Once upon a time, in a small village lived a young boy named Jack. He was the only child of his parents and often felt lonely. His parents were always busy with work and didn't have much time for him. However, Jack's loneliness was magically cured when his Uncle Peter came to visit. Uncle Peter was a famous archaeologist and had traveled to far-off lands in search of ancient artifacts. He was a charming man with a twinkle in his eye and always had exciting stories to tell.
Cheerleaders and photographers should fear the Buzz. Lance King/Getty Images
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. Editor s note Welcome to the third installment of Mascot Memoirs, in which NCAA mascots from around the country relive their fondest memories from behind the mask.
He was a charming man with a twinkle in his eye and always had exciting stories to tell. Whenever he visited, Jack's world was filled with adventure and wonder. During one of his visits, Uncle Peter brought a dusty old box that contained a collection of ancient manuscripts.
Mascot Memoirs: Buzz, Georgia Tech
Editor's note: Welcome to the third installment of "Mascot Memoirs," in which NCAA mascots from around the country relive their fondest memories from behind the mask. Previously, we checked in with Michigan State’s Sparty and Notre Dame's leprechaun.
Here’s a secret you may not know about Buzz, Georgia Tech’s yellow jacket mascot: He’s actually played by multiple students, one per quarter during a typical football game.
Here’s another secret: those students’ identities. So the only facts we can reveal about one Buzz we spoke to is that he’s a fifth-year biology major, premed, and this is his second year donning the wings and stinger.
Why is a full colony of yellow jackets necessary?
“He’s super-curious, super-hyper and crazy unpredictable,” Buzz says. "You have to do full sprints, jump up walls and run through people. It gets very tiring -- and it’s very, very hot in Atlanta.”
As the Buzzes prepare to invade El Paso, Texas, for the Sun Bowl versus USC on New Year's Eve, our Buzz correspondent relived some of his most memorable moments:
• Date: Sept. 10, 2011
• Where: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
• Event: Georgia Tech football beats Middle Tennessee State 49-21
Buzz says: “It was my first away game. Usually when we score, I run the flag through the end zone and the cheerleaders come after me and run tumbling passes. Instead of turning around and going outside the end zone, I just turned 180 degrees and ran directly back. I forgot the cheerleaders were doing tumbling passes. One was doing a round-off back handspring and going up for a back tuck. As she was coming for her back tuck, I ran full speed into her with the giant GT flag and pretty much caused her to face-plant into the end zone. All I remember was, I thought, ‘Oh God, I killed a cheerleader.’ It was bad.
“I asked the coach later and she said, ‘She’s OK, she’s a little hurt, but don’t do that again.’ That’s an inside joke that we keep bringing up … that we should do that to a cheerleading freshman, just run into them with a flag.”
The upset over Clemson led to spontaneous crowd surfing. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
• Date: Oct. 29, 2011
• Where: Atlanta
• Event: Georgia Tech football upsets fifth-ranked Clemson 31-17
Buzz says: “I had first quarter of that game. It was electric. Nighttime at Bobby Dodd Stadium -- it was crazy, super-loud, everybody is jazzed up. People were throwing me up, [I was] crowd surfing . it was so incredibly loud.
"You’re standing on a wall and you’re waving your arms and pumping everyone up and you’re getting energized. I was able to contribute to making it super-loud and it helped the football players feed off of that. Even though we didn’t end the season as well as expected, playing a role in that upset was incredible. We stormed the field, and my teammate in the fourth quarter was crowd surfing for a good 30 minutes. No one would let him down.”
• Date: Spring 2012
• Where: Georgia
• Event: Buzz and friends visit an ill fan.
Buzz says: “Earlier this year, there was a man named Mr. Marshall. He asked for Buzz at his 95th birthday party, but before the party he had a heart attack. He was hooked up to oxygen at his house and had his caretakers around. When we found out about it, we sent myself with a cheerleader and a whole bunch of GT goodies.
"We visited him in his house. He looked very ill. When he saw me and the cheerleader, he started smiling and crying. Just for me to be able to be there for 10 minutes and make him smile and cry from joy, that was one of my most meaningful moments. It shows you as a mascot what you can do. It was very humbling.”
• Date: Oct. 21, 2012
• Where: Atlanta
• Event: RamblinWreckTube, the GT Athletic Association’s YouTube channel, posts a “Gangnam Style” parody video starring cheerleaders and athletes like GT offensive lineman J.C. Lanier.
