Eagle Era

A look inside Barrack the Eagle’s hidden work behind the AHS school spirit

By Anthony Liu

At nearly every rally and football game, the Eagle mascot is impossible to miss. Known to students as Barrack the Eagle, the oversized costume, energetic dancing, and constant high-fives make the character a familiar part of campus events. But behind the costume is a role that involves more preparation, responsibility, and effort than many students may realize.

The student inside the Eagle costume, who will be kept anonymous, said the role was something they had wanted to try for a long time. “I applied to become the Eagle mascot because it was always my dream to be Mickey Mouse, and I wanted to start by becoming the school mascot,” they said. 

Before appearing in front of hundreds of students, the mascot goes through a routine of preparation. They said, “The most challenging part of being the mascot was how hot the costume was and how long it took to put on and off. It was definitely a rare experience I would have to go through.” The costume itself is bulky and layered, making it difficult to wear for long periods of time, and getting fully dressed can take a while. This can be especially challenging before large events where everything has to be ready on schedule.

Being inside the costume also creates many other unexpected difficulties. The Eagle mascot explained that even simple actions become more difficult when visibility is limited. “Most people don’t realize that when you’re in the costume, you literally have the eyesight of a goldfish. People try to high-five you and you completely miss it because you can only see a third of what’s in front of you,” they said. Moving through crowds, staying balanced, and reacting to people all become more challenging when vision is restricted, forcing the mascot to rely more on awareness and timing.

Barrack spent some downtime with friends (Photo Credit: Alyssa Lemus (11)).

Despite the challenges, the role continues to create unforgettable memories. The Eagle mascot recalled one of their favorite experiences while performing for students. “During Maze Day, I started dancing on top of the lunch tables to Katy Perry’s song, ‘Firework.’ It was my first time wearing the suit and it was so hot, but I got applause so I am happy about that.”

While the identity of the person inside Barrack the Eagle remains a secret during the year, the student said they hope their work eventually gets recognized, weighing in on the idea of revealing themselves. “I think that the secret identity of my mascot should be revealed at the end of the year because I want the credit for those dance moves.”

Students watching from the crowd often see the mascot as a central part of rallies. Lillie Elliott (11) said, “When I see the Eagle at rallies, it makes everything feel more exciting. It feels like the rally has officially started once the mascot shows up.”

Elliott explained that even without directly interacting with the mascot, its presence adds to the experience. “I’ve never actually talked to the mascot, but everyone watches what it’s doing. It gets people laughing and paying attention,” she said.

Elliott said rallies would feel noticeably different without the character. “If the Eagle wasn’t there, I think it would feel kind of empty. The mascot is part of what makes the rally feel like our school.”

Even though most students never see the preparation or effort behind the costume, the mascot’s role continues to shape the atmosphere of school events. To Elliott, the mascot represents something bigger than just a costume. “Without the Eagle, there’s no us,” she said.