By Paul Guzzo and , University Communications & Marketing
Mascots are vital to a university鈥檚 identity and culture. Their impact is felt in athletics, student life, community engagement and so much more.
Being a university鈥檚 mascot also impacts the student behind the costume. For some, it brings them out of their comfort zone; for others it makes them more connected to the campus community. For many, it becomes a defining moment of their college experience.
On National Mascot Day, the 色色研究所 celebrates the many students who have been Rocky D. Bull over the years, bringing cheer and goodwill to the university and the Tampa Bay region.
Here are some of their stories.
Mike Mashke 鈥 Rocky from 1984-1988
Mike Mashke and his wife Mary posing with Rocky at a USF basketball game.
For most of his career, Mike Mashke needed two very different kinds of suits.
By day, he wore a shirt and tie as a banker, now serving as chief credit officer for United Trust Bank. But, for around two decades, his other suit was anything but traditional 鈥 the oversized, animated costumes of mascots for several Tampa Bay professional teams, including the Buccaneers and Lightning.
鈥淎 lot of people might find that odd 鈥 a banker who鈥檚 also a mascot,鈥 Mashke said with a laugh. 鈥淏ut it was always just normal for me.鈥
He traces both paths back to USF 鈥 banking to his bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics, and mascotting to his time portraying Rocky.
Mashke first donned the USF mascot costume on a lark.
Starting out as a sports medicine student, he taped ankles and wrists for cheerleaders but often critiqued the mascot鈥檚 performance 鈥 until his cheerleader roommate challenged him to audition.
鈥淗e told me to put my money where my mouth is,鈥 Mashke said. 鈥淪o, I tried out and got the job.鈥
One of his most memorable moments came during a USF basketball game against the University of Florida.
Mashke provoked the opposing crowd, drawing trash and tensions that escalated until the coach ordered him off the court. Undeterred, he returned later, blowing 鈥渟moke鈥 from Rocky鈥檚 nose 鈥 further igniting the arena.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 exactly what I wanted to achieve,鈥 he said.
Mashke continued performing as a mascot through 2006, even earning a Super Bowl ring as Captain Fear with the Buccaneers. He said the experience boosted his banking career.
鈥淧eople wanted to bank with Captain Fear,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t opened a lot of doors.鈥
Jody Glassman 鈥 Rocky from 1995-1997
Jody Glassman (left) was likely the first woman to be Rocky and also led the USF Football team onto the field during their inaugural game.
Jody Glassman made history as Rocky at least once 鈥 and possibly twice.
She was the first Rocky to run onto a football field, doing so in 1997 for the Bulls鈥 inaugural game. She may also have been the first woman to wear the Rocky costume.
鈥淚鈥檓 the first female on record that USF can find,鈥 said Glassman, now assistant vice president of enrollment and admission at Florida International University. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 at least what they told me after I was chosen. They couldn鈥檛 remember ever having a girl.鈥
She has a few theories as to why no woman had taken on the role before.
鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 because Rocky is a boy,鈥 Glassman said. 鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 because of the smell. Back then, at least, the costume really smelled bad. You had to get through that.鈥
Glassman鈥檚 path to becoming Rocky began at Walt Disney World, where she portrayed a variety of characters while attending Valencia College. After transferring to USF, she auditioned to better connect with campus life.
鈥淚 was a transfer student,鈥 she said. 鈥淏eing Rocky gave me confidence, belonging, and a way to engage, express myself and feel part of the campus community.鈥
Glassman graduated in 1996 and remained at USF, working in admissions. When the football team needed a Rocky to lead it onto the field for the first time in 1997, they called her briefly out of retirement.
鈥淭hat was a highlight, a pinnacle,鈥 Glassman said. 鈥淭he atmosphere in Raymond James Stadium was incredible. I鈥檒l always hold that near and dear to my heart.鈥
Aidan Cawley 鈥 Rocky from 2023-2024
Aiden Cawley at USF Commencement, revealing he was Rocky by wearing the mascot's hands.
Curiosity led Aidan Cawley to Rocky.
鈥淒oes it feel natural? Is it hot?鈥 he asked himself when hearing about the opportunity to try out to be USF鈥檚 mascot. 鈥淚t might seem like a cop-out answer, but it seemed like so much fun and, going into my senior year, it felt like my positions before Rocky were preparing me for being Rocky.鈥
A self-proclaimed high energy goofball, donning the costume became a natural extension of his personality. That persona energized crowds from orientation to Sailebration, the sunset cruise for graduates at USF St. Petersburg.
鈥淣o matter what kind of day I was having, if I was tired from exams or hyped up on caffeine, being Rocky was one of those things that felt easy, effortless and endlessly fun,鈥 he said.
The experience was a mixture of amusement, wackiness and special moments that he shared with hundreds of other classmates, many of whom he knew but that didn鈥檛 know who was behind the costume.
鈥淩ocky, the suit, USF St. Petersburg, it became a real home in a way,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd that isn鈥檛 something you can find just anywhere.鈥
Matt Hitchcock 鈥 Rocky from 2004-2006
Matt Hitchcock walking across the Commencement stage with his Rocky hands on, greeting then USF President Judy Genshaft.
Matt Hitchcock still stands by his side of the story.
During a 2005 USF football game against UCF, while portraying Rocky, he knocked over an opposing fan鈥檚 cooler 鈥 an incident that drew enough attention to make local headlines, with reports suggesting it was intentional.
Hitchcock insisted at the time it was an accident. More than two decades later, he hasn鈥檛 wavered.
鈥淔or me, being a mascot was always about having fun,鈥 he said.
Hitchcock鈥檚 path into mascotting began while he was working at a Palm Beach-area ice rink as a high school student. A manager asked if he could jump into the rink鈥檚 mascot costume for birthday parties.
A drama student, he quickly discovered he loved performing and would pursue mascotting even after his time at USF with a range of professional teams.
He was best known as the Lightning鈥檚 ThunderBug from 2006 to 2009 and also performed for minor league baseball affiliates of the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Florida Marlins.
At his 2009 wedding, Hitchcock鈥檚 mascot career even took center stage 鈥 each reception table was named after one of the roughly 20 characters he had depicted.
Today, Hitchcock is the morning show producer at The JOY FM, a role he said his time as Rocky helped prepare him for.
鈥淭he tagline for our radio station is 鈥楬elping you find joy,鈥欌 Hitchcock said. 鈥淭hat is also the primary responsibility of a mascot.鈥