That's Mac, the new Immaculata mascot, enjoying its (Mac is gender neutral) first school year stalking the sideline for the Mighty Macs.

When university officials decided in 2006 to revive Immaculata's mascot, they turned to the creator of the character behind perhaps the greatest mascot in sports history (apologies to the San Diego Chicken), the Phillie Phanatic.

Immaculata had a mascot in the 1980s, black Scottie named Mackie that, at some point late in the decade, ceased to be a part of the university community.

When the university went coeducational in 2003, Marie Mowan, executive director of public relations and marketing, and other university officials began discussing a new mascot. An Internet survey of students showed a desire to keep it a Scottie.

For the design of the new mascot, and training of the would-be actors in the suit, Immaculata contacted Dave Raymond. Raymond was 23 when he was tapped by Phillies executive Bill Giles to be the Phanatic when the mascot debuted in 1978. He hung up his floppy sneakers in 1993 and started Raymond Entertainment Group, a Newark, Delaware-based company that specializes in "character branding."

"The whole concept is a great character, not just a mascot, who people come to know and love," explained Raymond, who helped design Mac, and then came to Immaculata in September to run a two-day boot camp for the "Mac Pack" - the six students who take turns donning the Mac suit and serving as spotters for the pup.

"We were creating a character that was not just going to represent athletics, but the university and what it has to offer," said Raymond. "We mapped out who Mac is, what his personality is like, what excites him, what depresses him, so his personality remains consistent long after this first group of kids move on."

Raymond Entertainment Group charges a flat fee - between $30,000 and $50,000 - that covers mascot design, the suits (the second Mac suit should arrive on campus shortly), training, implementation, and marketing support.

Claire Giambi, 20, is one of the four students who perform as Mac (two members of the Mac Pack are too short for the suit; they help as spotters). Giambi, a junior, is the second mascot in the family; her older brother Kevin was YoUDee, the University of Delaware's Fighting Blue Hen for the last four years.

"It's been more rewarding than I expected," said Giambi. "Everyone is so responsive to Mac at this point. Since he is technically just a puppy, everyone likes to come up and play with him," said Giambi. Even Immaculata's nuns have gotten in on the act. Giambi said they like to walk up to Mac and pet him or scratch behind his ears.

"The spirit that Mac has brought to campus is amazing," said Mowan. "He walks into an athletic event, and brings smiles all around."

Mac has not limited its appearances to Immaculata sporting events, it's also appeared at Malvern's Halloween Parade, Coatesville's Christmas Parade, and other university events, including a bachelorette party for an Immaculata employee (Mac didn't strip, although it wouldn't take long, the pup doesn't wear pants to begin with).

"By having a character that looks as good as Mac . . . it says that Immaculata is unique, different, that they embrace fun. This is the type of environment that they want for their students, fans, and alumni," said Raymond. "Nothing is more powerful than a message that entertains."