 This episode is part of my series and my life as I get to talk with people in the sports industry that I think have really cool jobs and share these with my listener. So my guest today is the best mascot in the NFL and maybe in all of sports, honestly, he is famous around the world for all the cool appearances. He does here around Nashville and especially on Titans game day at Nissan Stadium, and he brought his personal coordinator with him today. He's the one be only Titans T rack and mascot coordinator Justin Sullivan of the Tennessee Titans. Hey guys. That's awesome. That's awesome. Thanks for having us. Oh man, we're so happy you guys are on the show today. Thank you for being here. Yeah, thank you guys. Actually, last week on October 1 it was national raccoon appreciation day, and we thought it'd be awesome to have you guys with us so thank again thanks the time thanks for taking the time to be here. Yeah, thank you guys thanks for having us. Hello, T rack we first met you in person a few years ago when we were at the mascot challenge for the leukemia and lymphoma society here in Nashville, but we've been a big fan of yours for a long time and Justin we really just met you. Not too long ago at a Titans event. Right T rack is very familiar with the leukemia lymphoma society event you guys were at and yeah absolutely I met you guys a couple of a couple of appearances ago with T rack. I remember that and can you and T rack can you tell us how you two met. How do you meet your act. Yeah, okay. Yeah, so I'm at T rack about five years ago. I had just got out of college at the University of Alabama and I saw a job that was listed for a mascot coordinator here with the Titans, and I applied for it and I got to end up being here with him. We met, we met five years ago. That is awesome. Wow, I bet time has just flown by. It has been crazy hasn't your act. It's been a lot of different, a lot of different seasons and a lot of different people and a lot of different high fives right for me to wrap. Yeah, it's been great. That sounds awesome. And in case our listener didn't know the state animal for Tennessee is a raccoon and it's pretty cool that the Titans chose you to be their mascot. Yeah. So like no joke, T rack will tell you this too. When they decided to make it a raccoon, the mascot here. They wanted something that was more Tennessee and not such like, not like Nashville, like, so strong. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So they wanted something broader that would reach out to more people in the state. So that's why it's a state animal and it's a raccoon. That's really cool. That's a story behind it. Yeah, absolutely. So we have a few questions for both of you. We're just going to jump right into that. So T rack, what did you want to be when you were growing up. What did you want to be when you were growing up. You wanted to be a football player, but they don't allow raccoons to do football so. The next best thing is entertainer and honestly, that is what T rack is known for and that is what he does every day. So I think you were born for that T rack. Natural talent. You're the best. I'm not sure how those big feet would be on the field. They'd be too good for the field. That's probably right. That's probably right. Just just being honest. So Justin, how about you? What did you want to be when you were growing up. So it was definitely not what I'm doing now. I honestly never thought I'd be doing what I'm doing now with T rack. I went to school for broadcasting so I wanted to be on the five o'clock news. I worked a job in media for a little bit and really decided that that was probably not what I wanted to do. I applied for this job with T rack and was up here within a week, but my dream job when I was a kid, I wanted to be an entertainer. So honestly, like I'm getting to do a little bit of that with him for sure, but that's what I wanted to do when I grew up. That's really cool, but I bet he steals a lot. Pardon me. I bet he steals a lot of the spotlight though. Oh, I don't know. T rack has all the spotlight no matter where he's got it. And why shouldn't he he's T rack. Right. Yeah, for sure. So I can imagine the competition to be the mascot for the Titans was tough between you and your friends T rack. Did the Titans find you or did you find the Titans? That was good. They found him out by a trash can and basically there he was eating some trash and we cannot let this happen. This is a state animal. We got to take care of him. We got to make sure he has a place to live. This is we're actually in T rack south right now. We'll have to show you that later. Love it. They gave him a great place to live and he's been here for 21 years. Amazing. That is awesome. No longer a trash