My inbox is fairly uneventful. It’s not too often that official-looking University email addresses pose questions to me in the form of caps-locked, declarative statements, so this afternoon’s missive was worthy of a double-take. “DO YOU WANT TO BE THE PRINCETON TIGER!” read the subject line. I didn’t, but I was also curious. Fortunately the email revealed more, including a brief job description and portrait:

Princeton University Students, do you want to support your Tigers and head to the NCAA Tournament with the Women’s basketball team, well now is your chance.  We are looking for an outgoing and fun PU Student to be the Princeton Tiger mascot during next week’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, site TBD.  If you want to learn more please email Scott at sjurgens@princeton.edu

DO YOU WANT TO BE THIS!

We did email Scott, who happens to be Director of Athletic Marketing Scott Jurgens. He informed us that the usual mascot will be traveling with his family over spring break and can’t accompany the team to the Big Dance. He’s looking for more eager candidates for the rest of this year and is also looking ahead to next year. These are big paws to fill, however, and according to Jurgens, it takes “enthusiasm, school spirit, personality, agility.” (Which of these is unlike the others?)  The prospective tiger must be thick-skinned, able to handle teasing from the opposition. He or she must also assume the sacred vow of mascot silence. He or she must also not do this.