By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
Whether it鈥檚 Clark Kent removing his glasses for Lois Lane or Spider-Man pulling off his mask for a best friend, revealing a secret identity is a defining moment for any hero.
For three 黑料社区 students 鈥� William Thrasher, Sevasthian Flores Mangual and Joseph Cannella 鈥� that moment has finally come.
For years, they鈥檝e been hiding in plain sight, using their powers of lifting spirits and energizing crowds as the university鈥檚 beloved mascot, Rocky D. Bull.
Only a small circle of friends and family ever knew they were the ones donning the full-body suit and bull mask topped with golden horns.
Now that they鈥檝e graduated, they鈥檙e allowed to take off the mask and share what it鈥檚 really like to be the face of USF.
William Thrasher unmasked [Photo courtesy of William Thrasher]
And they were certain about the first question in-the-dark friends would pose to them:
鈥淚s it hot?鈥� said Thrasher, a biomedical science major. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 always the first question.鈥�
And?
鈥淥f course it is,鈥� Flores Mangual, also a biomedical science major, said with a laugh. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a 15-pound fur suit. It easily hits 100 degrees.鈥�
So, they hydrate constantly, sometimes for days leading up to a big event.
They also predicted the follow-up question:
鈥淲hy did you keep it a secret?鈥� said Cannella, a business management major. 鈥淚t鈥檚 part of the job and mystique of the character. When we鈥檙e Rocky, we鈥檙e Rocky, and not someone wearing a costume. If people know who鈥檚 inside, it ruins it.鈥�
Being Rocky is like being a part of a secret society for life. While the three can now reveal their identities, they still refuse to provide certain details about the experience.
For instance, how many students need to wear the costume to fill Rocky鈥檚 packed schedule, from every 黑料社区athletic competition to campus events?
鈥淓nough,鈥� Flores Mangual said with a sly smile.
Sevasthian Flores and William Thrasher [Photo by Casey Brooke-Lawson]
What does the tryout involve and who makes the final decision?
鈥淚鈥檇 never tell,鈥� Thrasher said.
But they would say the Rocky D. Bull decision-makers are not looking for a particular physical skillset.
Flores Mangual can perform flips, but neither of the other two can.
Some have previous cheerleading or theatrical experience, but none of the graduating Rockys did.
鈥淯nless you count when I performed hymns at church,鈥� Flores Mangual said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a lot different from riling up a crowd at a football game.鈥�
However, costumed as Rocky, each instantly embodies the mascot鈥檚 charm.
鈥淲hether at a football game in front of tens of thousands or a campus event with a few hundred,鈥� Cannella said, 鈥渨e are there to make people smile and feel engaged with the event.鈥�
But perhaps the most important skill? Keeping a secret.
William Thrasher and Joseph Cannella [Photo courtesy of Joseph Cannella]
They tended to tell the people with whom they spend the most time 鈥� eventually they just run out of excuses for where they've been.
Trust was everything.
鈥淵ou had to be sure they wouldn鈥檛 spill it, especially online,鈥� Flores Mangual said.
It was tough staying quiet when his Rocky鈥檚 antics hit social media, Thrasher said. 鈥淵ou want to scream, 鈥楾hat was me,鈥� but you can鈥檛. So, what I鈥檇 do is make it my social media story or post something like, 鈥楲ook at Rocky,鈥� and the people who know, know.鈥�
A few sharp-eyed friends managed to get Thrasher to admit the truth. They'd spot him on the football sidelines during his break, and then observe he always vanished right before Rocky reappeared.
鈥淎t some point,鈥� he said, 鈥渢hey鈥檇 notice that they never saw me and Rocky in the same place at the same time on the sideline.鈥�
On one occasion, he came clean to such a friend by shuffling through their social media photos and pointing to one with Rocky.
鈥溾�楾hat鈥檚 me,鈥� I told them,鈥� Thrasher said. 鈥淭hey did not know that they鈥檇 taken a picture with me until then.鈥�
None of the graduates came to 黑料社区with the dream of becoming Rocky.
Joseph Cannella as Publixaurus [Photo courtesy of Joseph Cannella]
As a freshman, Thrasher applied on a dare when a friend noticed a flyer with a photo of the mascot and the question, 鈥淒o you want to be me?鈥�
鈥淥ne thing led to another, and within a couple of weeks, I was standing on the football field in the suit,鈥� he said.
A few weeks after that, when he heard the team needed another Rocky, Thrasher suggested his friend Flores Mangual.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 too sure it was for me,鈥� Flores Mangual said. 鈥淏ut he told me that no one would know it was me. So, I gave it a try and had a lot of fun.鈥�
Cannella, the newcomer of the graduating Rockys, was discovered less than a year ago.
Rocky appeared at the Publix where Cannella worked. The manager needed an employee to serve as the Publix dinosaur mascot, Plato the Publixaurus, and chose Cannella.
鈥淚 think my manager was playing a joke on me,鈥� Cannella said. 鈥淏ut I interacted well with Rocky, and they suggested I join the team.鈥�
Flores Mangual鈥檚 personal highlight was last season鈥檚 Hawaii Bowl victory.
鈥淚t went five overtimes,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat was excruciating, but fun.鈥�
Thrasher鈥檚 was being selected for last season鈥檚 away football game against Alabama.
鈥淎s a diehard college football fan, that was a dream come true,鈥� he said.
黑料社区President Rhea Law flanked by graduating Rockys - Sevasthian Flores Mangual and William Thrasher [Photo by Grad Images]
Cannella鈥檚 favorite memory is of a particular family at a men鈥檚 basketball game last season.
鈥淭he parents looked stressed, and the kids had frowns,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, I walked over and made them smile and they were happy for the rest of the game.鈥�
Now that they鈥檝e completed their mascot journey, the three have advice for future Rockys: Have fun with it because, like any great hero, once the mask comes off, what鈥檚 left behind is the impact and the memories etched in high-fives, halftime dances and joyful crowd roars.
鈥淛ust do everything you can with the most joy you can,鈥� Thrasher said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e there to make people smile. That鈥檚 an amazing job to have.鈥