Champ: The Inside Scoop
UMD scores, the stands roar to life and a gray bulldog at the helm of the student section pantomimes a cheer. Believe it or not, the captain leading this noisy crowd is the only one told to be silent — Champ the Bulldog isn’t supposed to have a voice.
Photo from the University of Minnesota: Duluth news page
“I don’t think we’re supposed to [join in], but yeah, I do yell if there's a lot of noise. I try to add to it,” UMD mascot Champ said.
A rare chance to hear Champ speak is not to be wasted. The performer insisted on keeping their identity secret, but agreed to answer the interview questions to the best of their ability.
As the face of Bulldog Country, Champ is tasked with not only spreading UMD pride and excitement at sporting events, but manifests itself in a large number of photo ops.
“Champ does a lot less than people think. My job is to just have pictures with kids, and smile and wave at people. That's pretty much it.”
The prospect of playing Champ has a certain draw to it for many who want a more unique and uncommon college experience. It could also just be an outlet to fill a student’s craving for watching sporting events in a large bulldog costume!
“This is something I can go out and do and it'll be fun. Being a college mascot is really cool and it's an experience that not a lot of people have.” Champ said.
There is not one singular actor for Champ though. A group of an unknown number of people play Champ, and most of them don’t even know each other.
“It's a secret society,” one Champ said. “I can’t give away too much information. I mean, I don’t even know what their names are.”
Champ has long been a staple and the face of Duluth but recently has seen renewed interest in the UMD community after an attempted design update unveiled in early September. The news surprised everyone, especially the Champ actors.
“I found out after it happened,” one of the Champs said. “I only knew about it because of my journalism class, because it was news in the area.”
Photo taken from the University of Minnesota: Duluth Facebook page
Champ’s re-design sparked backlash from students and alumni alike, with the general consensus being the new suit was uglier than the previous one. Many people took issue with Champ’s new colors as well, and started calling the new Champ “Winnie the Pooh.”
“I didn’t mind the design, but I can see why people would be against it. I think people were mad because it wasn’t what they were used to,” Champ said.
From a mascot’s point of view, the new suit didn’t seem as bad as it was made out to be by the public. Opinions on the look of the redesign may have varied, but the new features inside the suit made it appear to be a worthy upgrade.
“I heard that it had air conditioning and the sight was a lot better. And it looked like it fit them better. So from a mascot perspective, it looked very nice,” Champ said.
The current suit does have its drawbacks, as anyone who plays Champ is sure to find out eventually. The inside is hot and the suit is cumbersome and heavy and some complain of a rank stench, probably a result of the lack of A/C.
Some Champ actors must tilt their head back to see out of the bulldog’s mouth, which can lead to pain. The weight of the costume’s head may also exacerbate the strain on the performer’s body.
“The head is so massive. It hurts my neck and shoulders, ” Champ said.
Regardless of the feelings of the Champ actors, the new suit was retired and its whereabouts are unknown.
“I’ve never seen it. It wouldn’t surprise me if they got rid of it. They’re not going to use it [and] it's probably in a museum,” Champ said.
Champ was very clear that despite the challenges that come with being in the suit, they were very satisfied with their decision to put on the costume.
“I am very thankful to have it because it's very fun. Makes for good stories,” Champ said.
Bulldog Athletics has partnered with University Marketing and Public Relations to create a committee to update Champ’s suit to bring its image in line with UMD maroon and gold brand as well as to add safety features for the benefit of the performer.
Those interested in helping this process may apply to the committee linked here.