A Q&A With Fishers Mascot Personalities
They may not sign autographs with a pen or score game-winning goals, but three larger-than-life personalities are stealing hearts across Fishers. Meet Bandit, the spirited raccoon repping the Fishers Freight, Pepper, the fiery spark who keeps Indy Ignite fans on their toes, and Nitro, the high-energy hockey red dragon of the Indy Fuel. Together, they are the embodiment of team spirit, proving that sometimes the biggest hometown spirit comes in the fluffiest, furriest packages.
What did you do before becoming a mascot?
Pepper: “I was hanging out with my besties waiting for the perfect moment to shine!”
Bandit: “Before becoming a mascot for the Fishers Freight, I was a Freight Train Conductor on the Nickel Plate. It was a dirty job, but someone had to do it!”
How did you get into becoming a mascot?
Pepper: “I never became a mascot, I always was one. Like Lady Gaga says, ‘baby, I was born this way.’”
Bandit: “Well, it’s a funny story how I became a mascot. I got caught robbing another train line. The Fishers Freight literally bailed me out and started bringing me to indoor football games and calling me Bandit. I guess it stuck, and now I don’t have to ‘work’ on the trains anymore!”
Any special preparation before a game?
Pepper: “I wake up and I am perfection (maybe a little extra hairspray helps!)”
What is the hardest part of being a mascot?
Pepper: “Not being able to spend time with all of my fans equally (LOVE YOU BESTIEESSS).”
Nitro: “Having to wait for hockey season to start again!”
Bandit: “The hardest part of being a mascot is when the game is over and all the fans and players go home. I wish the party could go all night and all day! The offseason is rough, too, without seeing all my Fishers friends every week. But I get out to community events and sure love to see those Freight Fans!”
What does a normal day look like for you vs. a game day?
Pepper: “Normal day = wake up, do my hair, pick an outfit, go see some friends and create content for my followers (follow me @pepperignite).
GAMEDAY = wake up, do my hair, get game day outfits prepped, practice with my fire starters, get some food, HYDRATE, then game time!”
Nitro: “Normal days, I’m often out in the community representing the Fuel and putting smiles on faces. Game day is all business! Gotta keep my fine dragon physique in peak condition. I wake up, do some light stretches, and then carb-load until the doors open at FEC.”
Bandit: “A normal day is quite different from a game day. As a wild raccoon, I like to sleep during the day and stay up all night. But game days, I’m up early and at the Fishers Event Center getting prepped for a great evening. Usually, a big pregame meal with the football fells and then some light stretching and calisthenics on the field in preparation.
What is your favorite part of being a mascot?
Pepper: “Spreading joy, sharing love, and having fun!
Nitro: “That is a tough question to answer. I love it all! Cheering on the boys as they take the ice, taking pictures with big and little fans, cheating—I mean COMPETING—during intermission competitions.
Bandit: “I LOVE the Fans and players and heck even all the Freight Staff! Game Days are the absolute best when you can feel the anticipation in the air.”
What do you like about your sport?
Pepper: “Everything, duh lol, I am volleyball!
Nitro: “Are you serious?!? Hockey has everything: a fast pace, incredible skills on display, fierce competition, and the best fans in all of sports!”
Bandit: “Freight Football knows how to put on a show, even in their inaugural Year. From the awesome music and pyrotechnics pregame to the fun antics at game breaks and halftime, it’s a glorious sports experience for the whole family. The head coach and everyone in the front office worked so hard this year to make it a winning season. Winning the last five games of the season proves that, and we even made SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays for a game-winning last-second touchdown to win a game!
Besides you, who is your other favorite mascot?
Pepper: “I can’t pick just one, all of my fur-covered friends are my favorite!”
Nitro: “I got nothing but love for all the mascots, but Bandit and I are BFFs!”
Bandit: “Nitro taught me everything I know about being a mascot. He’s the best dragon friend a raccoon could ever hope for! Also, Pepper with the Indy Ignite Volleyball Team is pretty dreamy.”
