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8-year-old Oklahoma boy turns fear of mascots into sideline staple

By Fox23.com

 

An 8-year-old Verdigris boy turns a childhood fear of mascots into his own favorite hobby. (FOX23.com)

By Fox23.com

VERDIGRIS, Okla. — A second-grader in Verdigris, Oklahoma, is not only facing his fears -- he became them.

Gunner Alley, 8, plays a mascot called Lil Red on the sidelines of Verdigris High School football games.

Gunner told KOKI-TV that being a mascot is "kind of like being a super hero."

He wears an authentic Cardinals head his family bought and a costume his mother made herself as they couldn't find a kid's mascot costume to buy.

Lil Red Mascot

UPDATE: you can watch the full story here: https://bit.ly/2D6sAK1 Verdigris Lil' Red is just awesome. Gunner Alley is an 8-year-old mascot for Verdigris High School football games, and I love how he answered my question here. Cracked me up. Watch the full story today on FOX23 News at 5:15 pm.

Posted by FOX23 Nathan Thompson on Thursday, November 21, 2019

Gunner has wanted to be a mascot since he was younger -- but it didn't start out that way. He actually used to be scared of the costumed characters.

It took a face-to-face meeting with Tulsa Drillers mascot Hornsby at a baseball game to get him over his fear -- and inspire him.

He started watching videos online of professional mascots and decided he wanted to be one.

The head coach at Verdigris says Lil Red could run for mayor of Verdigris and win.

Cox Media Group

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