Multimedia Reporting (Adler-Utsler)

It was 1988 and Katie Holmes was late. Struggling for time she decided to put her uniform on before leaving. As is the case with most instance of a person being late, Holmes was pulled over for speeding. However, it was the police officer that was in for the surprise. There sat Holmes. From the neck up she appeared normal, pulled together, but from the neck down was the other half of the KU’s beloved Baby Jay costume, scrunched into Holmes car.
“I think it was the one instance where a police officer understood that I was pressed for time so he just let me go,” Holmes said.

Her days of cheering on the KU crowd live only in pictures and memories now, but Holmes still has the spunk of any spirit squad member. Her small stature and spunky attitude leaves no question that this figure skating teacher is the center of attention. While entertaining her husband, a therapist and Holmes' son, she pointed to picture after picture of her time as one of KU’s mascots.
Originally from San Diego, Cali., Holmes grew up adoring another mascot. While stories continued to circulate the room Holmes rushed to show her most prized possession, a stuffed animal standing a foot tall with the writing “KGB” across its chest- the name of a local San Diego radio station.
“It’s the Famous Chicken! He’s great at gags,” Holmes proclaimed.
The Famous San Diego Chicken brings Holmes back to the days of Padres games. Holmes father had season tickets to the baseball games, and she attended all home games, where she saw the Famous Chicken mascot. She got the stuffed animal through a skating coach, who knew Holmes love for the mascot.
Holmes left California, and the Padres, for the University of Kansas. Aside from her sorority activities and laying out the University Daily Kansan, Holmes wanted to fit another activity into her busy schedule.
She set her sights on Baby Jay, Big Jay’s charismatic, vibrant sidekick.
On Oct. 9, 1971, the original Baby Jay broke out of her egg during the Homecoming football game against Kansas State. The costume, fashioned together by Amy Hurst Rachman and her father, cost only $53 and a summer to create, but the animations have taken years to perfect.
Holmes personality fit the high spirit and enthusiasm demanded of the position. Twenty-one years later, Holmes became the animation that kept thousands of KU fans excited.
“You have got to keep moving in the costume. No one wants to look at a dead mascot,” Holmes said.
Holmes loved donning her new outfit. Big and Baby Jay often socialized with other mascots. Truman the Tiger, the University of Missouri’s mascot let Holmes, in rollerblades, hang onto his tail while he dragged her around the stadium. However, football games are challenging for the mascots.
“It’s so hot and you have to keep dancing, so we would only perform for a half. Whoever wore the costume second was in for it, Lysol was a must,” Holmes said.
Holmes days as Baby Jay are some of her best memories. Between rooting on the football team or cheering the basketball team to victory and socializing with the crowd still makes her smile.
“It was great I could give the chancellor a hard time and no one could say anything. I mean I’m the mascot what are you going to do?” Holmes said.
Elaine Brady was Holmes advisor during her time as Baby Jay. Through her many years of service to the mascot program at the University, Brady still remembers Holmes. She retired from the position in 1998, but knows first hand Holmes’ spunk.
“She was wonderful. Back then the costumes were very heavy but that didn’t stop her from dancing and entertaining everyone,” Brady said.

Posted by Christine D'Amico on November 14, 2007 7:54 PM | Permalink