Buzz
Buzz crowdsurfing at a football game. Photo courtesy Jamie Howell
University	Georgia Institute of Technology
Conference	ACC
Description	Anthropomorphic yellowjacket
First seen	1972
Related mascot(s)	Ramblin' Wreck

Buzz is one of the two official mascots of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Buzz is usually represented as a stylized yellowjacket with yellow-and-black fur, white wings, a yellow head, and antennae. He is almost never drawn with six legs, but rather with arms, legs, hands (in white gloves) and feet (in black Converse high tops), like a human. Invented in 1972 and reinvented in 1979, Buzz reflects the tradition of referring to Georgia Tech students as "Yellow Jackets." Buzz is also one of Georgia Tech's emblems and trademarks, one that they defended in a 1998 legal conflict with the Salt Lake Buzz. Look up buzz in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech, is a public, coeducational research university, part of the University System of Georgia, and located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with satellite campuses in Savannah, Georgia, Metz, France, Shanghai, China, and Singapore. ... An athletic conference is a collection of sports teams, playing competitively against each other at the collegiate or high school level. ... The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. ... Yellowjacket or yellow-jacket is the common name in North America for wasps of the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Millie, once mascot of the City of Brampton, is now the Brampton Arts Councils representative. ... The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech, is a public, coeducational research university, part of the University System of Georgia, and located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with satellite campuses in Savannah, Georgia, Metz, France, Shanghai, China, and Singapore. ... Yellowjacket or yellow-jacket is the common name in North America for wasps of the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula. ... Chuck Taylor All-Stars Miscellaneous All-Stars Chuck Taylor All-Stars, also referred to as Chucks,[1] are canvas and rubber shoes produced by Converse. ... 7th millennium BC anthropomorphized rocks, with slits for eyes, found in modern-day Israel. ... Class-Level Triple-A Minor League affiliations Pacific Coast League (1994-Present) Pacific Conference - North Division Major League affiliation Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2001-Present) Minnesota Twins (1994-2000) Name Salt Lake Bees (2006-Present) Salt Lake Stingers (2002-2005) Salt Lake Buzz (1994-2001) Ballpark Franklin Covey Field...

Tradition

Like many mascots, Buzz communicates via hand gestures and sign language, rather than speech.^[1] At some school events, there are a few people who dress up as Buzz. The identities of these individuals must be kept secret until their graduation.^[1][2][3] They must be in excellent physical condition,^[3] about 5'8" tall, and must be able to do a sort of front flip called a Buzz Flip, Buzz's trademark move.^[4] Those interested in donning the Buzz suit must take part in a three day tryout camp, judged by the former Buzz.^[3][5] Buzz is officially part of Georgia Tech's cheerleading team, so the Buzz tryout happens at the same time as the other cheerleading tryouts.^[6] Youth Cheerleaders during a football halftime show. ...

Buzz is beloved by Georgia Tech students and fans for his spirit and antics. He is a prankster and likes to crowd-surf.^[7] Buzz is seen at football games, basketball games, Georgia Tech Six Flags Night, and other events.^[8] Buzz has parachuted onto the field for pre-game festivities, does push-ups every time Tech scores,^[7] and conducts the band for the Budweiser song,^[4] a common jingle for the beer. Buzz is involved with charity events, team photos, sports conventions, and official Georgia Tech events such as the annual President’s Dinner.^[3] Buzz can also be hired for social gatherings, such as weddings and birthday parties.^[1][8] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article covers college football played in the United States. ... This article is about the sport. ... Six Flags Over Georgia is a 230-acre theme park located west of Atlanta, in Austell, Georgia. ... Budweiser, sometimes referred to as Bud, is a global pale lager brand owned by the St. ...

Buzz playing Twister at a basketball game

Buzz and Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket cheerleaders playing Twister using the floor of Alexander Memorial Coliseum. ...

