Buzz (mascot)

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For other uses, see Buzz.
Buzz
Buzz crowdsurfing at a football game. Photo courtesy Jamie Howell
Buzz crowdsurfing at a football game. Photo courtesy Jamie Howell
University Georgia Institute of Technology
Conference ACC
Description Anthropomorphic yellowjacket
First seen 1972
Related mascot(s) Ramblin' Wreck

Buzz is one of the two official mascots of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Buzz is usually represented as a stylized yellowjacket with yellow-and-black fur, white wings, a yellow head, and antennae. He is almost never drawn with six legs, but rather with arms, legs, hands (in white gloves) and feet (in black Converse high tops), like a human. Invented in 1972 and reinvented in 1979, Buzz reflects the tradition of referring to Georgia Tech students as "Yellow Jackets." Buzz is also one of Georgia Tech's emblems and trademarks, one that they defended in a 1998 legal conflict with the Salt Lake Buzz.

Contents

[edit] Tradition

Like many mascots, Buzz communicates via hand gestures and sign language, rather than speech.[1] At some school events, there are a few people who dress up as Buzz. The identities of these individuals must be kept secret until their graduation.[1][2][3] They must be in excellent physical condition,[3] about 5'8" tall, and must be able to do a sort of front flip called a Buzz Flip, Buzz's trademark move.[4] Those interested in donning the Buzz suit must take part in a three day tryout camp, judged by the former Buzz.[3][5] Buzz is officially part of Georgia Tech's cheerleading team, so the Buzz tryout happens at the same time as the other cheerleading tryouts.[6]

Buzz is beloved by Georgia Tech students and fans for his spirit and antics. He is a prankster and likes to crowd-surf.[7] Buzz is seen at football games, basketball games, Georgia Tech Six Flags Night, and other events.[8] Buzz has parachuted onto the field for pre-game festivities, does push-ups every time Tech scores,[7] and conducts the band for the Budweiser song,[4] a common jingle for the beer. Buzz is involved with charity events, team photos, sports conventions, and official Georgia Tech events such as the annual President’s Dinner.[3] Buzz can also be hired for social gatherings, such as weddings and birthday parties.[1][8]

Buzz playing Twister at a basketball game
Buzz playing Twister at a basketball game

[edit] History

The term Yellow Jacket or Yellowjacket has been used to refer to students and the various sports teams as early as the 1890s. Fans of Georgia Tech would often wear yellow jackets to sporting events in support of the early Georgia Tech teams. The early football teams, lacking gold fabric for jerseys, wore yellow jerseys. John Heisman told the Atlanta Constitution that he wanted his teams to be referred to as the Yellow Jackets in October of 1905. In November of 1906, the Atlanta Journal portrayed a University of Georgia football player being attacked by a yellowjacket with the words "Somebody's about to get stung" as the caption.[9] This was the first time that the Georgia Tech sports teams were referred to as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in print.[10][11]

[edit] Invention and reinvention

The original Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket mascot was Judi McNair who, according to the Winter 2004 edition of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association Tech Topics magazine, donned a homemade yellowjacket costume in 1972 and performed at home football games.[12] She rode on the Ramblin' Wreck and appears in the 1972 Georgia Tech Blueprint yearbook.[12] McNair's mascot was considered a great idea, as it was a big hit with the fans.[12]

1927, 1952, & 1987 Yellow Jacket Emblems
1927, 1952, & 1987 Yellow Jacket Emblems

In 1979, McNair's idea for a Yellow Jacket was reintroduced by another Georgia Tech student, Richie Bland.[5] Bland, who was apparently unaware of McNair's prior initiative, paid $1,400 to have a local theme park costume designer make a yellowjacket costume that he first wore at a pep rally prior to the Tennessee football game.[5] Rather than obtain permission from Georgia Tech as Judi had done in 1972, this student, a few weeks later simply snuck onto the field in costume during a football game and ran across the field.[5] The fans naturally believed that this costumed character was acting as an official member of the cheerleading squad and responded accordingly.[5] By 1980 this new incarnation of the yellow jacket mascot was given the name Buzz Bee and was adopted as an official mascot by Georgia Tech.[5] This new Buzz character would be the model for a new Georgia Tech emblem, designed in 1985 by Mike Lester.[11]

