Tech unveils ‘Charlie'

By Travis Ball of The Montana Standard - 02/04/2005

Montana Tech officially has a real-life mascot.

Charlie Oredigger will no longer be just a painting on the wall or picture in the program. He will be on Harrison Avenue Friday morning at 7:15 promoting Friday night's Tech basketball games in the HPER Complex. The longtime Tech mascot will be roaming the gym during both games.

The Montana Tech athletics department just received the $5,200 specialized costume this week from Facemakers, a mascot costume maker out of Illinois. Charlie Oredigger will be a regular sight at Tech sporting events, as well as at other special Tech events and possibly community functions.

The idea of purchasing a real mascot was brought up originally by Tech freshman Justin Voeller of Billings. A letter written by Voeller to Mitzi Daily in the Student Union Office eventually found its way to the athletic department. Voeller worked with Tech men's basketball coach Mike Bauer to get a plan for bringing Charlie to Tech.

"We brainstormed and found some makeshift costumes that looked somewhat like what we wanted," Bauer said. "But we decided if we were going to do it, lets try to get one exactly like Charlie Oredigger." Facemakers gave a price quote for the 7-foot tall costume and the fundraising began. All four sports programs — men's and women's basketball, football, and volleyball — donated money, along with several Montana Tech clubs and associations. The Digger Athletic Association, Associated Students of Montana Tech, Campus Recreation, Student Life, HPER Hooligans, Montana Tech Library, Admissions and Student Services, among others, were instrumental in raising the funds needed for the idea.

See CHARLIE, Page B5 Voeller, who was the Billings West Bear for more than three years in high school, will be the man under the mask for the majority of events.

"I came here and saw there was no mascot," See CHARLIE, Page B5 Voeller, an Information Technology and Design major, said. "I did it in high school and thought I could do it again." Charlie will be as much involved in advertising and promoting Tech athletics as he will be in the actual events themselves, as demonstrated by Friday morning's early unveiling on Butte's busiest street. Charlie will also be wandering the Tech campus around lunchtime with flyers regarding the basketball games.

According to both Bauer and Voeller, Charlie could be seen at some of the Tech road games that are relatively close. Also, there are plans for Charlie to make appearances at graduation events, DAA events, and Little Guy Football in the fall.

"We talked to different organizations and got the money we needed," Voeller said. "Now we just want to attract as many people as possible." Tech plays MSU-Northern on Friday, then hosts University of Great Falls on Saturday.