By John Johnston
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Xavier Musketeer and UC Bearcat mascots. The guys inside want to remain anonymous. (Joseph Fuqua II photo) | ZOOM |

At about 7 feet tall, they'll be hard to miss at Saturday's Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout.

One's a hairy dude, with a red nose and big white teeth. The other wears black boots and a blue cape. Both will be cavorting about the University of Cincinnati's sold-out Shoemaker Center for the 4 p.m. game pitting UC against Xavier University.

The mascots are as much a part of the pomp of college basketball as pep bands, cheerleaders, coaches' bulging neck veins, Dick Vitale's bay-beeee and students' painted faces.

It seemed only right, therefore, that we visit this week with the Bearcat and the Musketeer.

Neither young man wished to be identified by name, citing longstanding school tradition that calls for them to remain anonymous.

Fair enough. But we can tell you this: Both were named their school's mascot last spring, so this will be their first Crosstown Shootout as mascots. The Musketeer, a sophomore from Hudson, Ohio, is an electronic media major and a business minor. The Bearcat, a former UC cheerleader, is a graduate student from West Chester Township with a degree in early childhood education.

We posed a few questions to them:

Get hot in that suit?

Bearcat: "The first football game of the season it was 110 degrees on the field. You could be in the suit for about a half hour before you had to take the head off. I lose between 10 and 20 pounds a game in water weight. Basketball, you sweat like a pig. Toward the end of games I don't hug people because I'm so wet."

Musketeer: "And it smells. Smells real bad."

How did your family react when they learned you'd be mascot?

Musketeer: "I did it in high school (he was a warrior) and I've done it professionally (for the Cleveland Crunch soccer team). So it was kind of just the next step."

Bearcat: "My family was stoked because they get (two) free tickets every game."

What's your mascot's persona?

Musketeer: "The protector of all things X."

Bearcat: "A lover, not a fighter. A Bearcat is generally timid, unless provoked."

You're not supposed to talk in the mascot suit. But what have you always wanted to say?

Bearcat: "Hey, baby, how about me and you down under the bleachers?"

Musketeer: "I always wanted to tell the Blue Blob (the other XU mascot) I'm cooler than him."

How do you psych yourself up for the Shootout?

Bearcat: "It's all the stuff before, the luncheon, a night out at Skyline. It all builds up and builds up and just explodes on the (basketball) floor. Right when the (PA announcer) says, `Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready? Here come the 'Cats!' Right then, that's your apex. The crowd's roaring."

Musketeer: "Watching (TV basketball guru) Dick Vitale talk about something I'm going to be part of gets me going. It's just so intense. Being on the floor is going to be unreal."

The best thing you can say about your cross-town rivals . . .

Musketeer: "Can I plead the Fifth?"

Bearcat: "I was gonna say your girls are hot, but I don't know much about your girls yet."

Your favorite way to fire up the crowd:

Bearcat: "Running the (UC) flag out right at the beginning of the game. I'm out there waving it, the crowd's going nuts. It sends chills up your back."

Musketeer: "Crowd surfing - hop in the first row and they push you up, like at a rock concert."

And if that doesn't work?

Musketeer: "I'll steal the ball from the ref and run away."

Bearcat: "For real?"

Musketeer: "Yeah, they get really mad."

Best thing about being mascot:

Bearcat: "All the pretty women."

Musketeer: "Being the center of attention, and the smiles on kids' faces."

Worst thing:

Bearcat: "Inconsiderate mascots. I don't anticipate any problem with (Musketeer), but some mascots . . .You're supposed to have fun and play around with the other guy, but I've been to two games where I've actually gotten hurt."

A place where you've really been tempted to wear the mascot suit:

Musketeer: "Soupie's and Dana's." (Spots frequented by XU faithful.)

Bearcat: "Main Street to hit all the clubs and hit on all the women."

Complete the sentence: I'll give the opposing mascot credit for one thing. He's . . .

Bearcat: "Got a candy bar named after him."

Musketeer: "Smooth with female Bearcats."

Complete this one: During last year's Crosstown Shootout, I . . .

Bearcat: "Was on the floor cheering. It was the thrill of victory. All the hype and talk, and (Xavier) just did not live up to it. It was the crosstown blowout."

Musketeer: "Was in the seventh row. Got to meet Dick Vitale and I had to console the Blue Blob after he got tackled by the guy who (sank) the million-dollar shot."

My team will win the Crosstown Shootout because:

Musketeer: "Three words: West, Sato, Chalmers."

Bearcat: "We got Huggs and a lot of heart."