ASU to engage Sun Devil community in mascot costume update

March 18, 2013

Arizona State University will ask its students, alumni, sports fans, faculty and staff to share their thoughts regarding the updated mascot costume that will make its debut at this fall’s first football game.

The university released an updated version of the costume for its beloved mascot, Sparky the Sun Devil, on March 1. Since that announcement, the university has received feedback from some of its constituents about the design of the head and face of the mascot costume. Sparky Download Full Image

ASU is not changing the official image of Sparky. It will continue to use the iconic 1946 drawing on facilities, banners, and on merchandise and apparel. An updated contemporary version of the character will be used in comic books, children’s books, animated films, and on merchandise and apparel designed to reach younger audiences.

“Sparky is one of the best-loved mascots in collegiate athletics,” said Rocky Harris, senior associate athletic director for external relations. “The university is proud that so many people are passionate about him. We have listened and now we want to give members of the Sun Devil nation the opportunity to provide their input on some of the costume’s features.“

The university is developing an online program that will enable members of the Sun Devil community to pick the features of the costume’s head and face. For example, the program is expected to offer a choice between maroon and black horns, different sizes and shapes for the eyes, face shape choices that include a less prominent chin, and options for the moustache and goatee. All features offered will be consistent with the identity of Sparky.

The online program is planned to be available from April 22 to May 5, 2013. The university will notify students, alumni, season ticket holders, donors, faculty and staff for whom it has current email addresses when the program is available.

Sun Devils will be asked to choose their preferred features and submit their selection to the university. Each person will be able to vote once. The university will tabulate the results and reveal the fans’ choice for the costume on Sept. 5, 2013, at the first football game of the season. If there are close calls between some of the features, the university may present a set of three to five combined images for final review and selection.

new and old sparkySparky’s costume has been updated more than a dozen times since 1946, when a Disney artist named Berk Anthony drew the original character.

Media contact:
Terri Shafer, terri.shafer@asu.edu
(480) 965-3865 direct line
(602) 363-2318 cell

Gary Campbell

Media Relations and Marketing Manager , Fulton Schools of Engineering

4809659248

Next Story

Emeritus professor to discuss nuclear weapons

Professor emeritus Richard L. Wagner, Jr. will lead a talk on "Nuclear Weapons: Until the Lamb Lies Down with the Lion," March 20.

Read the article

More Articles

Emeritus professor to discuss nuclear weapons

March 18, 2013

Professor emeritus Richard L. Wagner, Jr. will lead a talk on "Nuclear Weapons: Until the Lamb Lies Down with the Lion" as part of an Emeritus College Colloquium scheduled for 2 to 3:30 p.m., March 20, in the sixth floor board room of the ASU Fulton Center.

Wagner has worked in nuclear weapon and weapon-system design, missile defense, defenses against nuclear terrorism, nuclear energy, non-proliferation, WMD threat reduction and other matters at the interface between science/technology and national security strategy. Download Full Image

He was at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory from 1963-1981, where, as Deputy Director, he was second in command to Edward Teller. Wagner was Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy from 1981-1986, a position in which he had oversight of the U.S. nuclear weapon program as well as chemical- and biological-defense matters. He has been affiliated with the Los Alamos National Laboratory since 1996. Wagner has been a member of the Defense Science Board, DoD’s Threat Reduction Advisory Committee, and the Strategic Advisory Group of the United States Strategic Com- mand. He chaired NATO’s Senior Level Weapon Protection Group, the Advisory Board of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Independent Review Group of the United States Pacific Command.

He currently serves with the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress.

Wagner will be available for conversations between 10 a.m. and noon, March 20. Call 480-965-0002 to schedule.

Britt Lewis

Communications Specialist, ASU Library

Trending on ASU News

test
Sun Devil Life Outstanding graduate launches structural engineering career Tempe campus Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy Student life
test
Sun Devil Life Triple major graduates with plans to return to Vietnam after grad school Tempe campus The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering Barrett, The Honors College
test
Sun Devil Life ASU grad thankful for opportunities to study abroad, discover support system Tempe campus The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Hugh Downs School of Human Communication Barrett, The Honors College
Woman sitting cross-legged on the ground.
Sun Devil Life Former Navy sailor nets master’s degree Online Department of English The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ASU Online
Student using a pipette in a lab.
Global Engagement International experience empowers engineering students Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering Engineering Student life Study abroad
Headshot selfie of Dallas Salas
Sun Devil Life 18-year-old neuroscience grad encourages students to preserve despite challenges Online School of Life Sciences The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Learning Enterprise