First Woman Tries Out For Job Of Hairy Dawg

by Harper Bridgers
04/23/2008

She's 5 feet 3 inches tall, with dark hair, full of curls. On the day of her job interview, nerves would be expected. “What's there to be nervous about? If I don't get it, I don't get it,” she says. But she isn't dressed in formal garb to impress her superiors. In fact, she's dressed as an animal – a very large bulldog.

Amanda Dreyfuss is the first woman to audition to be Hairy Dog, the beloved and ever-present mascot at University of Georgia games. Famous for his crazy antics at home and away football and basketball games, among numerous other events at the University, Hairy Dog is an important part of the athletic department that fans remember through and through. Try-outs were held at Stegman Coliseum Sunday.

“I've always wanted to be Hairy,” the vivacious 20-year-old Texan says. “Ever since I started school here in 2006 it has been on my mind.”

As she holds the costume's head beside her, it spans half of her body length.

“I'm probably at an automatic disadvantage because I'm a girl,” she says, “but I know that I can do all of the work. I just hope the judges recognize that.”

She has to watch a barrage of cheerleading try-outs, sitting among a crowd of about 70 people – mostly parents. The girls decked out in make-up, plastered-on smiles and loads of pep seem quite different from Amanda's happy-go-lucky attitude.

“I'm in it to win, but I just want to have fun,” she says. “I love acting like a goof ball in that costume.”

Her competition? Five men – all taller and some with experience to boot.

Joseph Farmer, 22 years old from Dalton, has been Hairy Dog for two-and-a-half years and is trying out to continue his reign as mascot.

“It's a lot of fun,” he says, “you get a lot of reactions. Before I started doing it, one thing I really wanted to do was lead the 'Go Dawgs! Sic 'Em' cheer. The fans love it.”

Andrew German, 20 years old from Conyers, has spent time under the suit for a year now, sharing duties with Farmer.

“I think it's awesome [Amanda] is trying out,” he says. “She's a little short, but she does a great job with all of her moves in the outfit.”

Competitors for the prestigious position have a rigorous audition. They are tested in physical fitness, a formal interview, improvisational cheering with music, improv situations with props and a two-and-a-half minute skit, all in front of a panel of judges, except for the physical fitness exam.

They specifically look for “their ability to interact and get the crowd involved and excited about whatever they're doing,” Spirit Coordinator Shelly Korpieski says, “whether they're on the floor doing a skit, at a basketball game walking around mingling with the crowd, or in front of them at a football game.”

But Hairy Dog is not a transforming personality year to year. Hairy Dog is always himself, according to Korpieski. Who is he exactly?

“He's a big, tough and mean dog on the outside,” Korpieski says, “but goofy and light-hearted, so everyone loves him on the inside.”

“Auditioning is a pretty fun process,” Dan Hanson says, a 23-year-old from Springfield who has been Spike for a year, the enormous blow-up bull dog infamous at basketball games.

The bunch is very considerate towards one another, rather than fiercely competitive. They even help each other suit up before auditioning. Hanson is a favorite pick to aid with the costume, which is multi-layered and hard to manage alone.

The skits go well, some consisting of complex prop-play while others have a dance-off. Amanda performs third, boasting a montage of popular song clips like “Thriller,” “Kung Fu Fighting” and “Mr. Roboto,” along with hyped-up dance moves. She even sword fights a Gator-fan, finishing the job with a bite to the ankle.

“I think it went well,” Amanda says grinning ear to ear, “the judges seemed to think it was funny. The suit was hot and heavy, but I was able to manage it. It was tons of fun.”

Unfortunately, at the end of the day she doesn't get the job. The first woman to fight for the role of Hairy Dog loses a tough battle.

“At least I have the experience under by belt,” she says after hearing the results. “I intend to try again next year. I will know more about the process next time around.”

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