Kudos to Gaylord, the Campbell University mascot
If you have connections with anyone at Campbell University, share this post with them.
‘Wait,’ you’re thinking. ‘A post about a college mascot?’
Yes, a post about a college mascot.
Specifically, a shout out to Gaylord, the Campbell University Fighting Camels mascot.
With my wife down for the count with a terrible cold/virus, I spent most of my day at the Colonial Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament, which is taking place in Washington, DC. Rather than hitting various museums and other stops with her, I moseyed around the city before heading to the Care First Arena. There, I caught two second-round games. And in case you’re a serious hoops fan, Drexel (beating Elon) and Delaware (upsetting Campbell) were the winners of the daytime session.
But the star of the day was a mascot.
If you follow US college sports, then you know mascots tend to stay in the same spot — alongside the cheerleaders and on the baseline — unless they are on the court. Gaylord had other ideas. Most especially in the first half of the game, he worked the entire lower bowl. He hit every section, offering high fives to kids, accepting photo requests from anyone who’d ask and often sitting down next to a small group of fans for a few seconds to watch the game.
Whether you were a Campbell fan, a Delaware fan or just there to watch hoops, Gaylord sought you out. Yes, little kids really seemed to be awed by a larger-than-life “camel” that was up close and personal with them and their families.
Well done, Gaylord.
If Gaylord had been a politician, he’d have made more than a few fans today. Including me.
