Cy is the big red bird that does just about anything to keep ISU students and fans going at games. Young fans think he is a real, Big Bird-sized cardinal, but older fans and students know someone is sweating inside that costume.

So who is he?

The mascot squad is a team of six people. They are a branch of the cheer squad, except they don’t cheer — they run up and down the sidelines, dancing to the band and making fans laugh.

“He’s a very busy guy,” said Nathan Terry of Athletic Marketing office.

Lawrence Cunningham, senior in pre-advertising, is one of the six inside the costume. He is marketing manager for the Daily.

“It’s pretty busy on weekends,” Cunningham said.

Homecoming in particular is a very busy time of year for Cy and the mascot squad.

“There are a lot of activities [during Homecoming],” said Eric Kline, junior in management information systems.

Cy makes plenty of appearance during Homecoming week, from the big game to the parade.

“It’s like the rest of the year, the same type of appearances, except people are a lot more excited with all the alums around,” said Amanda McCullough, junior in Spanish.

Cunningham said the suit itself feels like wearing a big sweatsuit and a hockey helmet.

“You can’t see very well out of the head,” he said.

Kline said that it gets very hot inside the suit, especially in the summer and early fall.

All three students agree that it’s the games and the fans’ reactions to Cy that keep them on the squad.

“It’s amazing how much of a celebrity Cy is,” Cunningham said. “They forget, almost, that there’s a person inside.”

“The best part is you get into all the activities for free, and of course, making little kids happy,” Kline said.

Mccullough said that she stays on the squad because she enjoys seeing children “getting excited over this big red bird.”

It isn’t just the kids that look up to Cy. Cunningham said he is repeatedly asked by older fans for his signature.

There are some downfalls to being Cy, however — like falling down the steps in Hilton Coliseum.

But, Cunningham said, it doesn’t matter because “somebody is always there to pick you up.”

The mascot squad hopes that Cy stays the way he is for a long time. “Seeing the people’s faces is the greatest thing in the world,” Mccullough said, “It’s a completely different feeling.”