panda. No longer a trash panda. That's right. That's right. Although we know that Lance Smith lovingly calls you that. Yes, he does. Only from his heart. You are our trash panda. Your story. Got some heart right here. So Justin, how would you find your way to helping out our friend T rack and becoming his coordinator? Did you have to have special training to become a mascot coordinator? Yes, so I did. Not technically, but it helped me get the job. Yes. So when I was in college, like I said, we'll start here and then we'll get I wanted to be like I said, on your five o'clock news. As an entertainer, just like, just to be on the screen, talking to people, making relationships, all that kind of good stuff. And I worked a media job of editing. I edited footage for a while back in a dark room by myself. And I knew that was not what I wanted to do because it was a long, it was a lonely job. It was, it was a great job. Love people I worked with and all that kind of good stuff, but I saw this open while I was in grad school at University of Alabama. And while out Alabama, I worked with their mascot big out. So I worked with big out for five years of undergrad and grad school. And when I got out of school, I applied for this. And I think that's what helped me work with T rack was the position that I had with Alabama. That's technically it wasn't technical training where you have to like do all this mascot stuff. But the experience that I had at Alabama helped me get the job here. Can you share with our listener in case they're not familiar with who big out is. Yeah. So big out is a huge elephant. He has a huge elephant trunk. He's real good friends with Iraq. He is the University of Alabama's mascot. So he has been there forever and he is their main guy like to your act is a Titans main guy. But yeah, he's he is at and he lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I have to ask you a question real quick, Justin. So were you at University of Alabama when Derek Henry was there? I was his final season at Alabama was my final season at Alabama with big out. Wow. It was cool. It was neat. That is pretty cool. The last championship he won was the last championship I did with big out. Wow. And have you guys connected personally on that level. Oh, excuse me. T-rex talking. You're good. You're good. Okay. Have you, Justin, have you connected with Derek at all personally in talking about Alabama? So no, I, we have not really. I think he knows that I went to Alabama and I was friends with big out. But we, we haven't really discussed it. Well, he's a little busy and you're a little busy. So I get it. Yeah, absolutely. The schedule is a lot different than mine and my schedule is a lot busy and he's got a busy schedule as well. But that's still really cool. That is. So Justin and T-rex, can you share with our listener? What a typical game day looks like for you to. Yeah. So T-rex has a very busy schedule. He starts around. If a game day starts at 12. Actually he prepares the week before with whatever he's going to do for game day. He, we have meetings with T-rex friends that can help him help him on game day. We do some stuff prior to usually if not Saturday before the week before sometime like that. I'm just trying to clean up his area and make sure things are in order. And then on game day, if we have a 12 o'clock game, we're here probably around 7 30 7 45 getting ready for the 12 o'clock game. We have a production meeting that goes to we have appearances out in the community around the stadium that we go to. It just depends on the game to be honest with you, but it's usually kind of the same stuff. We visit sweets on game day prior to the game and during the game as well. But yeah, we ride around on a cart. So T-rex has a golf cart that he rides around and does appearances on. Thank you, T-rex. And we go all around the stadium and all the parking lots to create like some tight and sheer. That's for sure. Getting everybody hyped up. Yeah. We get hyped up every time we see you T-rex riding around. We've seen you out in the parking lot. We've seen you throughout the tunnel. Like not the tunnel. What do you call it? The concourse? Yeah. Concourse. Strolling through and you are like the most popular person or creature rather you are the most popular creature in Nissan Stadium. I think on game day. Yeah. Yeah. No, for sure. The thing is what we tell people is I know we love it. We hate it. But players come and go sometimes and that may not be the best, but T-rex is never going anywhere. That's right. After you know him, you know him. He's never going away. Yeah. That's awesome. Always getting everybody hyped. Absolutely. Well, Justin, what about you? What does your typical game day look like helping out