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He's BIG! He's BOLD! He's BUFF! He's SPARTY! Lovable, huggable, and for Spartans of every age.
Let's go back in time to 1955- the beginning of a mascot for MSU. The first mascot was a papier-mache Spartan head made by fraternity brothers Donald Pais, Kenneth Roberts, and Don Bauer from Theta XI Fraternity. This head was six feet tall and weighed more than sixty pounds. Another fraternity brother, Bill Clithero, who was 6 feet, 4 inches and 200 pounds, was a perfect fir for the larger than life mascot costume. Bill Debuted the Sparty costume at a pep rally at Jenison Field House before the Notre Dame game
By the 1956 Rose Bowl game, the papier-mache head had been replaced by fiberglass and was thirty pounds lighter. Clithero played the role of Sparty for two years. He traveled with the Spartan Marching Band with his "giant head."
In 1960, student government took over the responsibilities of the head. Records from that time to 1981 provide no information on who or how many years the fiberglass head was used at sporting events.
In September 1982, Executive Director Dr. Charles Webb arrived on campus to lead the Alumni Association. As he took stock of what he inherited, a storage room in the office revealed supplies, a large rack of 16mm football game day films, and a large head of Sparty stored on a wooden pedestal.
During those early years, a three day Big Ten Alumni Directors conference was held each August at Devil's Head Lodge in Merrimac, Wisconsin, where the executive directors of eighty of the largest independent university alumni associations would meet for fellowship and an exchange of ideas. On Dr. Webb's third annual visit to the conference, he saw the University of Wisconsin had a cardboard "Bucky Badger" table tent that was about twelve inches tall. Upon leaving the conference that year, he brought back a sample of "Bucky Badger" and gave it to the alumni association's graphic designer, David Giordan. Dave was asked to go to the library and research what a Spartan was like and to do an illustration of how "Sparty" should look with his entire Spartan attire. Dr. Webb's request was to design a "Sparty" but make him look even more muscular than "Bucky Badger!"
Dave returned having finished the illustration of Sparty with his Spartan attire. With this illustration, table tents were made that were green, white, and black. These table tents were used for alumni events and Spartans everywhere wanted to take them home as a keepsake.
In the spring of 1989 a committee came together to design and revamp the Sparty Mascot. Contracted to design and market this newly-interpreted character was the Atlanta, Georgia based company Real Characters, Inc. Intensive research of Michigan State's mission, community and traditions were conducted and resulted in an "approachable, fierce yet kind, a man for all seasons" mascot. Sparty would reflect the image of strength and character, not only on the athletic field, but the academic arena as well.
LoRae Hamilton, SAF advisor and Ms. Terry Fossum, then assistant director of the Ralph Young Fund, traveled to Atlanta to place the final confirmation on the design, materials and construction of the "gentle giant." The athletic department did not have the funds to cover the cost of the new costume, $8,500, so the MSU Alumni Association funded the project.
To honor MSU's new mascot and to tease the community, six billboards were positioned around the greater East Lansing area, depicting the tip of Sparty's head with his hands reaching over the top, signifying the debut- September 16, 1989 at Spartan Stadium.
The MSU Alumni Association was especially excited about this special day, as they had been designated to oversee the mascot program. It was tremendous honor and great responsibility. Members of SAF partnered with the MSU Alumni Association to welcome Sparty home. The SAF office, Room 333 in the Union Building, was made ready. In late August, two very large boxes were delivered to the SAF office. MSUAA Executive Director Dr. Charles Webb and Associate Director Keith A. Williams joined in the cheers and joy of arrival!
Sparty was introduced on September 16, 1989 in front of a packed house at Spartan Stadium. As he made his was to the Block S at mid-field, the crowd went CRAZY! The sea of green and white greeted their mascot with cheers of acceptance and love.
The MSU Student Alumni Foundation designed a system to run the program that included: monitoring the scheduling and transportation of the mascot, creating a core of student directors and escorts, critical operational guidelines, and funding and support behaviors all ultimately designed to promote MSU.
Sparty appears at events such as volleyball games, men's lacrosse, swim meets, tennis matches, skating at hockey, women's softball, women's basketball, men's basketball, and football. Demonstrating physical/medical conditions for medical students classes; supporting safety and literary programs for area elementary school children; sharing the language of speech/hearing impaired with elementary schools students. Serving as a Fall College Football ESPN Network star in one of their preview skits; voted twice by Muscle and Fitness Magazine as buffest mascot; serving as an official member of the athletic party to Tokyo, Japan, for the Coca-Cola Football Bowl; Holland Tulip Festival Parade, and many more parades across the state of Michigan, and the list goes on…
In January 2004, Sparty took 1st place in the UCDA Mascot competition in Orlando, Florida. It was like winning the Final Four or Rose Bowl! Dressed in '80s attire, Sparty performed a 90-second routine entitled "Sparty Loves the '80s." Tunes of M.C. Hammer, Michael Jackson, and New Kids on the Block accompanied Sparty in his high-energy routine.
All eyes were on Sparty as he tried to repeat the National Championship performance he claimed the year before. Of the nine other mascots also competing for the National Title, six of them choose to poke fun at the defending champ, and all of them ended up falling short. Performing last, Sparty delivered a skit that brought brought the crowd to their feet. "Sparty's Favorite Movies," showcased scenes from Indiana Jones, The Lion King, Superman, Titanic, and Bring It On and finished up with Sparty leading the crowd in "You've lost that lovin' feeling" from Top Gun. Sparty had won back-to-back National Championships!
In January 2007, Sparty won his third National Mascot Championship in four years. Sparty performed a 90-second skit entitled "Sparty's Spectacular," that included music and dance themed spoofs or the rock band Kiss, Lord of the Dance, Justin Timberlake, and several popular music artists.
Sparty will continue to embody the spirit of the Green & White- the spirit of all Michigan State University's loyal Spartans.
