YoUDee selected for Mascot Hall of Fame

YoUDee will join the Hall of Fame along with two other college mascots in the Class of 2006. They are Bucky Badger of the University of Wisconsin and Aubie the Tiger of Auburn University.

Also, three professional mascots, one a graduate of the YoUDee mascot program, will be inducted. They are Clutch the bear of the Houston Rockets, made famous by former YoUDee Bob Boudwin BE '97; K.C. Wolf of the Kansas City Chiefs football team; and Jazz Bear of the Utah Jazz basketball team. It is the second major award in recent months for Boudwin, the first student to appear as YoUDee, as Clutch was named the National Basketball Association Mascot of the Year in November 2005.

The Mascot Hall of Fame inductees will be honored during a ceremony from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Love Park in center city Philadelphia.

YoUDee first appeared on the UD campus in fall 1993, drawing an enthusiastic reaction from fans attending a Fightin' Blue Hens football game at Delaware Stadium. Since then, the mascot program has earned numerous awards, including a national championship, television appearances and inclusion in an NCAA Hall of Champions exhibit titled “Mascot Mania,” and has grown to include a Baby Blue character and the enormous inflatable Air YoUDee.

YoUDee was the brainchild of Mary Hempel, the late director of public relations for the University, who worked closely with Tom Sapp of Real Characters Inc. of Atlanta, Ga., to devise the desired look for the character that has become an important asset and symbol. She also worked with David Raymond, a UD alumnus, originator of the Phillie Phanatic character and now owner of his own mascot company, the Raymond Entertainment Group, to develop the character's personality.

“YoUDee is yet another of Mary Hempel's many legacies at the University of Delaware,” UD President David P. Roselle said. “Mary and Tom Sapp are responsible for the YoUDee design, Mary worked with David Raymond and many others on developing the YoUDee personality, she housed YoUDee in her office, she helped to arrange YoUDee's many appearances, she took charge of repair and cleaning of the costume, and she even disciplined the students when that became necessary. The only thing she did not do was wear the costume. At least, I think that it was never her in the costume.”

Sharon Harris, assistant director in the Office of Public Relations who has coordinated the mascot program since 1999, said she was “very excited to hear the good news. This is a great accomplishment for YoUDee and our mascot program. I attribute the honor to all the dedicated past and present performers who through the years helped develop YoUDee's persona.”

Harris also thanked Roselle for his strong support of the program and credited Ms. Hempel for her work in creating and developing the mascot and also the award-winning mascot program.

Since a portion of the selection was based on an online poll, Harris said she especially wanted to thank all the fans who took the time to vote for YoUDee.

Article by Neil Thomas
Photos by Kevin Tucker and Duane Perry

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