[edit] Salt Lake Buzz lawsuit

In 1998, Georgia Tech filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the Salt Lake Buzz, a Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team.[13] The Institute had negotiated a deal with the team,[14] but the team backed out of the agreement before it was finalized and filed suit in Utah for the right to use the mark.[13] Tech filed a countersuit and won in 2001.[15] As a result, the team was forced to change its name (to the "Salt Lake Stingers"; several years later, it would adopt its current name of the "Salt Lake Bees") and pay Georgia Tech $600,000,[15] although Georgia Tech spent $700,000 to $800,000 during the dispute.[14]

[edit] Contests

Buzz participates in several mascot contests.[6] In 1997, Buzz won an Access Atlanta poll due to creative ballot-stuffing by Tech students.[16] In 2005 and 2006, Buzz was named to the Capital One All-American Mascot Teams and participated in the Capital One Mascot Challenge.[17] In 2000 and 2001, Buzz won the NCA (National Cheerleaders Assoc) mascot of the year and in 2004 and 2006, Buzz received second place in the NCA Mascot Competition in Daytona, Florida.[6][18]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Turner, Finny. "Buzz vies for nation’s No. 1 mascot", The Technique, 2002-10-11. 
  2. ^ Trapold, Julia. "Faces at Georgia Tech: Profile on Bert Reeves", The Technique. Retrieved on 2007-06-09. 
  3. ^ a b c d Cunningham, Robert. "Being Buzz: ESPN spot one of the many perks", The Technique, 2001-10-12. Retrieved on 2007-05-20. 
  4. ^ a b College Team Mascots: Buzz. Playboy. Retrieved on 2007-05-20.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Buzz: How Time Flies", Tech Topics, Georgia Tech Alumni Association, Fall 2004. Retrieved on 2007-05-20. 
  6. ^ a b c Georgia Tech Cheerleading and Dance Team. RamblinWreck.com. Georgia Tech Athletic Association. Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
  7. ^ a b Shaw, Jody. "Fall football fever sweeps through campus for season", The Technique, 2000-09-08. Retrieved on 2007-05-20. 
  8. ^ a b Roberts, Allison. "Here's everything you ever wanted to know about our own Buzz", The Technique, 1999-01-22. Retrieved on 2007-05-26. 
  9. ^ "First Yellowjacket Image in AJC", Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine, Georgia Tech Alumni Association, Fall 2006. Retrieved on 2007-06-17. 
  10. ^ "Yellow Jackets Fly By 100-year Mark", Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine, Fall 2006. Retrieved on 2007-06-17. 
  11. ^ a b "A Walk Through Tech's History: Buzz: Bold as Brass", Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine Online, Georgia Tech Alumni Association, Summer 2004. Retrieved on 2007-06-09. 
  12. ^ a b c McNair, Cam. "Give My Wife Some Credit", Tech Topics, Georgia Tech Alumni Association, Winter 2004, pp. 4. Retrieved on 2007-05-20. 
  13. ^ a b Lange, Scott. "'Like Buzz, if I could be like Buzz...'", The Technique, 1998-04-24. Retrieved on 2007-05-18. 
  14. ^ a b Armond, Amy. "Georgia Tech Pays to Protect Rights to Mascot Buzz", Sports Law News, 2001-10-02. Retrieved on 2007-06-09. 
  15. ^ a b Dicou, Natalie. "Salt Lake Buzz...er, Stingers...er, I forget", Daily Utah Chronicle, 2006-05-24. Retrieved on 2007-05-20. 
  16. ^ Shah, Simit. "Students stuff ballot box in mascot poll", The Technique, 1997-05-02. Retrieved on 2007-06-09. 
  17. ^ Georgia Institute of Technology (2005-09-12). "Buzz Does Battle in Capital One Mascot Challenge". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
  18. ^ "Tech Cheerleaders Place Fourth", RamblinWreck.com, Georgia Tech Athletic Association, 2004-04-07. Retrieved on 2007-06-09. 
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