Two Big Blues beheaded at recent games
Big Blue was unmasked last week to reveal Ted Kyriopoulos and Tom Davis as the men behind this year’s magic.
Davis, senior graduating with a double major in aviation technology and German, said he has been Big Blue for three years. He said he sometimes feels intimidated when he wears Big Blue’s suit because of what Big Blue symbolizes.
“I feel a lot of respect for the university,” Davis said. “I feel respect for the name of Big Blue because of the people who have gone before me and worked to build his character. It’s a great honor, and it’s very intimidating.”
Kyriopoulos, senior graduating in marketing, said he has been Big Blue for one year. Although it’s a good feeling to work as a college icon, he said a big reason he took the job is because he gets to work with kids.
“Big Blue is a hero to little kids,” Kyriopoulos said. “College kids are fun too. It’s fun seeing friends and classmates who don’t know who you are and you can act crazy.”
Big Blue’s alter ego is kept a secret from almost everyone until the beheading ceremony, Davis said.
“My wife knows and my employers know because I’d have to get out of work sometimes,” Davis said. “Most close friends didn’t know but they’d try to guess.”
Big Blue doesn’t only lead cheers, Davis said, but he gets to do some service too.
“Every year that we play the University of Utah we go to Shriners Hospital and I get to be Big Blue with the kids down there,” Davis said. “We get to see their smiling faces and how much joy it brings them. That’s what I’ll remember most about this job.”
Davis said Big Blue’s suit is comfortable to wear, despite weighing ten pounds.
“It’s pretty much a big jacket,” Davis said. “Underneath your pants is Under Armour that soaks the sweat away from your body. The mask is a hockey helmet covered in furry fabric. It’s a beautiful suit. It looks nice and has been built well.”
The suit does have its limitations, both Davis and Kyriopoulos said, and the biggest problem is the lack of visibility.
“One of the toughest things to learn is to see two-feet tall kids without running them over,” Davis said. “I have two one-inch nose holes six inches from my eyes to see through. It’s awkward.”
Big Blue has several different outfits, Davis said, such as his basketball jersey, black tuxedo for dress-up occasions, pink shirt for cancer awareness and army uniform.
“He can wear anything as long as it’s a XXL or bigger,” Davis said.
Kyriopoulos, who said he was active in high school with wrestling and football, said he plans to join the Navy after graduation. He said physical fitness is an important part of being Big Blue.
“You have to be in pretty good physical shape because you can’t really breath well in the suit,” Kyriopoulos said. “If you walk brusquely you begin breathing hard. It’s the nature of the mask. It gets you in shape because otherwise you’re going to pass out.”
While he’s never had a serious injury as Big Blue, Kyriopoulos said he can expect a minor injury almost every game.
“You can’t see and when you walk around the chairs the metal arm rests will hit you,” Kyriopoulos said. “I can’t tell you how many times I go back in the locker room and my shins are bleeding.”
There aren’t many bad parts about the job, Davis said, besides really hot football games and the frequent bruise.
“Little kids will yank on your tail nonstop,” he said. “It’s fun to the kids to pull on the tail and nose ring but sometimes they won’t let go and almost pull your pants off.”
Kyriopoulos said the Big Blue suit gives the wearer confidence and courage to do what they wouldn’t without the suit.
“When you’re behind the mask you’re a university icon,” he said. “Everyone knows who you are and it allows you to be more outgoing, but nobody knows it’s you inside so it’s impossible to feel embarrassed. If you do make a mistake, if you fall on your head, it’s funny because you’re a mascot.”
Having grown up in Cache Valley, Kyriopoulos said he watched Big Blue his whole life and grew to love him. He said besides working with kids, his favorite part of being Big Blue is driving the go-kart the aviation technology and engineering departments made out of a Harley-Davidson.
“They constructed this sick car that just screams,” he said. “That was the coolest thing to ride. You went up and down the turf so fast.”
Davis said there’s a great feeling when you enter a crowd as Big Blue, a feeling Kyriopoulos described as euphoria.
“It’s great adrenaline,” Davis said. “You get butterflies in your stomach. There’s a great burst of air in your chest and you feel like you’re on top of the world. It’s a rush.”
The fans of the Spectrum are notorious for their excitement, Davis said, and Big Blue feeds off of that energy.
“They’re the best fans in the world,” Davis said. “Those guys come out dressed in blue with makeup and signs and the best cheers you can think of.”
As for where to put their framed Big Blue jerseys, both Davis and Kyriopoulos said they plan to hang them up in a future office or sports room.
-rac.ch@aggiemail.usu.edu
Ted Kyriopoulos was one of this year’s Big Blues. He was revealed in the Spectrum Feb. 28 (Patrick Oden)