T-rex? So it is honestly the same thing. We do. I've met him the week before. If not Saturday before, and then I get here around seven 30 with him. And we go over scheduling and we go over what? Oh, that's right. That's right. T-rex. So T-rex when we add for him to do really well, he has to get a really good night's sleep and eat really well before the game. So it may be dairy. You have to have all your main food groups. That's what he preaches in his school shows. So you have to get a good meal before the game because you have to be able to last the entire game. Good job. Good job. And sleep. Oh, and lots of sleep. Yeah. Sleep is important. Yes. Yeah. But yeah. So on game day, Aggie here right went to your records here. And we figure out what we're going to do, how we're going to do it, what quarters we're going to do it. And I'm here until probably. About three hours after, um, with T-rex, um, as well. And T-rex on really hot games, on really hot games, T-rex gets IVs, um, because all the, all the sweating and all that kind of gets re-built with stay hydrated. Right. Oh my goodness. That's intense. Well, now T-rex, have you cleaned up your trash panda ways that in your dens? I have to know. Do you keep your den clean? Cause as a mom, I'm always trying to keep my kids dens clean. Right. Oh yeah. Um, That's right. That's right. So T-rex has a crew that helps him keep everything clean. So T-rex has a crew of about. Four people. Four people. Right. Okay. People. Four people on. Five, five people. Five people. Five people that helps him on game day. Can we give them shout outs? Do you have any? Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. So T-rex, you got, you got, you got Justin. Yeah. You got me. Aw. Number one shout out to Justin. Justin. You got Brent. You have Christian. Richard. And who? Coleman. Coleman. So all of them help T-rex throughout the game. He has appearances in town that he needs help with. They'll fill in some times. They give T-rex and allow us to clean his room sometime. Oh. So that is good. Yeah. Yeah. He can kind of get where that, that, what that's like. Yeah. Yeah. No. T-rex keeps his room pretty clean though, because people come and see his room. A lot. I bet. He can spotless. So, so people can, so people can see. Good job. T-rex. We're proud of you. I love it. So Justin, besides game, Titans game day at Neeson stadium. Do you have any other events that you guys do during the season? Tons. So I will say this T-rex. Does probably game, game day is probably about 15% of what T-rex does. 1515. Yes. So everything else. Is what T-rex does outside of game day. So what you see on game day is very minor of what T-rex really does on a regular week or a regular year. He does charity events. He does school shows. He does civic events. Corporate events. Anything, anything you can think of. If you request T-rex and we have time and availability, we're usually there. It just depends on his schedule and how busy the season is and what's going on. But recently we have been, we've been, we've been, we've been, recently we have been, since season started, it has been almost every day, if not every other day with new things coming in and all that kind of good stuff. Wow. So he's been a busy raccoon. That's for sure. I would say so. No wonder you need four or five people to help you out. Bro. Absolutely. Absolutely. He's, he's a very busy man. Yeah. Good job, dude. Well, I know that according to your social media, I figured you were busy, but I did not realize that it was only 15% game day accounted for only 15%. I thought it would at least be like, then like 50 or something. Oh yeah, at least. Yeah. So honestly, and don't get me wrong. T-rex loves game day and he does a really good job on game day, I think, but he has so much outside because we only have 10, 11 games, 9, 11, I mean, however many games we have a year. How many home games do we have this year? I think it's like eight. Yeah. So we've added one more, I think this year, but like no kidding. I, he does so many other events than those few games we have at home that it's just, I mean, he's everywhere. Well, I know for us personally speaking that the, the amount of love that you share with people that you meet. I mean, it's just, I watch people smile, just go from ear to ear. They could be, you know, just standing there kind of trying to be grumpy, but they won't, you walk up and then instantly everybody just lights up and you know, you really are a bright shining light to us. And so I can imagine all of the people that you reach throughout the year have the same similar experience. Do you remember the first time you met T-rex? Yeah, it made me, it made me smile so hard. As you say, the thing is, the thing is with T-rex, he