When Humber teams play at home, Humber mascot Howie the Hawk thoroughly oversees every corner of the stands, flying around to make sure there is nothing but noise from the crowd.
If the crowd is quiet, he stands in front of the bleachers and he pumps up the fans by waving his wings like an orchestra director.
The chants sound like music to his ears and the bird bursts into dance.
His online profile on Humber’s website says Howie lives to “Dance like nobody is watching,” and he leads by example every game.
Fans like Terry Hill said they end up dying laughing.
“He is so funny. He’s always walking around and helps up people,” he said.
Howie the Hawk spread joy at every game of the Hawks. Photo credit: Antoni Canyameras Rojas
Brian Lepp, the coordinator of sports information and marketing for the Humber Hawks, said Howie is a symbol that reflects Humber’s culture.
“Howie represents a sense of community. He represents winning, being a champion and helps to create a sense of pride for Humber,” he said.
The Hawks spokesperson said the mascot tries to impact the results of Humber games.
“Howie does whatever to give us home-court advantage,” Lepp said.
He said the Howie’s design looks like a hawk and was remodelled five years ago. Its colours are the same as Humber and the name was picked by Humber students through a poll, Lepp said.
He said the mascot often takes players under his wing, patting them on their backs and ensuring the screams of Humber aficionados feed them.
Howie also ruffles the feathers of opponents with his tricks to make them uncomfortable.
“Sometimes, he does antics in the sidelines in huddles of the players of the away team with the coach in a timeout so they can’t hear anything,” he said.
Kia Watt, on the women’s basketball team, said the mascot can make a difference for Humber.
Howie has some tricks to distract the opponents while the games are happening. Photo credit: Antoni Canyameras Rojas
“He can help to impact on the result of the game. He excites the crowd, brings energy and distracts the players of the other team in free throws,” she said.
Lepp said Howie has other tricks to distract every visiting team that comes to Humber.
He said besides being the life of the party at Humber games, Howie has a role in being a representative of the college’s culture.
“He makes appearances in the community all the time and also on the Lakeshore campus. When there are mental health events and graduations, he gets involved,” he said.
While the same bird has been the icon of Humber for more than 42 years, up to 200 people have put on the wings, Lepp said.
The Humber's mascot cheers up the crowd during the games. Photo credit: Antoni Canyameras Rojas
However, the athletics department plays coy when asked about the person now behind the feathers.
Lepp said Humber won’t display the information anywhere.
“There are four people who play the mascot [at the moment], it all depends on who is comfortable and who wants to do it,” he said. “But their identity is a secret and we want to keep it that way.”
While Howie’s actors change over time, the character remains similar year after year.
“The requirements to be the mascot are having high energy, Humber passion, school spirit and obviously the person has to dance, entertain people and can’t be shy,” Lepp said.