History

The term Yellow Jacket or Yellowjacket has been used to refer to students and the various sports teams as early as the 1890's. Fans of Georgia Tech would often wear yellow jackets to sporting events in support of the early Georgia Tech teams. The early football teams, lacking gold fabric for jerseys, wore yellow jerseys. John Heisman told the Atlanta Constitution that he wanted his teams to be referred to as the Yellow Jackets in October of 1905. In November of 1906, the Atlanta Journal portrayed a University of Georgia football player being attacked by a yellowjacket with the words "Somebody's about to get stung" as the caption.^[9] This was the first time that the Georgia Tech sports teams were referred to as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in print.^[10][11] This article is about the color. ... The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the only major daily newspaper of Atlanta and metro Atlanta. ... The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the only major daily newspaper of Atlanta and metro Atlanta. ... UGA Main Library The University of Georgia (UGA) is the largest institution of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Yellowjacket or yellow-jacket is the common name in North America for wasps of the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula. ... The Yellow Jackets is the name used for all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. ...

Invention and reinvention

The original Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket mascot was Judi McNair who, according to the Winter 2004 edition of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association Tech Topics magazine, donned a homemade yellowjacket costume in 1972 and performed at home football games.^[12] She rode on the Ramblin' Wreck and appears in the 1972 Georgia Tech Blueprint yearbook.^[12] McNair's mascot was considered a great idea, as it was a big hit with the fans.^[12] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

1927, 1952, & 1987 Yellow Jacket Emblems

In 1979, McNair's idea for a Yellow Jacket was reintroduced by another Georgia Tech student, Richie Bland.^[5] Bland, who was apparently unaware of McNair's prior initiative, paid $1,400 to have a local theme park costume designer make a yellowjacket costume that he first wore at a pep rally prior to the Tennessee football game.^[5] Rather than obtain permission from Georgia Tech as Judi had done in 1972, this student, a few weeks later simply snuck onto the field in costume during a football game and ran across the field.^[5] The fans naturally believed that this costumed character was acting as an official member of the cheerleading squad and responded accordingly.^[5] By 1980 this new incarnation of the yellow jacket mascot was given the name Buzz Bee and was adopted as an official mascot by Georgia Tech.^[5] This new Buzz character would be the model for a new Georgia Tech emblem, designed in 1985 by Mike Lester.^[11] Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Youth Cheerleaders during a football halftime show. ... Mike Lester is an artist who has worked as a childrens book illustrator. ...

Salt Lake Buzz lawsuit

In 1998, Georgia Tech filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the Salt Lake Buzz, a Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team.^[13] The Institute had negotiated a deal with the team,^[14] but the team backed out of the agreement before it was finalized and filed suit in Utah for the right to use the mark.^[13] Tech filed a countersuit and won in 2001.^[15] As a result, the team was forced to change its name (to the "Salt Lake Stingers"; several years later, it would adopt its current name of the "Salt Lake Bees") and pay Georgia Tech $600,000,^[15] although Georgia Tech spent $700,000 to $800,000 during the dispute.^[14] Trademark infringement is a violation of the exclusive rights attaching to a registered trademark without the authorisation of the trademark owner or any licensees (provided that such authorization was within the scope of the license). ... Class-Level Triple-A Minor League affiliations Pacific Coast League (1994-Present) Pacific Conference - North Division Major League affiliation Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2001-Present) Minnesota Twins (1994-2000) Name Salt Lake Bees (2006-Present) Salt Lake Stingers (2002-2005) Salt Lake Buzz (1994-2001) Ballpark Franklin Covey Field... The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a minor league baseball league operating in the West and Midwest of the United States. ... For the organization which many minor leagues belong to, see Minor League Baseball Part of the History of baseball series. ...

Contests

Buzz participates in several mascot contests.^[6] In 1997, Buzz won an Access Atlanta poll due to creative ballot-stuffing by Tech students.^[16] In 2005 and 2006, Buzz was named to the Capital One All-American Mascot Teams and participated in the Capital One Mascot Challenge.^[17] In 2000 and 2001, Buzz won the NCA (National Cheerleaders Assoc) mascot of the year and in 2004 and 2006, Buzz received second place in the NCA Mascot Competition in Daytona, Florida.^[6][18] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the only major daily newspaper in Atlanta, Georgia, USA and its suburbs. ...

References

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Buzz (mascot)