doesn't, he doesn't, and this is kind of, I guess something that I'll throw in there too, just because I've seen it with him as well, but he doesn't, he doesn't, he doesn't see race. He doesn't see color. He doesn't see anything like a social group, whoever it doesn't, he and everyone is his friend. Everyone loves him. Everyone loves him. He loves everyone. And that's the thing about raccoons. Like they're going to love you no matter what. That's right. That's right. Honestly, like you could be a fan from our biggest rival and T-rex would probably treat you just like he does his biggest fan for the Titans. So we take some pride in that for sure. That brings up a really good question. I just thought of. So T-rex, who would you say would be your arch nemesis in the, of all the teams that we play? Oh, I can see he's getting really mad. Could we guess? Uh, probably. Let him, we'll, we'll find out. We're going to say, we're going to have to say probably blue from Indiana. Oh, that was one of my two guesses. Yeah. That was my, that was my, that was one of my guesses. The other was Toro from Houston. So Tor, yeah. So to be honest with you, we've, we've, and I mean this in the nicest way. We've beat Texans a couple more times when we've beat the Colts and the Colts have been such a big rival. That blue is just our big rival just because they're both great. Don't get me wrong, but there's about two weeks every year that we're kind of like we're kind of arch nemesis. Bad blood. Yeah. Absolutely. Enemies. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And we know who always comes out victorious between the two of you. Yeah. We always. Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. So, um, T. Wait, this one. Okay. Okay. Sorry. Um, T rock and Justin, what does the off season look like for both of you? Are you busy with events? Yeah. So like I said, He wishes he took a break. Um, no joke. Uh, we do usually before pre COVID. Um, and all that kind of good stuff that just happened where I wouldn't say good stuff, but, um, all the stuff that just happened with COVID. Um, we used to be in schools. All throughout schools. I mean, like a school time. Um, it was from August to May. Uh, or late May. We were usually in schools with your active in school shows and we do school shows for elementary school and middle school. Um, so. Um, we used to be in schools. And that's what we did during off season. But the events that you get from communities, possible communities, Um, anything like that, those never stopped. So it could be off season. And the thing is a lot of those events do pick up during off season because they're like, Oh, you don't have football. You can be at our event. You're act. So a lot of those events pick up. And that's what we kind of do. During, um, off season. So you, You also have, uh, with the schools, do you have a partnership with play 60? Is that right? So play. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, um, We have a sponsor that's, um, the dairy alliance. And they are actually. Yeah. They're great. Um, and they're basically messages. Um, Eat and drink. Um, So, um, We have a sponsor that's, um, the dairy alliance and they are actually. Yeah. They're great. Um, And they're basically messages. Um, Eat and drink. Live dairy. Um, And how good we think in our house. Yeah. Yeah. And how, and how good it is for you and how good it is for your nutrition and all that kind of good stuff. So we, um, We do a lot of shows with them and we used to have a sponsor. Um, With Tennessee state parks. And, um, We, uh, Did some stuff with them, uh, about how to get up and get active and get healthy outside of football. So it was like anything outside, Like any other sport besides football, girls, guys, whoever can play whatever. So, um, That was who it used to have yet. Absolutely. Very cool. So I have a question for you, T rack. It says that your Twitter buyer. Pardon me. Your Twitter bio says that you are an 11 time Pro Bowl NFL mascot. Um, And that you are the first ever cartoon. And if I can't even read my question. That you are the first ever cartoon network NFL mascot of the year. Can you share with us about that? Yeah. Thanks. Pro Bowl is one of T Rags. Most, um, Uh, What proudest accomplishment. Yeah. Yeah. No joke. I'm just guessing. Kind of like, no, absolutely. It's very, it's very, It's definitely an honor. Um, When anyone gets selected to go to Pro Bowl, it's very, I mean, it's a big deal. Um, Just because a lot of people don't get to go. And the thing is, Like I said earlier, it's, it's, it's super nice for T rack because he doesn't go. I mean, he's going to be here for a while. And every time it gets to go, it's like, It gets better and better. Um, For a raccoon in Tennessee