Behind the Mask: The Journey of ASU’s Sparky from Interceptions to Icon

You can find him in Old Dominion and Nissan ads, in the endzone on game day, or repelling from the ceiling in the Desert Financial Area. For 77 years, Sparky the Sun Devil has represented Arizona's most notable scholastic institution, putting it on the map with personality and pizzazz.

For such a well-known face around Arizona State's campus, the secret of Sparky can be hard to keep. With that struggle for anonymity also comes a superpower, which our former “friend” of Sparky notes as one of the biggest differences that takes one from the student section to a student's superhero.

Sparky innovated touchdown celebrations and fan experiences, forcing all others to follow in his footsteps.

According to our source, a former Sparky, "We're doing push-ups now. All of a sudden, all of them are trying to get on the push-up train, right? Everyone's trying to create and recreate what we've already been doing since day one. We've been the strongest mascot in the entire NCAA.”

While his pointy horns and maroon tail make him uniquely compelling among the fuzzy wildcats, bears and cougars in the Big 12, Sparky's story is far more interesting when looking beyond the mask, specifically how it can take a person from a feature of ASU to its focus.

"Sparky is the man. It's a symbol of the university’s pride, tradition and everything that comes with that. He's a unique character. He's unlike any other character in the NCAA."

"It's just a different feeling. It's almost like when Thor has his hammer; it's something that you can't even describe.... So being able to flip that switch gives you almost like a superpower to go from one person to another. No one knows that you were that person, right? But yet you're around them every day. So it's a strange kind of deal."

Just as superheroes have a personality inside and outside of the suit, Sparkys have theirs as well.

Going from virtual unknown to starring under the lights can be even more challenging than completing push-ups after an ASU score. For this former Sparky, it was something he was prepared for given previous experience.

As a former ASU Division I athlete, Sparky’s “friend” was used to clocking in on Saturdays. With academic triumphs and a diploma in hand, his success continued when he received a call to use his talents in an even more unique manner.

It even meant working on Sundays and took him from Tempe to the trials of national television.

Although fandom was far from scarce and other schools had bigger fan bases than Arizona State, the former Sun Devil found that there was one thing missing.

"Pride. It's going to be pride that's going to make you excel because you have so much pride in your school and your tradition."

His return came as one more chance to wield the pitchfork and another opportunity to step onto the competitive field of play.

"For me, it was almost like playing again. It was that mode. That's the game mode I got into when I put on that suit. It was like, suit up to play, right? And that's the same mentality that I came with."

After taking photos, completing push-ups, along with the occasional prank, he had again made the most of his time at Mountain America Stadium, leaving only one Sun Devil staple left: Desert Financial Arena.

In a move made memorable to all freshmen in the fall of 2018, Sparky stunted students with an unexpected unveiling.

"It was great because I was the first and only one to do it. I got to be suspended from the top of Wells Fargo Arena, now known as Desert Financial. They had the lights flickering. And then I just came out of the top of the arena. Once they noticed I was up there, they (the crowd) all went nuts. It was amazing."

Today, his resume reads unlike any other. It begins with a Division I athletic career, followed by a promotion to the pros and eventually the honor of representing ASU as its mascot.

While some employers might overlook it in the shadow of his athletic career, the former Sparky is adamant that it is his most important job title to date. It still affects how he walks through life - his decisions and attitude characterized with the same footsteps immortalized in the famous “Stomp the Bus” pregame video.

“Once you learn that walk, that's it. That walk is there. You start feeling yourself...it would just be the mannerisms, the way you carry yourself. If I bring the energy, your (the fans) energy has to match mine. Otherwise, what are you doing at the game, right?"