A Guest Blog by Author Mike Frascogna
Legend has it that Bozo arrived on the Hinds campus sometime in the mid-40s. While there is no evidence to pinpoint the exact date of Bozo’s arrival, or birth, albeit whatever manner he, she or it, was created, the date of its origin still remains a mystery. There is some sketchy data indicating that Bozo and its descendants, Bozo II and Bozo III continued to reside in and around the Raymond area until the ‘70s. But again, credible information regarding the Bozo clan’s dates of comings and goings at Hinds is nonexistent.
After decades of investigation by local historians, amateur sleuths and several law enforcement agencies some credible facts, although quite unimaginable, have slowly emerged about the metal pachyderm and its offspring.
For reasons that remain unknown, Bozo was at the center of numerous brawls between students at Hinds and their counterparts at Holmes Junior College in Goodman, Mississippi. Oddly, the brawls inspired by Bozo always occurred in the fall before, after or during football games between the two schools.
Why, or how, Bozo was able to instigate such violent behavior between the Hinds and Holmes students remains one of the many unanswered questions surrounding the mascot’s mysterious powers.
Journals kept by some students at Hinds during the “reign of Bozo” indicate that it was originally used as a porch ornament, or doorstop, at the old Shangri-La athletic dormitory. But due to Bozo’s powerful influence on the Hinds campus, it became the target of night raids by Juco terrorist, especially those located in Goodman who attended Hinds’ arch rival institution, Holmes Junior College.
Holmes students took great delight in kidnapping Bozo and removing it to Goodman, or some other unknown destination for imprisonment. Sometimes Bozo would remain a captive for a few weeks, to months or for several years. During those times Bozo was held captive, Hinds students would plot rescue operations to regain possession of their beloved metal mascot. Unfortunately, the custody battle over Bozo got ugly in 1954.
.
JUCOS: The Toughest Football League in America
Comments are closed.