Miami Maniac
Encyclopedia
The Miami Maniac, often shortened to The Maniac, is the official mascot of the University of Miami Baseball
program. Although Sebastian the Ibis
is the official mascot of most University of Miami sports, the Maniac is the only mascot which performs at Hurricane baseball games. Created in 1982 by visionary College Baseball Hall of Fame
head coach Ron Fraser
in 1982 and originally performed by John Routh, the Miami Maniac has been a constant at Mark Light Field
ever since.
Although primarily associated with the Miami Hurricanes' baseball team, the Maniac has performed at other sporting events including minor league baseball games and the College World Series
. In 1985, the Maniac was "married" in a wedding broadcast to a national television audience on ESPN
. The maniac has a anthropomorphic body with a head which resembles the Phillie Phanatic
. The Maniac sports orange fur on most of his body with patches of green on his head and nose. He usually wears a University of Miami baseball jersey with the number 1/2 on it.
. An undergraduate student named John Routh had helped create the South Carolina Gamecocks' mascot Cocky
. Routh's performance as Cocky at Gamecock baseball games had made such a favorable impression that he was invited to the 1981 College World Series
to perform as the Series' official mascot. One of the coaches at the World Series that year was University of Miami head coach Ron Fraser
. Fraser was always looking for opportunities to promote Hurricane baseball and college baseball in general and decided to create a mascot specifically for Hurricane baseball.
The following year, Fraser and a major University donor helped create the Miami Maniac, which was inspired in part by the Philly Phanatic. Fraser decided to introduce the Maniac during the Miami-FSU series that year and invited Routh down from South Carolina to show students how to work a crowd. At the end of the season, which was the Hurricanes' first World Series Championship, Fraser offered Routh a permanent position as Assistant Director of Marketing which included performing as both the Miami Maniac and Sebastian the Ibis
. Routh had just graduated from South Carolina and accepted the position. During his tenure at the University, Routh created many of the cheers now associated with University of Miami athletics- the "C-A-N-E-S... Canes!" cheer was originally one he developed in character as the Maniac which was eventually picked up on by fans at Miami Hurricane football games.
.The fourteen minute ceremony was broadcast in its entirety live to a national audience on ESPN
. and was conducted by longtime Miami Hurricane baseball and football announcer Jay Rokeach. Sebastian the Ibis
, the mascot of other Miami Hurricane sporting events, was the Maniac's best man. Others in attendance included the Budweiser Bud Man, McDonald's Grimace
, and McGruff the Crime Dog
.
From 1983 through 1991, the Maniac was the official mascot of the NCAA Division 1 College World Series
in Omaha, Nebraska
, although the character had to wear a neutral jersey during each series to avoid favoritism towards the 'Canes when they were a participant.
's Philadelphia Phillies
mascot, the Philly Phanatic. The Maniac's fur is primarily orange with flashes of green, which are the Hurricanes' official colors. During most University of Miami games, the Maniac will wear a Hurricane baseball jersey, although he has been known to dress in other outfits for special occasions, such as during the 1988 Winter Olympics in which he "performed" a different winter sport each night.
Miami Hurricanes baseball
The Miami Hurricanes baseball team is the college baseball program that represents the University of Miami.Since 1973, the program has been one of college baseball's elite with 23 College World Series appearances, winning four national championships and advancing to the NCAA regionals a record 39...
program. Although Sebastian the Ibis
Sebastian the Ibis
Sebastian the Ibis is the official mascot for the University of Miami. He is an anthropomorphized American White Ibis with a Miami Hurricanes football jersey, number 0.-History:...
is the official mascot of most University of Miami sports, the Maniac is the only mascot which performs at Hurricane baseball games. Created in 1982 by visionary College Baseball Hall of Fame
College Baseball Hall of Fame
The National College Baseball Hall of Fame, located in Lubbock, Texas, is a museum operated by the College Baseball Foundation serving as the central point for the study of the history of college baseball in the United States...
head coach Ron Fraser
Ron Fraser
Ronald 'Ron' Fraser was the college baseball coach at the University of Miami from 1963 to 1992.Nicknamed the "Wizard of College Baseball," he was one of the most successful coaches in NCAA baseball history, and was also responsible for bringing college baseball to a new level of public awareness...
in 1982 and originally performed by John Routh, the Miami Maniac has been a constant at Mark Light Field
Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park
Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park is a baseball stadium on the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables, Florida, USA. It is the home field of the University of Miami Hurricanes baseball team. The stadium holds a capacity of 5,000 spectators. The first game was held on February 16,...
ever since.
