"The Curse of the Frozen Gold" Legend has it that deep within the arctic wilderness of Canada lies a cursed treasure known as the Frozen Gold. Throughout history, many adventurous souls have sought to claim this elusive fortune, only to be met with tragedy and misfortune. The tale of the Curse of the Frozen Gold has captivated the imaginations of treasure hunters and thrill-seekers alike. The origins of this curse can be traced back to the 19th century, during the Klondike Gold Rush. It is said that a group of ambitious prospectors stumbled upon a massive deposit of gold near a frozen lake. Excitement and greed filled their hearts as they began to extract the precious metal, unaware of the dark magic that was soon to befall them.
2023 NATIONAL CHAMPION
Buzz is a fixture of Georgia Tech and collegiate athletics. The idea of Buzz began in 1972 when Judi McNair constructed a Yellow Jacket costume, and in 1980, Buzz was made the official Georgia Tech mascot after Richie Bland ran onto the football field (without permission) during a pep rally. Since then, Buzz has been portrayed by dozens of students, and he remains an official student-athlete and member of the Georgia Tech cheer team. Buzz is an essential member of the Georgia Tech community for promoting school spirit, spreading positivity, and representing Georgia Tech to a national audience.
Buzz is athletic and fearless. From climbing over the stadium, stealing concessions, or crowd surfing, Buzz can do anything. Buzz is mischievous and likes to pull pranks, but he is extremely dedicated to his fans. He always stops for a photo, and he’s constantly giving high fives, fist bumps, and hugs. He loves to dance and is known for his signature stinger shaking. Buzz is full of energy and never stops moving.
Buzz attends all campus sporting events and is central to many gameday traditions including conducting the band at every ¾ mark in a game, beginning pregame activities with the traditional Buzz flip, and performing interactive skits throughout gameday. Outside of athletics, Buzz is a very active member of the Georgia Tech community. Each year, Buzz attends around 300 events on and off campus in addition to GT athletics events. These include campus engagement events, alumni galas, corporate mixers, and charity events. Every April, Buzz competes in Daytona Beach, Florida in the National Cheerleading Association’s Mascot Division. Buzz placed first this 2023 season with his iconic Mario skit and earned the new nickname, National Champion!
Excitement and greed filled their hearts as they began to extract the precious metal, unaware of the dark magic that was soon to befall them. As word of their discovery spread, more prospectors flocked to the region, hoping to strike it rich. However, as the gold fever intensified, so did the paranormal occurrences.
Buzz Appearances
Thank you for your interest in booking Buzz for your event! Please submit requests by clicking on the “Appearance Request Form” below. Please submit all requests a minimum of two weeks prior to the requested appearance date. Remember that one of Buzz’s traditions is his secret identity.
If Buzz arrives at your event out of the Buzz suit, we ask that you discreetly escort him/her to a secure changing place. Once submitted, your event will tentatively be placed on the Buzz calendar. A Buzz student manager will contact you prior to your event to confirm. Invoices will be sent via email the month following your event.
Thank you for your support of the Buzz Program!
2023-2024 Donors
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Buzz
One of the best parts of being a Yellow Jacket is that we have not only one, but two iconic mascots: The Ramblin Reck and Buzz the Yellow Jacket. We all know and love the hilarious and energetic Yellow Jacket that pumps up the crowds at sporting events and lifts up the spirits of Tech students. A lot has happened to make Buzz what he is today.
