Costumed Mascot
While MSU students and alumni often refer to the Spartan statue as Sparty, the incarnation of Sparty with national visibility is that of a costumed mascot who appears at athletic events and other university-related functions. The costume, with a cartoonishly oversized head, bulging muscles, and a facial expression that treads a fine line between cute and pugnacious, was introduced to MSU fans during the 1989 football season. Sparty was an immediate hit, in part because the foam-rubber body parts and vinyl breastplate have a freedom of movement that allow the anonymous student who portrays Sparty to be quite expressive despite the costume's fixed stare. The student that portrays Sparty is a volunteer, despite rumors of financial compensation or a full scholarship. Early every calendar year, tryouts are held for the student to portray Sparty for the upcoming school year.
Sparty can be found entertaining MSU sporting event crowds with his antics during games. He is even lifted upon the shoulders of cheerleaders and does one-handed push ups. Besides sporting events, Sparty also attends many events around campus, the community, and the country throughout the year: alumni functions, charity events, weddings, bar mitzvahs, parades, and many other university events. Any revenues generated go to the upkeep of the Sparty Mascot Program, which is funded mainly by the MSU Alumni Association with some support from the MSU Department of Athletics.
Sparty came to national prominence in the mid-1990s with his appearance in a series of television ads promoting ESPN's Sports Center. One advertisement depicted Sparty carrying gymnast Kerri Strug in the manner of Beauty and the Beast—or, more to the point, Béla Károlyi, who carried the injured Strug to the medal platform to accept her team gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He also appeared in ESPN ads with background cameos, such as eating in a diner booth or browsing the shelves of a bookstore. In 2004, Sparty won the Best Mascot National Championship at the Universal Cheer Association/Universal Dance Association College Nationals, becoming the first Big Ten Conference mascot to do so. He won Best Mascot for the second year in a row after securing the honor again the following year. In addition to his title of "best mascot," Sparty was voted the "Buffest Mascot" by Muscle and Fitness magazine. Sparty was even found in the refrigerators of local stores and many alumni when Sparty was featured on a series of Jones Soda bottles in late 2004, and he appeared again in 2005. Sparty was one of six college mascots nominated for the Mascot Hall of Fame in July 2006. In the summer of 2006, Alltel Wireless aired a commercial featuring ESPN's Lee Corso and Sparty.
Three years after winning top honors for the first time, Sparty was again named best mascot. It was Sparty's third title in just four years. His skit, "Sparty's Spectacular," featured music from many different genres, including rock, country, and Riverdance. To qualify for nationals, Sparty submitted a video showcasing his performances at athletic events and community service events.
Sparty appears on the cover of the Wii version of NCAA Football 09, the first time a non-athlete has graced the cover. EA Sports had a poll to see which mascot would grace the cover, and Sparty won by over 75,000 votes.
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