Although primarily associated with the Miami Hurricanes' baseball team, the Maniac has performed at other sporting events including minor league baseball games and the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
. In 1985, the Maniac was "married" in a wedding broadcast to a national television audience on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. The maniac has a anthropomorphic body with a head which resembles the Phillie Phanatic
Phillie Phanatic
The Phillie Phanatic, is the official mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball team. He is a large, furry, green creature that somewhat resembles a bird from the rear view with a cylindrical beak containing a extendable tongue.-Creation:...
. The Maniac sports orange fur on most of his body with patches of green on his head and nose. He usually wears a University of Miami baseball jersey with the number 1/2 on it.
History
The history of the Miami Maniac starts out at the University of South CarolinaUniversity of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. An undergraduate student named John Routh had helped create the South Carolina Gamecocks' mascot Cocky
Cocky (mascot)
Cocky is the costumed mascot of the University of South Carolina athletics teams. He represents a cartoon version of a gamecock ....
. Routh's performance as Cocky at Gamecock baseball games had made such a favorable impression that he was invited to the 1981 College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
to perform as the Series' official mascot. One of the coaches at the World Series that year was University of Miami head coach Ron Fraser
Ron Fraser
Ronald 'Ron' Fraser was the college baseball coach at the University of Miami from 1963 to 1992.Nicknamed the "Wizard of College Baseball," he was one of the most successful coaches in NCAA baseball history, and was also responsible for bringing college baseball to a new level of public awareness...
. Fraser was always looking for opportunities to promote Hurricane baseball and college baseball in general and decided to create a mascot specifically for Hurricane baseball.
The following year, Fraser and a major University donor helped create the Miami Maniac, which was inspired in part by the Philly Phanatic. Fraser decided to introduce the Maniac during the Miami-FSU series that year and invited Routh down from South Carolina to show students how to work a crowd. At the end of the season, which was the Hurricanes' first World Series Championship, Fraser offered Routh a permanent position as Assistant Director of Marketing which included performing as both the Miami Maniac and Sebastian the Ibis
Sebastian the Ibis
Sebastian the Ibis is the official mascot for the University of Miami. He is an anthropomorphized American White Ibis with a Miami Hurricanes football jersey, number 0.-History:...
. Routh had just graduated from South Carolina and accepted the position. During his tenure at the University, Routh created many of the cheers now associated with University of Miami athletics- the "C-A-N-E-S... Canes!" cheer was originally one he developed in character as the Maniac which was eventually picked up on by fans at Miami Hurricane football games.
Wedding
In May 1985, the Miami Maniac was "married" in a ceremony before a game between the Hurricanes and the Maine Black BearsMaine Black Bears
The Maine Black Bears are the athletic teams which represent the University of Maine. They compete in NCAA Division I athletics, with the majority of the teams playing in the America East Conference...
.The fourteen minute ceremony was broadcast in its entirety live to a national audience on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. and was conducted by longtime Miami Hurricane baseball and football announcer Jay Rokeach. Sebastian the Ibis
Sebastian the Ibis
Sebastian the Ibis is the official mascot for the University of Miami. He is an anthropomorphized American White Ibis with a Miami Hurricanes football jersey, number 0.-History:...
, the mascot of other Miami Hurricane sporting events, was the Maniac's best man. Others in attendance included the Budweiser Bud Man, McDonald's Grimace
Grimace
Grimace may refer to:*A type of facial expression usually of disgust, disapproval, or pain*Grimace , a French composer active in the mid-to-late 14th century*Grimace , a McDonald's character in TV commercials...
, and McGruff the Crime Dog
McGruff the Crime Dog
McGruff the Crime Dog is an anthropomorphic cartoon bloodhound created by Saatchi & Saatchi through the Ad Council for the National Crime Prevention Council for use by American police in building crime awareness among children. He debuted in July 1980. The character was created by John Young. The...
.
Other events
In addition to performing at Miami Hurricane baseball games and other university functions, the Maniac also performs at other sporting events and charity events. The Maniac has appeared at various minor league baseball games throughout Florida and has entertained in 49 states as well as Europe and Japan.From 1983 through 1991, the Maniac was the official mascot of the NCAA Division 1 College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, although the character had to wear a neutral jersey during each series to avoid favoritism towards the 'Canes when they were a participant.
Appearance
The Miami Maniac is anthropomorphic with a head resembling Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
mascot, the Philly Phanatic. The Maniac's fur is primarily orange with flashes of green, which are the Hurricanes' official colors. During most University of Miami games, the Maniac will wear a Hurricane baseball jersey, although he has been known to dress in other outfits for special occasions, such as during the 1988 Winter Olympics in which he "performed" a different winter sport each night.