A lumberjack team mascot is a symbolic representation of a group of individuals who participate in lumberjack sports and competitions. The mascot serves as a source of team pride, motivation, and entertainment for spectators. The main idea behind having a lumberjack team mascot is to add a sense of identity and unity to the team. The mascot often embodies the rugged and hardworking nature of lumberjacks, and showcases the team's dedication and skills in their sport. They are usually dressed in traditional lumberjack attire, including plaid shirts, suspenders, and a beanie or cap. One of the key roles of a lumberjack team mascot is to energize the crowd during games and events.
All of the things that help us show spirit, from our axe-wielding Lumberjack mascot to the hand sign you may have seen at our athletic events, make being part of the SFA family more fun. And each of these traditions has its own history — histories you’ll find on this page.
Shortly after SFA was founded in 1923, university leaders invited students and faculty to suggest names for the university s newly organized athletic teams, a name that made it clear that SFA was going to be a formidable opponent. Austin team celebrates with the championship trophy after an NCAA college basketball game for the Southland Conference tournament championship, in Katy, Texas.
One of the key roles of a lumberjack team mascot is to energize the crowd during games and events. They engage in various antics and perform entertaining routines to keep the audience excited and create a fun atmosphere. The mascot interacts with fans, dances, and performs stunts to generate enthusiasm and support for the team.
The Stephen F. Austin lumberjack is a real guy and oh, so popular
File - In this March 15, 2014, file photo, the Stephen F. Austin team celebrates with the championship trophy after an NCAA college basketball game for the Southland Conference tournament championship, in Katy, Texas. Stephen F. Austin is headed to the NCAA tournament as the first 30-win team in Southland Conference history. (AP Photo/Bob Levey, File)
Blake Taylor, the real-life Lumberjack mascot of Stephen F. Austin. Show Caption PUBLISHED: March 23, 2014 at 12:02 a.m. | UPDATED: August 28, 2017 at 7:36 a.m.SAN DIEGO >> Stephen F. Austin is trying on Cinderella’s glass slippers for size.
But one of the most popular men on the court wears cowboy boots, Wranglers, suspenders and a sleeveless flannel shirt and yields an ax. He has a scraggly playoff beard and mullet, too.
Meet Blake Taylor, the official Lumberjacks mascot.
Taylor wears the costume of one of the most unusual mascots because he’s not hidden under a fluffy costume.
Perhaps that’s why pictures of the 21-year-old Texan went viral during Stephen F. Austin’s wild 77-75 overtime win over Virginia Commonwealth on Friday. Taylor was the most popular person until Desmond Hayman made a 4-point play with 3.6 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
And now only UCLA stands in the way of Stephen F. Austin earning a Sweet Sixteen berth. Which means an even bigger platform for Taylor.
Taylor is so unusual many fans wonder if all that stuff is real. The beard, the mullet, the biceps … all real.
“The Lumberjack position at SFA, everyone says you’re the face of the university,” Taylor said in an interview Saturday. “A lot of school mascots have big fuzzy heads over them. At SFA, you’re the guy. They see you at all the football games and basketball games. Your face is seen around a lot.
“You have a lot more responsibility.”
Taylor had not been on a stage like the NCAA Tournament, so when a guy asked him to take a photo in the bathroom of Viejas Arena well, that was awkward.
He hasn’t let his popularity go to his mullet.
Lumberjacks chop wood, and Taylor’s Twitter account shows him doing an underhand chop, but he doesn’t pretend to be an expert. He’s 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and doesn’t boast about his bench press. There have been bigger lumberjacks at Stephen F. Austin but maybe none with his credentials.
Taylor is an official member of the Stephen F. Austin cheerleading squad, for which he gets a partial scholarship. But he gives credit to the cheerleaders for doing all the stunts and such. He’s also on academic scholarship, too.
He has many stereotypical traits of a Texan and lumberjack, but underneath that gruff-looking exterior is boy-next-door charm.
He has the attention of female fans, although he’s too shy to admit as much. He loves his biggest fans — elementary students who go to the charter school on the campus of Stephen F. Austin.
“I read to them and their favorite book is ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar,’ ” Taylor said.
They sure like his outfit, too.
He said his grandfather was chairman of the biology department at the university. His mom is an elementary school teacher in Dallas and his father works for the sheriff’s department.
Taylor can get away with his outfit in the South, but when he’s not there he gets stares.
“I just smile and wave,” Taylor said.
Imagine if he wore that getup around Westwood.
In Nacogdoches, he’s a role model who carries the torch for a long tradition.
