In 1999, the administrators called me in for a meeting. They told me I was getting too popular, becoming too much of a distraction. People didn't want to see the band, they didn't want to see the team. They wanted to see me perform. I wasn't an official mascot. And I was taking away from the students & the school brand. I agreed with that assessment & we decided I should retire.
That's for sure the take I got from the interview. But what do I know.