TCU 360: SuperFrog: the students behind the costume

[TopFrog]

SuperFrog: the students behind the costume

By Lyndsey Evans

Related items: SuperFrog makes finals in mascot challenge, Slideshow: TCU's mascot transforms throughout history

He has the most recognizable face on campus. TCU throws him a birthday party every year, and he is shown on television during every football game. Chances are you probably have a picture with him, and you do not even know who he is.

He is SuperFrog, and between the eight students that the costume, he is really not a “he” at all.

From "Addy the All-American Frog," which was dreamed up in 1949, to the current muscle-toned, friendly mascot who walks the field today, SuperFrog has evolved as much as campus. In 2011 SuperFrog made his appearance in the Rose Parade on a skateboard. Now, he can be seen doing back flips on the field at football games.

In the past, SuperFrog had memorable points in history that have created his current personality. ...

http://www.tcu360.com/campus/2012/11/16552.superfrog-students-behind-costume

 

[SPRFRG]

Times have changed, I was one of only two SuperFrogs my senior year (2007-2008; SF from 2005-2008). We did not get paid other than for occassional outside events and SF#00 was the standard signature then. 7.5 hours in that suit for the UT game made for some interesting pictures on 6th street that night. The biggest reward was the attention from fans, so make sure to high five and throw your frogs up!

 

[tcudoc]

I enjoyed the article. Sounds like a tough and, sometimes, thankless job. Interesting that the one guy's dream was to be a character at Disney World. My daughter did that job and she hated it. The part about needing a handler is understated. When in costume, people would do things to the character that they would never consider doing to anyone else. They had a signal that they used to let their handler know they needed immediate assistance.

 

[itsalizard]

I remember Billy Burns early to mid 80s. I believe they had to replace the suit after his year. He was wild in that thing.

 

[ShadowFrog]

"...make sure that the batteries in the fan unit are still charges"

Do we have editors? COPY!!

 

[ShadowFrog]

Thank goodness there was no mention of that....other head.
Which remains in a secure, undisclosed location.

 

[Cougar/Frog]

I first saw SuperFrog in 1988 at away game. SF was amazing. Half an hour before the game he started doing the running into the goalposts thing about a dozen times. Then he joined the opposing band in the pre game song and march.

Next was the coin toss, and SF was there.

As the game started, SuperFrog stated crowd surfing up the South end zone, up 45 or so rows.

The entire stadium was cheering him on, 65k strong.

Finally, the opposing mascot got miffed and tried to get some attention, but it was worthless. SuperFrog had won on the field, while the Frogs got beat down pretty well.

I doubt SF could have gotten away with half of that at a home game and any of that today.

 

[ShadowFrog]

Didn't the old SF get a flag thrown on him when he skateboarded into the opposing teams bench/area once?

 

[frognutz]

I think i developed ADD reading this. Maybe string like 2 or 3 thoughts together?