Goldy touch is part of a furry tradition

Ah, the life of a rock star. Goldy is the official mascot of the University of Minnesota, and he's been a part of campus life since 1940. He can lead a cheer, ignite a crowd, raise spirits and perform skits. He can be seen at every sporting event imaginable as well as gigs like birthday parties and weddings.

He can do a lot of things, but he can't talk.

So, you ask: How do we get to the bottom of what it's like to be the face of Gophers athletics? On this recent summer day we met up with Goldy, whose thoughts, gestures and body language were interpreted by a couple of folks who, though they shall remain nameless, have fairly intimate knowledge of what Goldy's world is like.

"It's a unique experience," signed Goldy. "Say you'll be on a football field, but you're the center of attention. When you come out and start doing that Superman thing [Goldy, wearing a maroon cape, often will jump onto a platform in front of the students and pretend he's flying] you'll have 20,000 students doing it with him. It's intoxicating. It's like a concert, and you're a rock star.''

A mute rock star.

Mike Elder is in charge of Goldy, who has been a part of the university's spirit squad for 17 years. Before that he was a part of the marching band.

"Once it switched over from the band, a lot changed," Elder said. By the way, as Elder talks, Goldy is standing next to him, nodding, gesturing. "When he was with the band, a random student would do it every week. We've got a tight-knit group, one that passes tradition on from one year to the next."

This is not an exposé of Goldy. At Elder's request, we're not going behind the mask. Goldy is an icon, the folks who play him in anonymity are part of the tradition. Besides, Goldy's life is a little more glamorous.

Every year, tryouts are held for the right to put on the suit, which, by the way, many feel resembles a toothy-grinned squirrel more than a Gopher. Maybe that's because the artist who was first hired to create the mascot way back when didn't know what a gopher looked like.

"You have to be in athletic shape," Elder said. "When you're running around in a suit, it gets to be about 150 degrees. [At this point Goldy wipes his brow.] If you're not in shape, you'll be in trouble. Especially when you're doing pushups in front of 30,000 people."

Potential recruits are tested for athletic ability. They are also asked to do charades -- Pictionary and stuff like that -- to make sure that person has a comedic side. The candidates are asked to don the suit and act out a skit they prepared.

"We want to make sure you can communicate without talking," Elder said.

Ultimately, six or seven are chosen. This year seven folks -- all men, though there have been women in the past -- will handle the 450 to 500 events Goldy attends each year. Football games, home and away. Basketball and hockey games. One thing you won't see is Goldy at two places at once. This is by design. After all, there is only one.

Goldy needs to be between 5-10 and 6-2, and must be ready to attend weekly weightlifting and practice sessions.

Now, the perks. Goldy is, technically, a student-athlete. Those who play him -- they all must be full-time students -- get money each semester for books. Goldy letters, and travels to national spirit squad tournaments each year; Goldy placed third at the UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) Mascot National Championship in 2009.

Just one of the many thrills Goldy, through interpreters, shared.

"The first time doing the SuperGoldy in front of a student section you get a chill," he said. "I can tell you one of my favorite moments, and it's kind of sentimental. I was at a hockey game. I got off an elevator and there was a kid, not more than 3 or 4. All dressed in Wisconsin stuff, sitting in a wheelchair, the littlest wheelchair you've ever seen. The minute he saw Goldy he rolled over and gave him a big hug. I'll never forget that."

Children are usually drawn to Goldy.

"Little kids are the best," he said. "When you get the 3-year-old little girl who comes up and give you a hug? What's better than that?"

Not that every day is a picnic. After all, Minnesotans love Goldy, but fans of other schools? Sometimes not so much. Take last year's Iowa-Minnesota game, the last one held in the Metrodome. Before the game, on the plaza, Goldy came zooming up on his motorized skateboard and saw a scary sight.

"I came across the biggest man I'd ever seen in my life," he said. "And he happened to be an Iowa fan. He was maybe 7 feet tall and 250 pounds. The guy took the scooter and, revving the engine, started swinging it over his head. I just ran away. Goldy was scared of that man. But then this little lady, maybe 5-2, 100 pounds, wearing a Gophers sweatshirt, scolded the guy and made him give back the scooter."

There are other tests. Goldy nearly suffered heat exhaustion at the Gophers' football game at Florida Atlantic in 2007.

But mostly, it's all good.

"You get chills down the back of your neck as you come out of the tunnel, when you lead the football team out," he said.

And, as Elder pointed out, Goldy lights up any room he goes into. On this day, his work done, Goldy walked out of the stadium, stopped for some pictures with passersby, jumped on his scooter and zoomed off. As he reached an intersection car horns sounded and somebody yelled, "Goldy!"