The Michigan State University's mascot is the Spartan, which dates back to 1925. The Spartan was chosen as the official mascot because it represents courage, strength, and resilience, all qualities that are valued at the university. The Spartan mascot is often seen at sporting events, rallying the crowd and showing support for the team. The Spartan is depicted as a warrior wearing a bronze helmet, a red cape, and carrying a sword and shield. The mascot is also present at various university events and is a symbol of pride for the Michigan State community. Overall, the Spartan mascot is an important part of the university's identity and represents the values and spirit of Michigan State University.

Flushing grad reveals his secret identity as Michigan State’s “Sparty” mascot

EAST LANSING — Throughout his college tenure at Michigan State University, Jacob Rau led a double life: to his classmates and most of his friends, he was a physical therapy student working toward his degree.

But to a select few who knew his secret identity, he was the man behind MSU’s iconic mascot, Sparty.

Rau, a 2018 Flushing High School graduate, has portrayed Sparty since his freshman year at MSU—roaming the sidelines and bleachers at sporting events and bringing the school’s fearless yet lovable Spartan warrior character to life for fans.

Upon graduating from MSU this past weekend, Rau was finally allowed to reveal his role as Sparty. He also got to wear the boots from his Sparty costume to his graduation commencement—a ritual followed by many past Spartan mascots.

Per tradition, the role of Sparty is filled anonymously by students who keep their role a secret from their friends and fellow students for the duration of the assignment. Students who perform as the mascot are only allowed to disclose their identities upon graduation.

Jacob wearing the Sparty costume at an MSU football game. Photo provided

Rau, 23, said portraying Sparty has been a fun, fulfilling experience.

“Once I got to campus, I remember seeing in the dorm lobby that there was an advertisement for Sparty tryouts,” he said. “My sister said I should look into doing it. A couple weeks went by, and I decided to try out. It was a very cool opportunity and a great way to get involved more on campus.”

Rau performed as Sparty at more than 300 games and events throughout his college career. While Sparty is best known for pumping up school spirit at football and basketball games, most of Rau’s appearances as the mascot were outside the realm of athletics, including weddings, parades, fundraisers, tailgates, corporate events and alumni relations activities.

However, performing as Sparty wasn’t all fun and games for Rau, as it did require a great deal of physical exertion—and sweating—on his part. According to the

Michigan State alumni website, the buff and muscular Sparty stands about six feet tall with a 10XL helmet size and size 22 boots.

“With the costume, you’re carrying around an extra 40 pounds, and that’s just not something you’re used to walking around with,” Rau said. “It’s a learning curve.”

Rau said he worked hard to develop Sparty’s character and spark interaction with crowds.

“Sparty has his own personality, but everyone that portrays him has a different take and brings their own flavor,” he said. “Some of the people I used to work with would stay on the court or field and dance the whole time. That wasn’t me. During timeouts of a basketball game, I would go out and shoot up ‘air’ three-pointers and free throws and go up in the stands to mess with somebody.”

When he wasn’t running around in his costume, Rau was busy studying kinesiology with a concentration in athletic training and rehabilitation. Now that he’s received his degree, Rau said he’ll be pursuing a postgraduate program at either Western Michigan University or the University of Michigan.

At Flushing High School, Rau was a multisport athlete in football, baseball and track and field and served as the student council president. Rau didn’t portray Flushing’s Raider bird mascot when he was a student, but his older brother Justin proudly took on the role in 2015/2016.

Although his time as Sparty has come to an end, Rau said he’ll always treasure the experience.

“It’s the best part of your day because people get excited to see you,” he said. “All the fan interactions are awesome. People start dancing with you, or they’ll want pictures. It gives everybody, especially kids, something special to remember.”

Michigan state school mascot

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Overall, the Spartan mascot is an important part of the university's identity and represents the values and spirit of Michigan State University..

Michigan State University Mascot Sparty

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Michigan State Mascot

Michigan State University, founded in 1855, was the very first land-grant institution. It’s a public research university pioneering the studies of telecommunications, supply chain management, plant biology, hospitality business and packaging.

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Reviews for "The Representation of Michigan State School Mascots in Popular Culture"

1. Sarah - 1 star

I was severely disappointed with the Michigan State School mascot. The design was uninspiring and lacked creativity. It looked like they simply slapped on a generic costume and called it a day. The mascot's movements were clumsy and awkward, making it difficult to engage with the crowd during games. Overall, I found the whole experience underwhelming and forgettable.

2. John - 2 stars

As an alumnus of Michigan State School, I was quite disappointed with the school mascot. The chosen mascot didn't embody the spirit and values of our university. It was confusing and lacked personality. The costume design was subpar and looked outdated. Additionally, the mascot's interactions with the audience felt forced and lacking authenticity. I believe the school should revisit their mascot choice and consider a more representative and engaging option.

3. Emily - 1 star

I have never been more let down by a school mascot. The Michigan State School mascot was simply embarrassing. The costume looked cheap and poorly made. It was clear that no effort was put into the design or the overall performance. The mascot's movements were stiff and unnatural, making it awkward to watch during games. I hope Michigan State School reevaluates their choice and selects a mascot that truly represents their school spirit and pride.

4. Matt - 2 stars

The Michigan State School mascot was a huge disappointment. The chosen design was unoriginal and uninteresting. It failed to create any excitement among the audience. Moreover, the mascot's movements were clunky and lacked finesse. Overall, it felt like the school didn't invest enough time and effort into creating a compelling and engaging mascot experience. I expected more from a prestigious university like Michigan State School.

5. Samantha - 1 star

The Michigan State School mascot was a complete letdown. The costume looked outdated and out of touch with the times. It was difficult to connect with the mascot since it lacked energy and enthusiasm. The performance during games was lackluster and unimpressive. I believe the school should seriously consider revamping their mascot in order to create a more memorable and impactful experience for the audience.

The Inspiring Stories Behind Michigan State School Mascots