“It’s essentially being a superhero like Batman,” he said. “I kind of have these dual personalities. Obviously Sparty’s really beloved, and he’s huge, and he’s very animated, so whatever time he goes into a room, he kind of captivates it. People are drawn to him, they want to take pictures, and they want to get autographs. After when I go back to being Ben Hatala, no one wants my autograph or my picture.”

Janel Rutzen, program coordinator for the Student Alumni Foundation, said anyone who is a full-time MSU student between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-2 can apply to be Sparty.

“We’re really looking for a well-rounded student that can represent the university,” she said.

After completing an application for the unpaid position, candidates participate in an audition in which they perform a skit showcasing their talents and ability to portray the famous mascot.

Sparty is required to attend a variety of MSU-related gatherings and alumni functions, including sporting events, weddings, bat mitzvahs and birthday parties. Throughout his time as Sparty, Hatala said he worked at countless memorable events, including two Final Four basketball games.

“You name it (and) over the three and a half years (I acted as Sparty), I got to be involved with it,” he said.

If selected to be Sparty, the employee is required to keep his or her identity a secret until they quit their job in order to preserve the mascot’s image, which is a tradition Rutzen said she believes is important to the program.

“I think it makes it unique,” Rutzen said. “To us, Sparty is Sparty.”

Other than his family and coworkers, Hatala said no one else knew about his alter ego, except for his college roommate, Collin Webster. While sharing a small dorm room, Hatala said it became difficult for him to keep his secret from Webster, who said he was thrilled when he heard the news.

“I was super pumped for him,” Webster said. “You always want your friend to do something cool, and this is one of the more unique things to take part in.”

In addition to keeping quiet about his job, Hatala said one of the most challenging aspects of being Sparty was the ensemble he had to wear. Hatala said it is important to have an athletic build and strength in order to function properly in the outfit.

“The suit itself is very restricting, and it’s really hot,” he said. “It’s like 30-40 degrees warmer (than the temperature outside), so that was very hard to cope with at times during the fall football games when it was 70 or 80 degrees at kickoff.”

But Hatala said the challenges he had to face were worthwhile in the end, and he wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

“It’s really like a full-time job,” he said. “It takes a hit on your personal and social life, but it’s worth it. You miss out on a lot of things, but at the same time you get to be privileged to do a lot of things.”