said he sure does love to travel. Um, And no kidding. And he's been everywhere from Hawaii to Orlando. Um, So he needs to form everywhere. But the thing is, Wow. Pro Bowl is basically like any NFL's mascot dream, Like you go and you live it like the players do. You're there with all the fans. You're there with all your fans. Um, so every time you get to go, it's kind of, It's kind of, um, a different. It's different every time because it's just, It may be a different place or maybe different fans because. He's just meeting, he may be meeting everyone. But yeah. So you're getting an opportunity to spread even more Titans love wherever you go. And I'm sure that people are just super happy to see you. I remember we saw you on TV. What was it? A couple of years ago when they had it in Orlando. Uh, yeah. 2019 season. I remember that. Yeah. And every time you were on the screen, we'd be like, Hey, there he is. There he is. We see him. We see you. I got some fun at that one for sure. I can imagine. And so what about the cartoon network? First ever cartoon network NFL mascot of the year. Tell us about that. Yeah. So he was the first ever, this was back in, I'm not even sure. Um, I want to say it was. Some of the first years he was actually a mascot here with a Titan. Wow. Wow. So, um, and I honestly don't know if, um, They continue to do it. Um, I think it's, it's been around for a while or stayed around for a while, but I haven't heard much about it. So we're very proud to start the campaign back up. We're very proud that he was selected to be one of them. He said, he said they chose him and then he broke the record. That's right. That sounds fair. No one else need to apply. We have the way forever. Yeah. Yeah. So here's a question for both of you. What is your favorite part of your job? Hmm. T-Rex says his favorite part is the free food. I'm playing with kids. Oh, That's his food before kids. We'll probably, we need to probably reverse that, but yeah. I'm just kidding. It's food for me before. No, I'm just kidding. Oh, that's great. But yeah, no, I would have to say very similar to that. Like I will say, um, the fans and kids and just people in general, um, young old whoever kind of make the job worthwhile. Um, uh, for me that is, I mean, and T-Rex, it's just, it depends on the day. Like I tell people all the time, like it's when you're, when you're with T-Rex or when you're, when you're with T-Rex, it's very hard to have a bad day because T-Rex always has to have a good day. Um, it's, it's, he rarely has bad days. So it's, it's very hard for you to be, um, very sad or anything when you're around them. Like you said earlier, it's very, um, it's a very different job because you have to be at a level 10 happiness all the time. Yeah. And it's, and that, and that's sometimes good, sometimes bad. It's got, it's got great. I mean, as humans, we always want to have those good days, but you definitely have those bad days in there. And that's just the reality of life. And when you're around a seven foot raccoon, it's hard to have those bad days when you want to. So that's, that's just a great part of the job. Um, the fans, I mean, a lot of people would, I mean, love to hear, we love the games and we love the, the grandeur of the games and what happens to the games and all that kind of good stuff. But like I said, 15% of the job, there's so many more positive, great memories and, um, great things about being around to Iraq than just what you see on game day. So yeah, it's impossible to not like T-Rac. Absolutely. You just bring a smile on everyone's faces. Absolutely. So you really essentially T-Rac, you are the ambassador for the Tennessee Titans wherever you go. And so whatever representation you bring with you is what somebody might even think about the team. And so for the fact that you always bring the positive energy, people are going to pick up on that and say, man, the Titans, we got it going on. That's what I think. Yeah. Right. High five to that. We're going to do virtual high five. Yeah. Oh man. So, um, I just want to thank you both so much for joining me and my mom. We had a blast with you guys and we just can't thank you enough. No, thank you. Uh, we really enjoyed it. I think T-Rac enjoyed it. You enjoyed it. You did. Put you it again. You have to do it again. If you ever needed him again, let him know. We will. Thank you so much. So, um, before we go, I have three questions. I asked each guest. Are you ready? Okay. Okay. Uh, what advice would you give your 12 year old self? I think I know this. So never hang out by a trash can. But it did get him his job. So it's the same. Now hold on. And he has, he has made himself, he has made himself what he is today. Um, Mine would probably have to