This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at OK State chapter.
By: Natasha Kachirisky
The Oklahoma State University mascot Pitol Pete is fufilled by two male students, Landon Stallings and Austin Bowles.
What made you want to become the OSU mascot?Austin: I’d never had any previous mascot experience or anything like that in high school. I just remember walking around campus on my freshman tour and telling my friend that I was going to become Pistol Pete. I’ve always loved OSU, and I’ve grown up around the university, so when I found out Pistol Pete tryouts were available to all students, I set the lofty goal to become one of OSU’s biggest ambassadors. I love making people happy, and Pete gives me the opportunity to do that every day.Landon: I’ve always been absolutely eaten up with orange pride since I can remember. I knew my whole life that I was coming to Oklahoma State. During my freshman year, I became friends with a former Pistol Pete and I decided that I would give it a try. The more I thought about it the more it became my opinion that being Pete would be the ultimate OSU experience, and so I worked my tail off so that it might happen. I was blessed to get the job at the end of my sophomore year.What did the tryouts consist of?Austin: The tryout process all takes place in one night. The judges consist of a bunch of the previous Pistol Petes and the OSU Spirit Coordinator. The first half of the night involves an introduction interview and resume overview. After that, cuts are made to the top four or five applicants. The second half of the tryout consists of a more in-depth interview and an opportunity to put on the Pete head in front of the judges and strut your best Pete swag. There’s nothing more intimidating than the moment you first put on the Pete head in front of those guys and look at them just staring at you waiting to see you doing something creative and bring Pete to life.Landon: The audition is put on in the spring by a panel of former Petes from the 80’s and 90’s. About 20 guys will end up going through the try-out. It is a two part process. In the first session, you get about a five minute interview where they just grill you on your resume. They discuss your GPA, your campus involvement, your social experience, and why you think you deserve to be Pete in the first place. I definitely thought I was going home after the first round. Next they narrow it down to 5 guys and bring you back in for a second interview. This time, it’s about a 30 minute interview where they really try to get to know you as a person. They ask you all sorts of questions that are pretty tough to prepare for, but the judges are a great bunch of guys who make the tryout a lot of fun. I had to give a speech in my interview off the top of my head, and then they had me put on the head and strut my stuff. They wanted to see creativity and just if I could fit the “Pete model”. They then select 2 guys to be Pete for an entire year. I didn’t sleep for days after being selected.What is your favorite part about it?Austin: By far, my favorite thing about being Pistol Pete is being able to change any situation. Whether it’s scaring the heck out of a quiet football stadium with a shotgun blast and bringing it back to life or visiting a hospital full of sick kids and watching their faces light up because Pistol Pete came to see them, being able to change the atmosphere of any situation is blessing.
Landon: My favorite part of being Pete is having the ability to have such an impact on so many people in so many ways. It’s really mind blowing to see how much OSU fans love their mascot. Even on the hottest of days and the earliest of mornings, I feel so blessed every time I get to put those heavy starched Wranglers and orange boots. I bleed more orange every day for sure.
How can the audience at the games tell you two apart?
Austin: Landon and I each wear a different colored handkerchief in our back pocket; One is orange and one is white (most of the time). We’re both pretty similar in size, so that’s pretty much the best way to tell us apart.
What is the hardest thing of being Pistol Pete?Austin:The hardest things about being Pete are getting real guns into football stadiums and airports, walking up stairs, avoiding low ceilings and not making small children cry (Pete is kind of intimidating sometimes).What would you tell someone that wanted to try out to become Pistol Pete?
Landon: He or she would need to really decide if it’s what they want. Being Pete is a full time job for a whole year and it’s a big time responsibility. If he or she really wanted it, my advice would be to build that resume and keep your GPA up, and to really think about what they he or she can bring to being Pete and how to get that across to the judges. Also, I would say get a hold of me or the other Pete and ask for advice! We both would love to help out.