Buzz says: “We wanted to increase school spirit; it’s been a tough year for us. We filmed it on two days and put it together. It’s up to over 30,000 views. Especially for Tech being a small school, I heard buzz around campus that it was popular on Facebook.
"When someone says, 'You see the "Gangnam Style" video? It’s awesome!' I’m like two rows behind them eating lunch and laughing to myself, saying they have no idea that’s me. I guess that’s one of the benefits of being a secret mascot.”
• Date: Oct. 27, 2012
• Where: Atlanta, Ga.
• Event: BYU defeats Georgia Tech football 41-17
Cheerleaders and photographers should fear the Buzz. Lance King/Getty Images
Buzz says: “I’m in the student section, pumping them up. I think we scored a touchdown -- I ran to the corner and do pushups on something called a Buzz board. When I jumped over the wall, I thought I probably just hit one of the stages for the band and ran to my corner.
"[Later] my boss asked me, ‘Do you know what you did?’ I landed on a photographer and broke his $8,000 camera.
"My first reaction was, ‘Oh geez, not me. Why me?’ He was upset. Luckily for me, I didn’t get in trouble. They had to sign paperwork for liability for being on the field. I felt really bad.”
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These manuscripts were said to have magical powers and held secrets of long-lost civilizations. Jack was fascinated by the idea of magic and couldn't wait to explore the manuscripts. Uncle Peter spent hours teaching Jack about the ancient languages and symbols written in the manuscripts. He explained how each symbol represented a different magical power and if used correctly, could grant wishes and perform extraordinary feats. Jack was thrilled to have the opportunity to learn about such fantastical things. Over the years, Jack and Uncle Peter spent countless hours deciphering the manuscripts and practicing the spells and rituals described within them. They embarked on magical adventures, visiting different realms and encountering mythical creatures. Each adventure strengthened their bond and made Jack feel like he had finally found a true companion. As Jack grew older, he realized that the real magic was not in the manuscripts themselves, but in the memories and experiences he shared with his uncle. The manuscripts served as a doorway to a world of imagination and wonder, but it was the love and guidance of Uncle Peter that truly made those adventures special. The magical manuscripts became a symbol of their bond and the joy they found in each other's company. Even though Uncle Peter's visits became less frequent as Jack grew older, the memories of their magical adventures remained in Jack's heart forever. In the end, it was the lessons learned from his uncle's and his magical manuscripts that shaped Jack into the person he became. He carried the spirit of adventure and curiosity with him throughout his life and passed on the traditions and stories of his Uncle Peter to future generations. Sometimes, the most magical thing in life is not the spells and enchantments, but the love and connections we form with others. Uncle Peter and the magical manuscripts taught Jack the value of family, shared experiences, and the power of imagination. And for that, he would be forever grateful..
Reviews for "Embark on a journey with Uncle and the magical manuscripts"
1. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I found "Uncle and the magical manuscripts" to be quite disappointing. The story lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. Additionally, the plot was predictable and didn't offer any surprises. Overall, I was hoping for a more captivating and original book, but unfortunately, this one fell short.
2. Mike - ★☆☆☆☆
I couldn't finish "Uncle and the magical manuscripts" as it failed to capture my interest from the beginning. The writing was dull and repetitive, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The plot seemed forced and lacked coherence. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling and engaging read.
3. Emily - ★★☆☆☆
"Uncle and the magical manuscripts" had potential, but it failed to live up to it. The pacing was slow, and I often found myself losing interest in the story. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to immerse myself in the narrative. While the concept was intriguing, the execution left much to be desired. Overall, it was a forgettable read for me.
4. John - ★☆☆☆☆
I found "Uncle and the magical manuscripts" to be quite underwhelming. The characters lacked development, and their actions often felt inconsistent. The plot felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction. I was hoping for a captivating fantasy adventure, but instead, I got a confusing and unsatisfying read. I would not recommend this book to others.
5. Anna - ★★☆☆☆
"Uncle and the magical manuscripts" didn't live up to my expectations. The writing style was simplistic, and the descriptions were lacking detail. The plot felt rushed and left many unanswered questions. While the premise was interesting, the execution fell short. Overall, I was left disappointed and would not recommend this book to fellow readers.