“A lot of people don’t know the eastern part of the state is covered by pine forest,” said Robert Hill, Stephen F. Austin’s athletic director. “We have a national forest in our county. Having a lumberjack is something the school decided to do a long time ago, and we’re 90 years old this year.
“It’s always been very special. A lot of people think Texas is prairie and John Wayne and cattle. Here, it’s what we call the piney woods, so this is a big job we take very seriously. It’s a real person, and we’ve always been blessed to have young men who take this seriously.”
Taylor really doesn’t like being the center of attention, but that’s exactly what he was during timeouts of the VCU game, flashing Stephen F. Austin’s hand sign of extending two fingers and a thumb. For a guy who doesn’t like being in the spotlight, he sure has a lot of gigs that put him there.
He was the quarterback for the Dallas suburb Rowlett High School team in football-crazed Texas. He was a catcher on the baseball team, too.
Things you would think about the lumberjack that are true: he wears Wranglers and cowboy boots on a daily basis, he’s worked in construction and on a ranch, has a farmer’s tan, drives a Chevy Silverado, hunts and fishes and has an annoyingly bright orange case for his phone in case he drops it in the woods.
Things you wouldn’t think about the lumbjerack that are true: He plays guitar, string bass and piano and sings. He likes John Mayer, although country is his favorite. He gives campus tours. He’s taking business classes, attends a weekly men’s bible study and has a Bible app on his phone.
Hill touted Blake’s academics and commitment to the university. He was voted Mr. Stephen F. Austin this year, and that’s no popularity contest. Hill divulged that.
“Did he tell you he was named Mr. SFA?” Hill asked. “He’s a little shy.”
It’s an honor given based on academics, extracurricular activities, promotion of the university and, well, popularity surely played a little role.
Taylor will look for a job in the financial world when he graduates in December. He’s been the lumberjack for two years, but that’s not his identity. He doesn’t dread his tenure as mascot coming to an end, but a job in business requires suits and a clean-shaven face.
“I’ll have to shave the beard and cut the mullet out, so it’s my last time to look like this,” Taylor said.
We’ll enjoy watching Stephen F. Austin in the NCAA Tournament. And maybe Taylor will make a mascot cameo in a commercial someday, like some school’s mascots have done.
“I wouldn’t be opposed. I think that would be awesome,” Taylor said. “But I think our basketball team deserves it more than I do.”
True. But the lumberjack is just as fun to people watch as Stephen F. Austin’s underdog team.
[email protected] @jillpainter on Twitter
Additionally, the lumberjack team mascot often participates in promotional and community events. They visit schools, parades, and other public gatherings to raise awareness and promote the sport of lumberjack competitions. The mascot serves as a friendly and approachable ambassador for the team, encouraging participation and generating interest in the sport. In conclusion, a lumberjack team mascot plays a vital role in representing and promoting the team and the sport of lumberjack competitions. They enhance team spirit, entertain fans, and engage with the community. Through their presence, the mascot helps create a sense of identity and pride for the team and its supporters..
Reviews for "The Lumberjack Mascot: Instilling Fear in Opponents"
1. Emily - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with the "Lumberjack team mascot" performance. The mascot's movements were clumsy and lacked coordination. It was clear that the person inside the costume was struggling to move around, which made the whole performance feel amateurish. Additionally, the costume itself looked cheap and poorly made. Overall, it was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. James - 1 star
The "Lumberjack team mascot" was a complete disaster. The mascot didn't even look like a lumberjack - it was more like a strange mix between a scarecrow and a clown. The choreography was all over the place, with random and uncoordinated movements. It was hard to believe that this was a professional performance. Save your money and skip this one.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I had high hopes for the "Lumberjack team mascot", but it fell flat. The whole performance lacked energy and enthusiasm. The mascot's interactions with the crowd were awkward and forced. It seemed like the performer inside the costume was just going through the motions without any genuine excitement. I was looking forward to an entertaining experience, but I left feeling underwhelmed and unimpressed.
4. Michael - 2 stars
The "Lumberjack team mascot" performance was underwhelming. The choreography was repetitive and lacked originality. It was basically the mascot swinging an ax in the same monotonous way for the entire duration. Moreover, the soundtrack choice didn't match the theme at all, which further diminished the experience. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity to create a captivating and engaging performance.
5. Jessica - 1 star
The "Lumberjack team mascot" was a complete waste of time. The whole performance was disjointed and confusing. The mascot seemed unsure of what it was supposed to be doing and there was no sense of coherence or storyline. It felt like a random assortment of movements with no purpose. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone looking for an enjoyable and well-executed performance.