His face decorates sweatshirts, billboards, notebooks, posters and other Vandal merchandise. His favorite food is pizza. He can be seen at every football game. He gives free hugs and high-fives, and he is always smiling. He is Joe Vandal.
Joe Vandal is the University of Idaho mascot, but he is so much more than that. He is the face of the university and the spirit of the students. Joe said people like him because he is a charismatic character that people can unify over.
Joe Vandal
Joe attends basketball, volleyball and football games during the year, as well as other events. Joe said he attended Relay for Life last year and accidentally stumbled upon a high school football game in the Kibbie Dome where he hung out for a bit.
“It is a really fun opportunity,” Joe said. “I have all the freedom in the world to interact with students. As much as I make people laugh, I laugh too.”
Joe said his favorite thing about UI is the strong sense of community amongst the people on campus, as well as the town of Moscow.
“It’s kind of like a family,” Joe said.
The UI family doesn’t just live in Moscow, either, Joe said.
Joe recounted one of the craziest moments from the past.
He said he was in Boise for the rival game between UI and BSU, and he, with the Idaho band and cheerleaders, walked in to perform and hang out with some alumni a little ways away from Century Link stadium. On the way back, Joe stopped to take photos with some UI fans in the street, and ended up being left behind.
“It was dark and there were people everywhere,” Joe said. “Boise State fans, everywhere. I was getting taunted by Boise State fans while aimlessly wandering around downtown Boise late at night.”
Joe said it was a daunting moment, but he and the band members and cheerleaders laughed about it after he managed to get back to the stadium.
To Joe, life is a dance. He is happy, go-lucky, confident and charismatic. While he has a mischievous side, Joe said new students should grab college by the hand and be unafraid to do whatever they feel is right.
“Do something completely out of your comfort zone, because it will lead to some of the most memorable experiences you will ever have,” Joe said. “I would know.”
Joe loves to make people happy and get them to smile everyday. He is goofy at times, and could be considered a flirt, but at the end of the day, he is the Vandal mascot, the face of UI.
Joe is someone the students, faculty and members of Moscow all rally behind, whether it be on a game day or not.
Claire Whitley can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Cewhitley24