The story behind our Yellow Jacket symbol dates back to the early 1900’s when our first athletic teams were fielded. They had yet to choose an official name, so sports writers had taken to giving us nicknames such as The Engineers, the Blacksmiths, the Techs, and the Golden Tornadoes, but the school didn’t officially take up any of these names. It was actually actual yellow jackets that our fans wore in support of our team that gave us the name we go by now. The term Yellow Jackets was used to describe our fans, and in 1905, John Heisman declared that he wanted our team to be known as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
It wasn’t until the 1970’s that a human yellow jacket made its first appearance. In 1972, equipped with a homemade costume, Judy McNair began performing at football games. By 1980, the President of Ramblin’ Reck Club, Mark Loch, received approval from the cheerleading advisor and a grant from SGA to help fund a custom Yellow Jacket costume, equipped with black and yellow fur, white gloves, black tights, and Converse high-tops. The grant also helped send the first official Buzz, Rickie Bland, to mascot camp at Virginia Tech. Buzz officially made his first appearance as a member of the cheerleading squad on October 11, 1980. Rickie Bland brought Buzz to life and set the standard to make Buzz what he is today. Over the years, Buzz has become a staple at Tech athletic events. His antics keep us constantly laughing and he is the envy of all mascots. Nowadays, several students split the duties of performing as Buzz and keep their identities a secret until graduation in order to maintain the tradition of Buzz as one of our beloved mascots!
Mascot for georgia tech
They’re not just outstanding students; they’re Georgia Tech tradition-keepers. Armando Gonzalez and Aaron Burtz are two of just a handful of students who have ever donned black tights, a fuzzy head, and antennae to embody Georgia Tech’s mascot, Buzz.
“It’s hot,” Burtz joked when asked about his memories as mascot. “Really, though, I’ll remember pre-game and seeing the faces of the youngest fans light up when they see Buzz.”
Burtz admits that sometimes he wasn’t sure if they were mesmerized or terrified. Either way, being a secret part of one of the Institute’s most iconic traditions has been an emotional journey.
“You can see on people’s face the moments when they fell in love with Tech, and that’s really special,” Burtz says.
Gonzalez says Buzz’s antics were some of his favorite moments. He recalls being “in-suit” and cutting in line for Chick-Fil-A at the Student Center.
“They forgive me just a few seconds later,” Gonzalez says. “We just have fun with it. You know people feel that energy.”
They both finished their time as Buzz together, earning degrees as Spring 2020 graduates – Gonzalez studied computer science and Burtz mechanical engineering.
Typically, the identities of the students who’ve worn the suit aren’t unveiled until they graduate from the Institute — when another mascot carries them across the stage piggyback-style to receive their degree. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 crisis postponing in-person events, that opportunity will be delayed for these gentlemen.
In the meantime, Gonzalez has moved to the New York metro area where he’ll be working with Disney in software engineering.
“I’ll be working with the Disney+ and ESPN+ platforms,” Gonzalez says. “It’s a cool place to be right now.”
Engineering major Aaron Burtz (L) and computer science major Armando Gonzalez (R) both spent many days and nights during their time at Georgia Tech donning the iconic Buzz mascot uniform.
During his time at Tech, apart from serving as Buzz and as captain of the Georgia Tech cheerleading team, Gonzalez worked full-time for six terms. It’s one of the things he’s most proud of.
For Burtz, the job of FASET leader allowed him the chance to help new students make their transition to Georgia Tech. Also outside of the suit, he researched thrombosis in pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a form of life support used in young patients. Over the summer, he’ll be developing a startup he began with Tech classmates while taking part in Georgia Tech’s CREATE-X program. And, in the fall, he won’t be straying far from Tech.
“In October, I’ll start working with Accenture in Tech Square,” said Burtz.
Both he and Gonzalez hope to return for the Class of 2020 Commencement ceremony that’s to be rescheduled to a to-be-determined date — and when that happens, we look forward to seeing them on Buzz’s back.
Watch:
Buzz Needs Your Vote for Mascot Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023
From Bobby Jones to Calvin Johnson, Tech has a proud history of producing hall of famers, and now you have the chance to help a beloved Georgia Tech icon into the Mascot Hall of Fame.
Buzz, first introduced in 1980 and a fixture at campus events ever since, is among 18 finalists for the Mascot Hall of Fame’s newest class. The public voting period is open until midnight on Saturday, May 27, and you can vote once a day. The public vote will account for a portion of the final tally, with the Mascot Hall of Fame's executive committee and membership holders making up the remainder. This year’s inductees will be announced on Friday, June 23.
