If you have any experience riding a bike while wearing a heavy costume, you could be the new ‘Herky the Hornet.’

The Sacramento State Department of Athletics is searching for a student to play mascot Herky the Hornet and plans on hiring the new mascot before the next home football game Sept. 27.

The position became vacant after last year’s Herky completed his one year commitment to the program, according to Marketing/Promotions Director Damon Dukakis.

JJ Garcia, who played Herky in the football team’s home opener, thinks a potential Herky needs to have a high level of athletic ability.

“You’ve got to know how to do the specific maneuvers or ride a bike with a heavy costume on,” Garcia said. “You need to know how to dance. It’s a lot of fun and you get more crowd reaction when you’re dancing with the Xtreme Dance team or interacting with the cheerleading squad.”

The person in charge of the search for a replacement think the role of Herky is important.

“A mascot is a very public face for the department and the university,” said marketing assistant Curtis Borton, who is running the search . “We are looking for someone full of talent and committed to being at every game.”

Tryouts will be held on Thursday with several members of the athletic department in attendance, including coaches from the dance and cheerleading squads. Borton said they are looking for someone who shows off their “inner Herky.”

“Ideally, we want someone who could play Herky for a couple years,” said Borton, who will only choose one student for the position.

Garcia, who said he would definitely play Herky again if he had the opportunity, believes there is more to being the mascot than just having athletic ability.

“Herky is supposed to analyze what the different people want at a football game,” Garcia said. “It’s from making little kids happy by taking pictures with them, all the way up to the alumni who see the Herky figure as an icon.”

For more information on the tryouts, contact Curtis Borton at 278-4371 or by email at [email protected].