Crimson Bears inflate mascot for peers as hype builds to Saturday’s nationally covered game
- Klas Stolpe
- Sep 19, 2025
- 6 min read
JDHS football team, students gather for giant indoor rally on day before matchup against defending state champs being filmed by NBC Sports
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
Wearing number “1” and towering to the ceiling in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Commons, the Crimson Bears football team’s inflatable run-through mascot tunnel broke up the student body lunch period much like the Crimson Bears’ offensive line advances downfield.
“It’s pretty cool,” JDHS co-captain Noah Ault said. “I feel like now everybody gets the opportunity to feel like what we feel walking out of the dome. It’s pretty awesome when we get to run through this every game.”
Students mingled, posed for photos and walked through the mascot as players told their peers about Saturday’s Crimson Bears’ Cook Inlet Conference football game at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field against last season’s state champion, the Dimond Lynx. The game will be covered by NBC Sports, with fan and player interviews planned. Game footage is expected to be used for a special documentary scheduled to air during next year’s Super Bowl.
Friday’s spur-of-the-moment gathering, however, was also about inclusiveness and student body involvement.
“You kind of see this disparity between what you would think are super academic students and you would want them to get involved,” senior class vice president Cassie Lumba said. “And one great way we do that is by our student body promoting stuff. I think Juneau as a community already has that sense of unitedness. We recently went through a consolidation and so our sports right now have so many people coming to things that I think it’s that sense of coming together. This is a great thing and people are excited about sports and we are a very academic town. I think a great thing is a lot of people on these clubs and teams are also a part of academically rigorous classes, so they get a sense of both worlds. There is no discrimination between the two groups, rather, we come together and see things for what our community loves. It’s just that sense of spirit and I think people hold that here.”
Lumba noted there is a willingness to support all students.
“We have a no discrimination policy and we do a lot of spirit weeks and such,” she said. “We implement days that include all, that do not ostracize other groups — so something everyone can participate in. And in that sense people feel less worried to join in on things or to come and see these games…They know the school is willing to have them in. In sports here we do not cut people, there is always a spot for everyone, and I think it is that sense that allows people from the sidelines to feel comfortable with coming in.”
Senior school board representative Zoe Lessard was among the students in the commons.
“We give reports on what is happening in the school and I’m sure this will be included,” Lessard said. “We also, and this is one of the hardest parts, can petition for change in the school.”
As a junior school board rep last season, Lessard petitioned for and was granted a sports waiver, so that every season sports athletes participate in earns a fourth credit waiver.
“Because as athletes, doing a gym credit, which is required, is hard on our bodies,” she said. “I know our junior rep this year is working on something similar. That is one of the funner but harder parts of the job…This is pretty cool, though. Games in our school are always something students enjoy going to and get excited for.”
The last time the Crimson Bears' tunnel was inflated in the school was 2013 — a year after it was purchased through donations — and it brought energy to a pep rally inside the George Houston Gymnasium.
“The kids kind of went outside and ran through the front doors,” JDHS coach Rich Sjoroos said. “They were as excited then as the student body is now. People around town are pretty excited for Saturday. I think it is a good reflection of our community support. I know the weather is not really cooperating today, but that is kind of what we deal with this time of year, so sometimes getting that true picture of what the elements are like can also make for good TV. So I’m excited for that, pretty pumped for the kids and all the coaches and fans. Hopefully it is a fun day tomorrow. NBC said they wanted to talk to people and get info and things like that, so we’ll see how it all plays out tomorrow.”
NBC will be talking to players, parents and fans, and those interviews will be supported by game footage and are expected to be included in the coverage of Super Bowl LX.
“This will be awesome,” Dimond activities principal Chris Ruggles said of the exposure.
Dimond (1-3 CIC, 1-4 overall) defeated the Colony Knights (1-3 CIC, 2-3 OA) 25-22 at Colony last weekend with a last-minute score. JDHS (1-3 CIC, 1-4 OA) lost at home on a last-second heartbreaker to South Anchorage (3-1 CIC, 4-1 OA) 29-28 via a Wolverines two-point conversion.
To date, common opponents have included Service (3-1 CIC, 4-1 OA) — to whom JDHS lost 19-12 in week one and DMD lost 25-7 to in week four — and Bartlett (3-1 CIC, 3-1 OA) — to whom JDHS lost 27-0 in week four and DMD lost 12-0 week one. West Anchorage (4-0 CIC, 5-0 OA) sits atop the conference, while East Anchorage (0-4 CIC, 0-5 OA) is at the bottom.
“Tomorrow will be good, that’s our goal,” wide receiver/defensive back Ault said. “To just walk out with a ‘W’ and just have fun. We are pretty excited about it and hope to bring a good game. The spirit around school has been pretty cool. Some kids talk about the game all the time.”
JDHS and Dimond kick off at 3 p.m. It is advised that fans, if not already in attendance for the JV game, arrive early to find seating. The pregame festivities will include the cheer team performing “Back in Black” on the 50-yard line at 1:55 p.m. or as soon as possible following the JV contest. At 2 p.m., JDHS will enter the field for warmups through the inflatable tunnel. At 2:45 p.m. the new score clock (third clock since 1984) will be dedicated and sponsors acknowledged via VIP tent (donor Alaska Seaplanes will provide an honorary captain for the coin flip). At 2:55 p.m. the national anthem is scheduled to be played, followed by the coin toss, band chant and kickoff.
“I love that the Bears are back, our football team and our activities,” JDHS activities director Julie Herman said as students milled about the inflatable. “And I am really excited to just start generating a culture of athletics, academics and all things. This was great. A lot of smiles on a lot of faces and wondering what we were doing…we’re just very excited for our athletes.”
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
