It’s the last game of the season for the men’s basketball team. March 6, 2011. FAU vs. North Texas.
John Saxton shows up to the locker room wearing basketball shorts and a white tee. He’s got socks on inside his low top shoes. It’s time to get dressed.

This will be the last time he appears as Owlsley, FAU’s mascot.

First things first. The junior slips his feathered pants on, fastening a tail to the back, forcing in the Velcro and pushing down buttons. Then Saxton reaches backwards and pulls up his vest — its bottom compartments are filled with ice to cool him. He used to shiver when he got to this point, but he doesn’t feel it anymore — he’s used to it.

The vest’s upper compartments are filled with water to hydrate him. A hose protrudes from the side of the vest and extends up to his lip.

The torso comes next, and then Saxton, an exercise science major, slides his arms into the wings. He pushes his feet down into the owl’s socks, steps into the shoes and places the claws at their tips.

Owlsley’s head comes second-to-last. It smells — Saxton Febrezes it regularly. He bites down on the end of the hose and checks that he can drink. Finally, he wiggles his fingers into the gloves and stops. This is it.

Owlsley pushes the door open and steps onto the court.

He looks around. Cheerleaders: Check. PrOWLers: Check. Owl Rangers: Check. He throws out one arm, points at the crowd with the another and begins shaking his tail-feather.

To read more about John Saxton and the new mascots, check out the UP on Wednesday in the bins all around campus or on this website.