- Where are you from?
I am the Fighting Tiger from the State University of New York at Cobleskill in Cobleskill, New York. (However I was born in Detroit, Michigan. AKA-Tiger Town you know.) I am known as Coby T. Tiger.
- How many teams do you represent?
At the present I am currently representing nineteen intercollegiate sport programs. (Nine men’s and ten women’s teams.) I am also working as a consultant and affiliate member of our college’s Cheerleading program.
- How were you chosen to be school mascot?
From what I can gather it was a very political process dating back to the late 1970’s. It seems the college administration wanted to replace their previous mascot (The Aggie.) with something that better represented the comprehensive nature of the college. Well New York being New York there were a number of meetings and forums and eventually the Student Government conducted a contest. Options were selected and put on a ballot and I was elected to the position by an overwhelming majority.
- Do you have any friends that are mascots?
No I really don’t have any friends in the mascot community. Given the highly competitive and often combative nature of the profession I really try not to socialize with those in the business. I tend to keep my professional and personal lives separate so my friends come from outside of the mascot ranks.
- What is your favorite campus event?
I tend to like our Homecoming Weekend in September the best because I get to catch-up with our alumni both the athletes and non-athletes. I usually have to work because we have games on campus and it is our Athletic Hall-of-Fame induction weekend but I can usually get away at night for some catnip and socializing. I also really like it because that is when the alum’s bring their cubs back to campus and I get to see how big their packs are getting.
- What is your favorite food?
I am a big meat eater and I enjoy a diversified menu that consists of things like: Nittany Lion, Wildcat, Mustang, Bison, Crusader, Pony, Phoenix, Storm and Screaming Eagle. Referee can also be quite tasty if prepared correctly. Aside from these dishes, I like to eat Italian once in a while. (By that I mean a good plate of pasta and of course not an actual Italian.)
- What is your favorite television or movie animal?
I am a huge fan of Shere Khan from the 1967 Walt Disney classic animated movie “The Jungle Book” voiced by legendary British stage and screen actor George Sanders. (He should have received an Oscar nomination for his menacing yet sophisticated representation of our species.)
- What do you like to do for fun?
You know like most Tiger mascots when I’m not working I am passionate about my golf game and of course I really like to hunt and fish. I also like to travel and am currently planning a trip to India to see some extended relatives and look for some tourists.
- What’s it like to be a mascot?
You know being in the public eye constantly can be very tough but that’s the nature of the business. If I may paraphrase and steal a quote from my good friend Bono, “Being a Mascot, I have two instincts, I want to have fun and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both.” Plus you have to like the New York State benefits that go with the gig. We’ve got a great medical plan here at Cobleskill!!!!!
- What do you consider the ideal fan?
The ideal fan is someone who is a supporter of the team through good times and bad times being supportive of their players and coaches regardless of the game’s outcome. The ideal fan will cheer against the opposition in an appropriate manor while not becoming too vulgar or too crass. The ideal fan will vociferously boo officials whenever necessary and appropriate. And of course the ideal fan must also be a good dancer!!!!
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- Where are you from?
I hail from Niagara County Community College in Sanborn, NY
- How many teams do you represent?
I represent 12 sports
- How were you chosen to be school mascot?
The school nickname “Thunderwolves” was chosen by a panel of faculty, athletic personnel and staff and it represents the “Thunder” of nearby Niagara Falls and the Wolf is an animal that once roamed the local area in mass quantities. My name “Tripp” was chosen by a student survey and it comes from the school nick-name N-Trip.
- Do you have any friends that are mascots?
I am friends with all of the local mascots including Sabretooth of the Buffalo Sabres and Billy Buffalo of the Buffalo Bills.
- What is your favorite campus event?
My favorite event is home Men’s and Women’s Basketball games…the packed gym and energy I get from the fans makes my job an incredible experience.
- What is your favorite food?
My favorite prey is Kats from Erie Community College, Jayhawks from Jamestown Community College, and Cougars from Genesee Community College. These are the mascots of my closest rivals and although devouring these animals is no challenge for me, I consider it a “sport”.
- What is your favorite television or movie animal?
My favorite animal has got to be Teen Wolf, he is a distant cousin of mine and the reason why he is my favorite is because he is an amazing basketball player, my uniform was derived from his snappy basketball uniform in the movie made about him.
- What do you like to do for fun?
Anyone who has been to a game and seen me in action knows that I like to have fun! You will always find me cheering on the team, charging up the crowd, break dancing, tossing t-shirts into the stands, or giving high fives to the youngsters. Sometimes I have difficulty fitting this in because there are so many pictures being taken of me with my adoring fans, I may be known as an animal predator, but I am a real Lady killer as well.
- What’s it like to be a mascot?
Being a Mascot is a great way to get connected to the fans and represent the athletic teams and athletes of Niagara County Community College. I especially love hanging out with the young fans that come out to watch us play, I think they appreciate all of the hard work I put in to make the games more entertaining and fun for everyone!
- What do you consider the ideal fan?
I consider an ideal fan someone who is a part of our NCCC Wolfpack fan club who attends every game and cheers on not only the uniform, but the person inside as well. I also like fans who play along with some of my in-game antics and who actively fight for the t-shirts that we throw into the crowds during our “T’s for Three’s” contest.
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#11 Cobleskill Fighting Tigers
#22 Niagara County Community College Thunderwolves