be. To, uh, this is a good, this is a great question because honestly, like, this is one of those things that you never think about and when, but it's really good to think about. But I want to say like my, mine would probably be, um, to, there's a lot. I want to say a bunch of them, but one of them would have to be to never quit. And to, um, try at everything you want. Um, like there's some, there's some things like, I'm just thinking like I'm going through high school and middle school and just, um, just that time of life going through schooling period. There's just a lot of times where you don't think you're good enough. And that's one thing that I would have to say to my 12 year old self is just, just don't quit. And you're always good. You're good enough. And you're probably right where you need to be in the first place, but and to always stress God's plan. That is some great advice. That's awesome. I almost got a little checked up here. Yeah. You can see I got a little tear right here. So was there a mentor or teacher that really inspired you when you grow, when you were growing up? You guys, I knew that. I knew that laugh. I'm a little teary right now. So you act, watch a lot of cartoons. Yeah. Very animated. It gets a lot of what he does from cartoons. So yeah, that's good. And these are really good questions. And I probably get a tear up a little bit talking about this. Hey, I had, I mean, don't get wrong. I was just, I had a great. And I'm very thankful for it, but had a great grandmother and granddad. And they were amazing. They meant a lot. Yeah. They, um, they taught us a lot. They, um, more than anything, they taught us how to live our lives and live them in a good light and a positive light. And, um, yeah. So that would have to say my grandmother and my granddad, probably. And you became a shining light because of their example. I would hope so. In our opinion. Yeah. Right. T rack. That dude's pretty good next to you. Yeah. What's that planning for these guys? We have, uh, one final question. What you got? Uh, pizza or steak? I like that one. Yeah. T rack, like steak on pizza. We've had that many times, but fortunately does that, that's, that's not count. That doesn't count. He doesn't. That doesn't count. Let's say we're going to go with pizza. We're going to go with pizza. All right. If he's going to go with pizza, I'm going to go with steak. I would much. I think I would. I mean, don't get me wrong. I love a good pizza night, but there's just something about like sitting down at a nice dinner with a steak and a nice big potato or some green beans or asparagus. I, that's, it's just something about it. But yeah, I can imagine. I can almost hear his stomach growling. Oh, T rack. What kind of, what kind of toppings do you like on your pizza? Anything that's free. You can tie whatever on there. He's using it. You can take, you can take the, you can take the, uh, raccoon away from the garbage, but Oh, that's so good. Well, do you guys have a favorite place that you get steak or pizza? What's your favorite restaurant? Cause we have listener that you might, uh, be in the Nashville area and would love a recommendation from T rack. Maybe we're not, I know, Slim and Huskies. I mean, I was good. I was good. Right there. T rack loves Slim and Huskies. Who doesn't? Yeah, Slim and Huskies. So good. Honestly. Yeah. His promotion, his not promotion video. His intro video this year is Slim and Huskies. Um, he's waiting for a pizza outside of Slim and Huskies. Oh yeah. That is an awesome, that was an awesome video. I know. Yeah. Yeah. That new video is really sweet. He loves Slim and Huskies and steak. I'm trying to think I have a lot of good steak. I don't get it wrong. There's, there's something about this, like a homemade, like on the grill. Like you did it yourself. Part of it is like you did it yourself. And then the other half is like, this is good. But, um, I would have to say. Huh. I don't know. It's, I know it's a chain for like, I love Ted's. I don't know. Oh, Ted's Montana grill. Yeah. Right there off of West end. I've never heard of it. Oh yeah. I, I love their steak. And I think that's, um, I know it's a chain, but I, I enjoy it. We actually went to one in Montana. My art. Yeah. My husband's from Montana. And so we took the kids there, but he doesn't remember. It was like probably six years ago. Yeah. But that's awesome. Yeah. Um, so yeah, just, uh, I want to thank you guys again for coming on. This has been, and we've had a blast. And, um, we're super grateful that you guys have the, um, but we're, that we had the opportunity to, uh, see you guys. So. Yeah. Awesome. Thank you guys so much. Let us know if you need a silver again. We will tighten up, y'all. Tighten up. Have a good one.