Who Is The Man Behind The First Classic Cocky Costume?

[gtxvideo vid=’tCRhUstG’ thumb=’http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/tCRhUstG.jpg’ vtitle=’COCKY’]

Columbia, SC (WOLO)–  The Gamecocks black-out home opener is right around the corner and to celebrate they unveiled a Cocky statue. USC was the only college in the SEC that didn’t have a mascot statue on campus. Right before the unveiling, they had John Routh speak, the original Cocky. 

“Hoped that maybe I’d make it on the field one day throwing a touchdown pass or kicking the winning field goal, but I made it on the field wearing tights and fur,” Routh said.  Routh, grew up in Columbia and loves everything Gamecocks. He was persuaded into auditioning to become a mascot when USC switched from their former mascot, Big Spur, to Cocky, in the 80s, because his friends knew he would be just right for the job.

“And I guess I was kind of one of those crazy guys that was… I was a little off,” Routh said.  Only two were selected that year to wear the beak and feathers. For Routh, it turned into a 25-year-long career as teams mascots, going on to be the Miami Maniac, Sebastian the Ibis, and then Billy the Marlin.

“My motto used to be, ‘sacrifice the body for the laugh,’ and 35 years later I’m paying for it,” Routh laughed.  Routh said it has been fun watching Cocky grow into the beloved character he is today. Even with a few changes to Cocky’s appearance, like a different jersey and beak, the legacy is still going strong.

“But it’s the still the same cocky personality. You look at Cocky and you know that’s the Carolina Gamecocks,” Routh said. Routh’s own legacy is going strong too, as the first Cocky to wear his feet across the stage to get his diploma in 1982.

“That’s now the tradition, that the Cocky’s, when they graduate, they wear their feet,” Routh said. 

Routh and about 20 other former Cocky’s were out at the unveiling of the statue and they hope students will come up and rub Cocky’s beak on their way to the home opener for good luck.