For most University of South Carolina students, Cocky is a symbol of school spirit synonymous with USC and complete with beak flaps, spurs up and fun game antics. But for seniors Nicole Hurley and John Sutay, the mascot means something more — it’s a defining part of their college experience, one they kept secret for years.
Now, as they walk across the graduation stage, the two are finally revealing their hidden identities as the students who brought Cocky to life.
Sutay, a hospitality management major from Bluffton, first donned the yellow Cocky feet at the end of his freshman year. Hurley, a nursing major from Simpsonville has beak flapped since the end of her sophomore year.
Over the last three years, those two became feathered fixtures, donning the suit at countless sporting events, university events, weddings, commercials, for social media posts and much more.
Each developed their own alternate in-suit personality. Hurley leaned into high-energy dancing and silly antics. Sutay became known for his impromptu half-court shots during timeouts at basketball games.
“I got to be a Division I athlete in every sport without actually being on the team,” Sutay says. “You’re on the court, on the field, part of everything.”
The role came with unforgettable moments, both big and small.
“Last year, I did the first Gamecock Walk of the football season and a little girl was selected to walk with Cocky. She wouldn’t let go of my hand and had the biggest smile on her face the entire time,” Hurley says. “That was after my first tough week of nursing school. So her smile and hugs made my day just as much as it made her day.”
Although Cocky is a regular at football games at Williams-Brice Stadium, one of Sutay’s favorite memories was donning the yellow feet for the Manchester United vs. Liverpool soccer match hosted at Williams-Brice in August 2024.
“Standing in the middle of a sold-out crowd for a soccer match was unreal,” Sutay says. “These weren’t Gamecock fans. So it was so cool to introduce our beloved mascot to a new crowd. That’s a night I will never forget.”
Despite standing under the bright Cocky spotlight, both students stayed anonymous. For Hurley, the chance to finally tell her friends and family has been both surreal and exciting.
“I know they are going to be so surprised and excited for me,” Hurley says. “My nursing cohort did get a little suspicious when Cocky worked a Nursing open house and knew how to handle the IV pump.”
Sutay agrees: “My parents knew and loved to see me at the games and on TV. My friends will be surprised but it will probably make sense to them as to why I was traveling during so many big sporting events.”
As they trade the Cocky suit and yellow feet for caps and gowns, both say the experience shaped who they are and how they will approach the future. Hurley will serve as a pediatric hematology oncology nurse at MUSC in Charleston. Sutay will work in sales in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Something I learned is how big the small things mean. As Cocky, I’m able to make a big impact on some just by being by their side,” Hurley says. “In pediatric nursing, it’s the same thing. I’m here to fight for those kids and am next to them through their battle, big or small.”
Being Cocky allowed both Sutay and Hurley to be part of something bigger than themselves — even if no one knew it was them.
“The game memories will fade but I will never forget the joy Cocky brought to Gamecocks of all ages,” Sutay says. “That’s something I hope to carry on with me forever. Never underestimate how little actions can change someone’s day.