By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
Whether itâs 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 ±«Óătv students â William Thrasher, Sevasthian Flores Mangual and Joseph Cannella â that moment has finally come.
For years, theyâve been hiding in plain sight, using their powers of lifting spirits and energizing crowds as the universityâs 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 theyâve graduated, theyâre allowed to take off the mask and share what itâs really like to be the face of ±«Óătv.
William Thrasher unmasked [Photo courtesy of William Thrasher]
And they were certain about the first question in-the-dark friends would pose to them:
âIs it hot?â said Thrasher, a biomedical science major. âThatâs always the first question.â
And?
âOf course it is,â Flores Mangual, also a biomedical science major, said with a laugh. âItâs a 15-pound fur suit. It easily hits 100 degrees.â
So, they hydrate constantly, sometimes for days leading up to a big event.
They also predicted the follow-up question:
âWhy did you keep it a secret?â said Cannella, a business management major. âItâs part of the job and mystique of the character. When weâre Rocky, weâre Rocky, and not someone wearing a costume. If people know whoâs inside, it ruins it.â
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 Rockyâs packed schedule, from every ±«Óătv athletic competition to campus events?
âEnough,â 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?
âIâd never tell,â 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.
âUnless you count when I performed hymns at church,â Flores Mangual said. âThatâs a lot different from riling up a crowd at a football game.â
However, costumed as Rocky, each instantly embodies the mascotâs charm.
âWhether at a football game in front of tens of thousands or a campus event with a few hundred,â Cannella said, âwe are there to make people smile and feel engaged with the event.â
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 â eventually they just run out of excuses for where they've been.
Trust was everything.
âYou had to be sure they wouldnât spill it, especially online,â Flores Mangual said.
It was tough staying quiet when his Rockyâs antics hit social media, Thrasher said. âYou want to scream, âThat was me,â but you canât. So, what Iâd do is make it my social media story or post something like, âLook at Rocky,â and the people who know, know.â
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.
âAt some point,â he said, âtheyâd notice that they never saw me and Rocky in the same place at the same time on the sideline.â
On one occasion, he came clean to such a friend by shuffling through their social media photos and pointing to one with Rocky.
ââThatâs me,â I told them,â Thrasher said. âThey did not know that theyâd taken a picture with me until then.â
None of the graduates came to ±«Óătv 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, âDo you want to be me?â
âOne thing led to another, and within a couple of weeks, I was standing on the football field in the suit,â he said.
A few weeks after that, when he heard the team needed another Rocky, Thrasher suggested his friend Flores Mangual.
âI wasnât too sure it was for me,â Flores Mangual said. âBut he told me that no one would know it was me. So, I gave it a try and had a lot of fun.â
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.
âI think my manager was playing a joke on me,â Cannella said. âBut I interacted well with Rocky, and they suggested I join the team.â
Flores Mangualâs personal highlight was last seasonâs Hawaii Bowl victory.
âIt went five overtimes,â he said. âThat was excruciating, but fun.â
Thrasherâs was being selected for last seasonâs away football game against Alabama.
âAs a diehard college football fan, that was a dream come true,â he said.
±«Óătv President Rhea Law flanked by graduating Rockys - Sevasthian Flores Mangual and William Thrasher [Photo by Grad Images]
Cannellaâs favorite memory is of a particular family at a menâs basketball game last season.
âThe parents looked stressed, and the kids had frowns,â he said. âSo, I walked over and made them smile and they were happy for the rest of the game.â
Now that theyâve 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, whatâs left behind is the impact and the memories etched in high-fives, halftime dances and joyful crowd roars.
âJust do everything you can with the most joy you can,â Thrasher said. âYouâre there to make people smile. Thatâs an amazing job to have.â