Ten Finalists Chosen for Yale's Next Handsome Dan
April 23, 2005
Ten Bulldogs interested in becoming the next Handsome Dan have been selected to compete in a show of Bulldogs at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26, on Yale's Old Campus during the school's Spring Fling festivities.
Chris Getman '64, a former Eli baseball player and a great friend of the athletics department, has served as caretaker for the last three Handsome Dans, spanning 21 years. Getman will chair the committee to select the new mascot but will not assume his customary role.
The tradition of Handsome Dan was established in 1889 and Yale is known as the first university in the United States to adopt a mascot. Handsome Dan, who has been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, is as famous as any mascot in the country.
Meet the Finalists
The Handsome Dan Contest will commence on April 26 at 3 p.m.
Dogs will bring a leash, a scooper, snacks and their owner to meet Yale Assistant Athletic Director Steve Conn at Phelps Gate (entrance to Old Campus on College Street) next Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. The contest begins promptly at 3 p.m. (moved from original time). Owners must sign a Bulldog Show Assumption of Risk/Waiver before we begin.
The contest features three segments: The Strut (100 yards max), Marching with the Band (YPMB plans are always top secret) and Interaction (Pet and Play time with kids followed by tricks). We will provide people to do the walking of the dogs during the first two segments. Owners will be interviewed during segment one and can be with the dogs during the third part to help showcase any canine skills.
All the contestants will go through a segment before moving on to the next one. Five judges will determine the next Handsome Dan based on personality, appearance, affability and character befitting the official Yale mascot.
The Five Judges who will select the next Handsome Dan are: Chris Getman '64 (mascot caretaker for previous 21 years); Steve Conn (Yale Assistant AD); Christie Yang '06 (Yale Cheerleader); Jeff Mroz '05 (Yale Football Captain elect); Costa Lapaseotes '08 (Yale Band).
Note: Spring Fling is a Yale student function that is not open to the general public. Media interested in covering the event should contact Steve Conn (steven.conn@yale.edu) by 10 a.m. on the 26th. The media entrance is through the gate on High Street.
