SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga students in the Kennel are known for their unwavering spirit during basketball games, but what do we know about the mascot who leads the crowds?
Spike is always a Gonzaga University student, but it is an extremely selective tryout process. There are high standards for who can take on the role of this beloved spirit leader.
Frances: What does it take to be the mascot, how do they choose who gets to be Spike?
Spike: They look for people with the most energy. Spike has to be Gonzaga's number one fan. He needs to be energetic, fun, funny, always moving, super animated.
Frances: The few times time you guys are down, or not playing as well, how do you keep the spirits of the students up?
Spike: Well it is great to have the kennel. it's the best student section in the nation. They really are never down and the few times that they are, it's pretty easy to get them pumped back up again because they love this team. That makes it easy to do my job because you're there to energize the crowd and the crowd's already energized. You just feed off them. And get to go crazy.
Frances: Do you have a favorite game? A favorite moment?
Spike: Favorite game thus far has been when we got redemption against BYU in the WCC championship.
I don't want to say it was completely my doing that we won by 19 points or whatever it was...it's nice to feel like you contributed to the team's success and to get back at those guys felt pretty good too.
My favorite moments is home games, right here in Mccarthy, center court when the lights go black and they start announcing people's names. The energy in that moment is like I've never felt before.
Spike does travel with the team, so he will be present at the Sweet 16 game Friday where Gonzaga takes on UCLA.
Spike said that even when the Zags are not playing in the Kennel, they have a strong fan base to follow them to wherever they are playing.
Whether it is a big or small crowd at Friday's game against UCLA, Spike said it will not be hard to get them pumped up.
