JAXSON DE VILLE RETIRES

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

           Curtis Dvorak, the man who has suited up as Jaxson de Ville for every Jaguar home game since their inception, has announced his retirement. In an interview with Hailey Winslow earlier this week, he said “It’s time (I've spent) 19 seasons in that building, jumping off those light towers. Even though I tell people I started when I was 10, I actually started when I got out of college. I eat a little too much Advil -- more than I should -- and I have some really cool opportunities here in town that I have been working on for a long time”. Dvorak has meant so much to the Jaguar fan base. As fans we could take this news and react to it in several different ways. We could be angry that Dvorak is retiring at only age 40. We could be sad and morn the only constant that the Jaguars home game entertainment has ever had. Instead, I propose that we be happy. Happy that for the last 19 seasons we have had the privilege of having the best mascot in sports. He has done so many amazing things on game day: Streaking on to the field; Zip lining from the lights above the stadium; Beating up the opposing team’s mascot; Parachuting into the stadium; flamboyantly indicating the opposing team’s field goals were no good, even though it was clear that the ball went through the up rights. We should celebrate that we had a mascot, in Dvorak, that would do so many great things in the community outside of football. Whether it be attending private events, visiting local schools, or winning the TPC 17th hole challenge in his costume, Dvorak has been an amazing part of the Jaguars and the Jacksonville community. He will be missed, and there will be time for that, but for now let’s just enjoy the memories!