Just days from Homecoming, one of the men who put the spark in Sparky is reflecting on his time behind the mask.
Alan Wald remembers starting the tradition of pushups after touchdowns and being the first Sparky to jam a basketball at halftime — and the time his flaming pitchfork broke off as he was jabbing it at an opponent.
This year, those memories are especially sweet because one of the freshmen experiencing his legacy is his son, Kyle, a member of the Class of 2020.
Alan Wald was Sparky from 1980-83 and still has his original costume, complete with the rubber mask that he said was made for him by Disney Studios.
Few things stand out for Wald as much as the pushups he pumped out in the end zone. He said the game would stop as the fans counted off his reps and that it was rush like no other. Wald also said football players would jokingly ask him how many he thought he could do, and during a game against Stanford he said he ended up pressing a pec-pulverizing total of 317.
There’s been no word on whether Kyle Wald will try to take up the mask his father helped make famous. But then again, Sparky’s true identity remains a mystery — so one never knows.
More Sun Devil community
These Sun Devils are inspiring the next generation of female athletes
This year, Women's History Month is celebrating the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations.”Women in sports inspire fans of all ages through their accomplishments…
Founders’ Day 2025 celebrates legacy and innovation at ASU
"Honor the past, celebrate the present and invent the future." This motto encapsulates the spirit of Founders' Day, a signature event hosted by the Arizona State University Alumni Association to…
ASU preps America's veterans for what's next
Every year, over 200,000 active-duty military members trade their uniforms for civilian attire as they embark on the next chapter of their lives filled with both promise and uncertainty.The shift…