Tim Welch, Salina senior, knows what it takes to be Big Jay. He has been Big Jay for the past three years, but this spring will be his last time wearing the suit. Welch is graduating in May.
Welch’s experiences as Big Jay started when he was only a child. “I would watch the tournaments on the television, and I saw the Jayhawk mascot,” Welch said, “My mom encouraged being a mascot since I was tall.”
Welch decided he would try it while at Late Night in the Phog as a freshman with his friend Elaine Jardon. He told Jardon, “You know we could that.”
Elaine Jardon, Olathe senior, thought she could do it too. “Tim was a big reason I decided to try out,” Jardon said. Jardon is now Baby Jay.
Welch decided to tryout in April of 2004. He met the requirements since he was six foot four and was able to fit the suit. The tryouts lasted for two days and consisted of learning the fight song, Rock Chalk chant, a one-minute skit, and an improvisation scenario.
As Big Jay, Welch attended sporting events and other organization appearances. Big Jay is at every home basketball and football game, and usually at one game a series for baseball. “I have never been to a swimming match or soccer game,” Welch said.
One of Welch’s best moments as Big Jay was following the basketball team to the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational earlier this year. “There were KU people all over the streets,” Welch said. Since Florida won the NCAA Championship this year, Welch was glad. “We still beat them,” he said.
Besides going to sports events, Welch has attended mascot-related events as well. Last summer he attended the Celebrity Mascot Games in Orlando, Fla. He competed against 30 other professional and collegiate mascots to raise money for the organization New Hope for Kids. The events included an inflatable obstacle course and air bowling. “The events were almost impossible but fun,” Welch said. His team only won one event.
Welch also was Big Jay on Wheel of Fortune. It was for the Capital One All-American Mascot event. He did not compete in the game, but all of the mascots filmed a commercial and were on set with the crowd.
Tim Welch takes his knowledge of the mascot into his home. Keyarash Jahanian, Kansas City senior, is Welch’s roommate and loves to watch sports with him. “I’m always entertained. I love watching basketball with him because he would be ‘that’s Bucky the mascot’—he knows all the mascots,” Jahanian said.
In addition to being a mascot, Tim Welch juggles his time with his chemistry major and being a teaching assistant. “I teach to 21 students in one section of general chemistry,” Welch said.
Dan Komiya, Topeka freshman, had Welch for his teacher last semester. “He was very well informed with what he was teaching. He really knows his stuff,” Komiya said, “There is a facebook.com group about how he is an awesome TA.”
Welch will be graduating in May, and he will then attend Colorado State University for his doctorate in organic chemistry. “I hope to be done in five years and become a professor,” Welch said.
Since becoming Big Jay, Welch has learned a lot about himself. “I would consider myself optimistic or laidback, but not lazy, I’m mellow,” Welch said. However, while in the suit he finds himself to be something completely different. It is a time for him to be crazy. “I end up with lots of bruises. It is physical stuff I normally would not do,” he said.
Welch is looking forward to starting fresh at Colorado State University. He will meet new people and become involved in other things. Just do not expect him to be their new mascot. “It is too short for me,” Welch said.