Baby Jay

Baby Jay
University	University of Kansas
Conference	Big 12
Description	Baby jayhawk
First seen	1971
Related mascot(s)	Big Jay, Centennial Jay

Baby Jay is one of the mascots of the University of Kansas's sports teams. Baby and best friend Big Jay are Jayhawks. Baby Jay was created by student Amy Sue Hurst and "hatched" at half-time of KU's Homecoming victory in football over Kansas State University on October 9, 1971, and has served as a mascot ever since.^[1]

History

In 1970 Amy Hurst saw a Jayhawk bumper sticker depicting Big Jay and hatchlings which inspired her to create a new mascot.^[2] After talking to a co-worker who was a Big Jay and getting approval from the KU Alumni Association she created Baby Jay.^[3]^[4]

The official debut of Baby Jay was October 9, 1971 during the half-time of KU's homecoming game against in-state rivals Kansas State University. In front of 55,000 fans Big Jay hauled a large egg to the 50-yard line of Memorial Stadium. A few moments later Baby Jay "hatched" from the artificial egg and has served as an ambassador of KU at events across the country ever since.^[5]

The original costume weighed 30 pounds,^[3] consisted of chicken wire, fiberglass, and felt. The total cost was $53.^[2] In 2003, Amy Hurst, the original Baby Jay, started a fund to help cover the cost of the now $5,000 costume that is replaced every two years.^[6]

All About Baby

Address: 3rd Floor of Allen Fieldhouse aka "The Nest" Height: Half the size of Big Jay! Weight: Quite a bit (I haven't lost all my Baby fat) Jersey Number: #1/2 Favorite Movie: Lion King (Zazu makes me giggle but Scar scares me!) Favorite Activities: Playing with all my friends & Big Jay, Blowing bubbles, Drawing with chalk (Rock Chalk!) Favorite Food: Veggies (keep me strong & my feathers fluffy!) Favorite Band: University of Kansas Marching Band Favorite Song: I'm a Jayhawk Favorite Books: "The Three Little Jayhawks" & "Max & the Jayhawks"

Selection process

The selection process to become Baby Jay is generally during the spring semester. Though they cannot legally only pick females, traditionally, Baby Jay is a female. The student applicant must create an original skit when trying out to be the mascot. The student must also meet several physical conditions. To be able to fit into the Baby Jay costume the student must be between 4' 11" and 5' 1" tall.^[7] The auditioning process may also include 20 minutes of running, performing an entrance and exit routine, emotion and reaction exercises.^[4]

To apply you must turn in a packet of information that you must get from either the mascot coach or spirit squad director. This includes a video, a physical and student information.

Duties

The primary duty of Baby Jay is to be an ambassador of KU, roaming the sidelines at football and basketball games giving hugs to youngsters.^[8] Baby Jay, being smaller than Big Jay, is often involved in entertaining children. Baby Jay is also present at most major university events such as athletic competitions, Tradition Night, Band Spectacular, and graduation.^[9]^[10]^[11]

Baby Jay is also seen in the community attending weddings, opening the Godzilla film festival,^[12] or even lobbying legislators to fund higher education.^[13] In return for these services Baby Jay receives a $300 scholarship per semester.^[7]

Requesting an Appearance

Big Jay and Baby Jay can be requested for appearances. They have made appearances at birthday parties, weddings, store openings and many more. There are guidelines that must be met that are stated on the University of Kansas's website found here with the request form: http://www.kuathletics.com/ot/kan-mascot-form-08.html

References

↑ "Take the Jayhawk Walk". Archived from the original (English) on September 2, 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-04.
1 2 "Original Baby Jay Now Roosting in Kansas Union" (English). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
1 2 "Fund Helps Support Baby Jay Costume" (English). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
1 2 "Baby Jays to Reunite" (English). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
↑ "KU Heritage & Traditions" (English). Archived from the original on 22 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-04.
↑ "KU Baby Jay Mascot Creators Establish Fund" (English). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
1 2 "Baby Jay FAQs" (English). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
↑ "The Word on the Bird" (English). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
↑ "Traditions Night Stirs Spirit For New Jayhawk Students" (English). Archived from the original on 28 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-04.
↑ "BAND SPECTACULAR!" (English). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
↑ "Ending Their KU Years With Plenty of Cheers" (English). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
↑ "Baby Jay to Inflate Godzilla" (English). Retrieved 2007-03-04.
↑ "Hemenway Blasts House Budget Plans" (English). Retrieved 2007-03-04.

External links

KU Mascots

University of Kansas

Academics	Schools School of Law School of Business School of Engineering School of Medicine School of Architecture, Design, and Planning Locations Lawrence Edwards Campus in Overland Park Kansas City Wichita Salina University of Kansas Hospital People Notable alumni and faculty Misc Carrie Center for International Political Analysis Center for the Study of Science Fiction Coal City Review Kansas Geological Survey Studio 804

Athletics	Men's basketball Football Baseball Women's basketball Crew Team Mascots Big Jay Baby Jay Centennial Jay Facilities Allen Fieldhouse Memorial Stadium Hoglund Ballpark Misc Rock Chalk, Jayhawk Border War Sunflower Showdown

Campus	Bailey Hall Budig Hall Natural History Museum Lied Center of Kansas Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics

Student life	Marching Jayhawks University Daily Kansan

Broadcasting	Kansas Public Radio KJHK KUJH-LP

History	History of the University of Kansas

Kansas Jayhawks football

Venues	McCook Field (1892–1920) Memorial Stadium (1921–present)

Rivalries	Kansas State: Sunflower Showdown (Governor's Cup) Missouri: Border War

Culture & lore	Big Jay Baby Jay "I'm a Jayhawk" The Marching Jayhawks Aggieville riots Timeline of football in Kansas First game in Kansas 1911 Missouri game

People	Head coaches NFL Draftees Statistical leaders

Seasons	1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball

Venues	Robinson Gymnasium (1907–1927) Hoch Auditorium (1927–1955) Allen Fieldhouse (1955–present)

Rivalries	Kansas State (results) Missouri

Culture & lore	Big Jay Baby Jay Champions Classic "Rock Chalk, Jayhawk"

People	Head coaches Jayhawks of note

Seasons	1898–99 1899–00 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16

Helms and NCAA national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

Mascots of the Big 12 Conference

Judge and Bruiser (Baylor)
Cy the Cardinal (Iowa State)
Big Jay / Baby Jay / Centennial Jay (Kansas)
Willie the Wildcat (Kansas State)
Sooner Schooner / Boomer and Sooner (Oklahoma)
Pistol Pete / Bullet (Oklahoma State)
Bevo / Hook 'em (Texas)
Super Frog (TCU)
The Masked Rider / Raider Red (Texas Tech)
Mountaineer (West Virginia)

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