First Georgetown Mascot Dies at 54

Pat Sheehan, the first person to don the Georgetown University Bulldog costume at sports events, passed away in New York City on Saturday, after the cab he was riding in was struck by two other vehicles. 

Pat will be "sorely missed," said Brian McGuire, Georgetown University's associate athletics director, "Anyone who knew Pat will miss him dearly."

McGuire was the sports promotion director at the University when Pat was a freshman in 1977. Also president of the booster club, McGuire bought the costume and wrote the ad that would lead Pat to his place as the first human bulldog. 

"Once he put the head on, I said, 'this is the kind of person we want,'" McGuire said. "He just seemed to be a natural at it."

Pat wore the bulldog costume for every game, home and away, for four years from 1977 until he graduated in 1981. And he became an extremely popular symbol of Georgetown Basketball during its prime, McGuire said. "You didn't have a Georgetown basketball game without the bulldog there," he said. 

Pat was generally a quiet guy, McGuire said, but when he put his costume on he became "this big broad character," spelling out H-O-Y-A-S in the middle of the arena. "He was very genuine and very sincere in making people feel a part of the team."
 
Pat set up a life in New York after college but never missed the once-a-year Georgetown game there. "He always had a special place for all the Georgetown fans," McGuire said. "As far as the spirit of the fans, it was in the bulldog mascot."

Pat's funeral was held in New York last night, but he will forever be alive in the joy of Georgetown fans. 

Did you know Pat? Please share your stories in the comments.