Buzz's competition on the ballot comes from the college and professional ranks, including a fellow Atlanta native –– Freddie Falcon. ACC foes Rameses from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Otto the Orange from Syracuse University and the Blue Devil from Duke University are also vying for a spot.
Whether Buzz is conducting the band, firing up crowds, or performing skits, the Tech mascot overwhelmingly meets the Hall of Fame's criteria of being "unique, fun, and memorable" while demonstrating a major impact on their community.
It’s already been a monumental year for the stinger-shaking mascot, who took first place at the NCA and NDA Collegiate National Cheer and Dance Championship in Daytona Beach in early April.
"Buzz has skyrocketed this year and is racking up the accolades to prove it," said Shana Spann, head cheerleading coach. "He's won Best Mascot 2022 with the CFA Peach Bowl, NCA College Nationals 2023, and is now nominated for the Mascot Hall of Fame. He has been present in the community more than ever with his fun fan interactive gameday skits. We're excited to see what he brings to the 2023-24 season and we are thankful for the Georgia Tech and Atlanta community support of our beloved mascot."
To date, 27 mascots reside in the Mascot Hall of Fame. The first class was inducted in 2005. To learn more, and to cast your daily vote for Buzz, visit mascothalloffame.com.
Strange happenings and unexplained phenomena surrounded the frozen lake, fueling rumors of a curse. Whispers of ghostly apparitions, eerie moans, and mysterious disappearances enveloped the area. Despite the growing warnings and ominous tales, many continued their pursuit of the Frozen Gold. As they dug deeper and deeper into the frozen ground, tragedy befell them. Some vanished without a trace, never to be seen again. Others suffered inexplicable accidents, diseases, or fell victim to the harsh elements of the unforgiving Arctic. Over time, the reputation of the Frozen Gold became synonymous with doom and misfortune. Those who dared to defy the curse found themselves swept up in a relentless cycle of bad luck and tragedy. Desperate to rid themselves of the curse, some buried the gold and fled, hoping to escape its malevolent grip. To this day, the Frozen Gold remains a mystery, attracting adventurers and treasure hunters eager to unravel its secrets. Many have tried to break the curse, some even succeeding in retrieving fragments of the treasure. However, the curse has a way of exacting its toll, leaving behind a trail of broken dreams and shattered lives. The legend of the Curse of the Frozen Gold serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the dangers of greed and obsession. It warns against seeking material wealth at the expense of one's well-being and happiness. The allure of buried treasure may be strong, but one must tread carefully, aware of the consequences that may come with it. In conclusion, the Curse of the Frozen Gold continues to captivate our imagination and stir our curiosity. It stands as a testament to the power of legends, reminding us that some treasures are best left untouched. The curse serves as a reminder that the pursuit of wealth should never come at the cost of our humanity and well-being..
Reviews for "The Allure of Xurse: Its Magnetic and Reflective Properties"
1. Jane - 1/5 stars - "I was really disappointed with "Xurse of the Frozen Gold". The story was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were not well-developed. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the plot had too many unnecessary twists and turns. Overall, I found the book to be dull and unengaging. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable reading experience."
2. John - 2/5 stars - "While the concept of "Xurse of the Frozen Gold" seemed promising, the execution fell flat for me. The writing style was mediocre and lacked depth, leaving me uninterested in the story and the characters. Additionally, the pacing was off, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and confusing action scenes. I struggled to finish the book and ultimately felt unsatisfied with the ending. I wouldn't recommend this book unless you're a die-hard fan of the genre."
3. Amanda - 1/5 stars - "I found "Xurse of the Frozen Gold" to be incredibly boring and poorly written. The plot was unoriginal and predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. The author's attempts at humor fell flat, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. I was hoping for an exciting adventure, but instead, I was left feeling disappointed and disengaged. Save your time and skip this book."