Boko the Bobcat and Texas State athletics go hand in hand. But no one quite knows what being the iconic mascot entails.
Many fans might assume that portraying Boko is easy. Dancing on the sidelines, posing for pictures and hyping up the crowd seems simple. But what fans might not be aware of is the time, money and physical effort the students who don the mask devote to this Texas State icon.
The identity of the students under the mask is strictly confidential. To align with this tradition of anonymity, the students will not be referred to by name. Instead, they will be referred to as Boko A, B, C, D and E.
The students behind the magic of Boko, all have very different personalities, but as soon as the mask is on, they are Boko. Dubbed “Bokoisms” by the team, the actions they perform must be exaggerated and consistent no matter who is wearing the mask.
“I think one of the hardest parts of joining this team is that you have to understand and learn that you don’t get to be you in suit,” Boko A said. “There are things you can highlight and skills to use that are from yourself. But at the end of the day, the goal is to always be the same person. Be Boko.”
Summer training and early morning practices all help the team get on the same page. From script writing to choreographing to fundraising, the team juggles several responsibilites as once. The commitment even means sacrificing parts of their winter break to prepare for the upcoming spring season.
“A lot of people want to try out, but they’re not aware of the work ethic that you need in order to be a mascot,” Boko E said. “Every football game we had, we planned props. And we made those props in the same week.”
Being Boko takes a physical toll on these athletes, including intense practices and rehearsals and sometimes, serious injuries during events.
The suit is heavy and hot, especially during early-season football games. On warm Texas days, hydration is crucial, as they are often in the suit for extended periods of time dancing, running and interacting with fans. What looks like a good time from the stands feels like a test of endurance under the mask.
Emotions also run high in the suit. Nervousness is common when preparing to run out in front of a crowd, but the five say putting the mask on calms the nerves and gets them into the right headspace.
“There’s something about putting the head on and you just kind of switch,” Boko D said. “It goes from nerves to you as a human. And then the second the head goes on, it’s excitement.”
But the long practices, nerves and heavy workload also come with something unexpected: a built-in family.
“We do spend so much time together, see each other more than our own families and own personal life people, that we’ve become like our own family,” Boko C said. “It’s really nice to know that if you’re going through something, you could just call one of the Bokos and they’ll sit there with you until you can feel better about it.”
Despite the challenges they face, these five athletes said the effort is worth it when they see how the crowd reacts to Boko.
“Joy. I want people to feel joy, excitement,” Boko E said. “And I want people to see Boko and think that that’s their best friend.”
Fans often remember specific moments with Boko. Children and adults alike look up to him and get excited to interact with him at events. According to assistant cheer coach Marissa Rodriguez, Boko is the more requested at university events than any other student organization.
Prior to their time as Boko, several of these students said they often felt like outsiders in their community. During their time as the mascot, whether that be multiple years or one semester, they unanimously agree that being Boko has boosted their confidence in and out of the suit.
“I want people to feel like Boko’s their bestie, like [someone] who could be your bridesmaid, [or] your best man, you know. Boko C said.
