UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 5, Page 4
October 3, 1991
Blue Hen; Student shares thoughts on life as lovable mascot

     It's no longer a lean, mean fighting machine-it's a lot more
personable and cuddly. It's the new University of Delaware Blue
Hen, which made its debut at the Delaware-West Chester game under
the lights on Aug. 31.
     Some diehard fans say the new Blue Hen is a little too
huggable, but families, especially children, seem to love it. After
the away game at U. Mass, a little girl approached the Blue Hen and
asked for its autograph. Inside, Larry Chaifetz, the sophomore
accounting major who wears the costume, was elated.
     In fact, reaction from junior-sized football fans is so good
there are tentative plans afoot to establish a Blue Hen Coop-a
portion of the stadium where youngsters can have their photos taken
with the Blue Hen.
     "The old Blue Hen (which is still rented out for off-campus
appearances) had a fighting face and looked mean. He walked with
his chest out and was a real strong guy," Chaifetz said. "The new
one is happier and more loving. He's very 'cartoony.' He's made of
foam and wears yellow corduroy overalls with a big UD appliqued on
the front.
     "It's been a big adjustment for some fans, but most people
seem to like it. I get more good than bad reactions when I go up in
the stands."
     In fact, Chaifetz is able to maneuver better in the stands
inside the new costume. One of the reasons a new Blue Hen was
needed was to give whoever wears the costume greater flexibility of
movement and better field of vision.
     "In the old Blue Hen, you could only see out of the sides,"
Chaifetz said. "In this one, you can see out of the eyes and the
mouth. It's a bigger costume, so you have to work with it and learn
how to navigate with the stomach and tail, but it's much more
practical as mascots go."
     Chaifetz is an old hand at walking around in costume. In fact,
you could say he learned much of what he needs to know to be a Blue
Hen from a gray mouse. He once held a job appearing as Chuckie
Cheese-the large gray mascot for the pizza chain.
     Blue Hen cheerleading coach Danette Conley, a former Blue Hen
cheerleader, said Chaifetz was chosen as this year's Blue Hen
because of his spirit and enthusiasm.
     "When he came to tryouts, he really stood out. He was already
envisioning himself as the Blue Hen and had lots of ideas about how
to use the costume. The best thing he said was that he'd be glad to
wear the costume on Fridays and walk around campus drumming up
enthusiasm for the game."
     "Being a school mascot is just something I've always wanted to
do," Chaifetz said. "I love entertaining and since I'm majoring in
accounting I think I'd better get this out of my system while I
have the chance."
     Why a new Blue Hen in 1991?
     "We'd had the old Blue Hen for eight to 10 years," Sylvester
Johnson, assistant director of the intercollegiate athletics
program and Blue Hen adviser, said. "It was beginning to look
pretty bad. The fans and the cheerleaders were complaining about
it.
     "And," he continued, " the Blue Hen is very important. It's a
great vehicle for recruiting, for publicity, for representing the
University. We wanted one that would look nice and give the proper
image."
     Johnson served on a committee that also included Robert R.
Davis, director of University relations, and Barbra Andrisani,
director of alumni relations. Their charge was to come up with a
new Blue Hen.
     Johnson visited many other schools and several companies that
manufacture mascots and talked to a lot of University people about
just what they wanted to see in a Blue Hen.
     When the committee had some idea of its needs, it consulted
Andrea Barrier, associate professor of theatre, who did the actual
design and construction of the Blue Hen.
     Chaifetz said he sees the Blue Hen's main job as getting the
crowd going. He plans to work on some cheers with the cheerleaders
and interact with the band. Before each game, he chats with the
other team's mascot to work out a skit to perform before the fans,
usually involving some sort of rivalry.
     He also makes it a point to visit as many tailgaters as he can
and makes a traditional visit to the president's box at some time
during each home game.
     "The president has really taken a special interest in the Blue
Hen. He's very eager to make people feel they are a part of
Delaware football," Johnson said.
     A second Blue Hen costume, identical to the one Chaifetz wears
but smaller, is under consideration. The person chosen to wear the
smaller costume would appear on field occasionally to interact with
the large one. The person inside also would serve as an alternate
for Chaifetz.
     Having two people who know how to perform as the Blue Hen is
practical, Johnson said, as the Hen is often in demand.
     In addition to football games, it had September appearances at
MBNA and Newark Community Day. The Hen also appears at functions
sponsored by the offices of the president and alumni relations.
     "We're all very excited about the new costume," Johnson said.
"It's nice to know it was designed here on campus and that if there
are any problems with function or design, or if it tears, someone
here can fix it. Everyone who worked on the committee really got
into this project and really wanted to make it work well for the
school."
                                        - Beth Thomas