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Wilde About Texas Football: Representing the Austin High Maroons
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When it comes to high school mascots, Austin High School scores points for originality.
Since the 1960s, the Austin High Maroons have been represented by Mr. Maroo, a maroon blob-shaped character adorned with a hat reading “Loyal Forever.”
Austin High student Hannah Bergman has suited up as Mr. Maroo for the past three years.
"The first time that I saw the suit it wasn't the inflatable. It was the big fuzzy one and I knew I wanted to be the mascot because it was so cool," she said.
This is the third season for the new inflatable suit. It’s an improvement from the previous fabric one, but it’s still not perfect.
"In the summer, it gets kind of hot. it probably gets ten degrees hotter than it is outside," Bergman said.
The school’s website identifies Mr. Maroo as the "embodiment of the spirit of the Austin High Maroons."