\u201cWhat bugs me the most is I don\u2019t know who\u2019s going to replace me,\u201d Austin said. He hopes Harding will be able to keep the Bison tradition and Buff alive even without him here.
\n Even though the thought of not being Buff brings sadness to Austin, he continues to try to do what he does best \u2014 bringing joy to the lives of many. Junior cheerleader Kaci Mason sees firsthand how Buff lights up every game as she is cheerleading alongside him.
\n\u201cNo game would be the same without Buff,\u201d Mason said. \u201cBuff is a part of the Harding game day experience, and the fans look forward to seeing him.\u201d
\nWhile the end may or may not be in sight, Austin continues performing as though it were the last time he played Buff.
\n\u201cI\u2019m taking it each game at a time, and I\u2019m just enjoying what I have left,\u201d Austin said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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