With more than 40 scheduled weekly meetings a year, the Rotary Club of Jacksonville has heard a wide variety of guest speakers in its almost 100-year history.
The opening declaration from Monday’s speaker will likely go down in history as the first time anyone the club invited to the podium declared: “I’m a professional idiot.”
That place in history belongs to Curtis Dvorak, Jacksonville Jaguars mascot coordinator and the man who brings Jaxson de Ville to life at every Jaguars home game and at more than 350 appearances in the community each year.
Dvorak is the team’s first and only mascot coordinator and began his career with the 1996 season, the Jaguars’ second year in the league.
He said he has been a showoff all his life. As a youth, he became “very acquainted” with each of his school principals, Dvorak said.
He began his career as a mascot at Virginia Tech after he determined that life in a coat and tie was not his style.
Dvorak logged a few years as the “HokieBird” before coming to Jacksonville and successfully auditioning for the role of the new NFL team’s mascot.
Now beginning his 16th season in Jacksonville, Dvorak said one of the most interesting parts of his job is how Jaxson de Ville has become part of the community. He’s been doing it long enough to have begun crossing a generation.
“Kids who were in kindergarten classes I visited in 1996 are interns for the team now,” said Dvorak.
He’s proud that Jaxson motivated the NFL to change the rules regarding mascot behavior.
Dvorak developed a reputation for his antics at Jaguars home games, particularly during the years when the home team and the Pittsburgh Steelers were in the same division.
Dvorak said he enjoyed clowning around when the Steelers and head coach Bill Cowher were visiting, but Steelers owner Art Rooney wasn’t amused.
He even made mascot rules an agenda item at a league owner’s meeting.
“I can just picture the owners sitting around a table discussing things like a $10 billion revenue-sharing agreement and how to improve ticket sales and then the topic of mascots being out of control comes up,” said Dvorak.
After four seasons as Jaxson de Ville, Dvorak said he averaged four-five letters of complaint from visiting owners each year, leading to Rooney’s proposal that the league’s rules for mascot behavior be made stricter.
Rooney presented a video at the meeting to exhibit what he found objectionable and Dvorak heard about it when the Jaguars’ front-office team returned home.
He said the Jaguars’ general counsel told him that during the 10-minute video, Jaxson de Ville was on the screen 94 percent of the time.
“I was 26 years old, so I thought that was awesome – but he didn’t,” said Dvorak. “I’ve made a career out of asking for forgiveness instead of permission.”
On a more serious note, Dvorak said when he moved to Jacksonville to become part of the Jaguars’ game-day experience, he didn’t realize he had found a home.
“I’m an avid golfer and I love boating and surfing, so Jacksonville is a great place to live,” said Dvorak.
He has also learned “it’s a big city with a small-town feel.”
Dvorak is sometimes asked why he continues to suit up season after season.
“Some would argue it’s my only skill set,” he said. “I do it from a sense of community and legacy.
“I’m excited for the day when I’ll be rolling out on the field in my wheelchair and seeing who’s doing it then. I’ll know that I helped create something lasting for the community.”
Dvorak said de Ville won’t be resting on his laurels for the 2011 season. He’s ramping up the schedule to include a major stunt at every home game.
He’ll be performing the tricks that fans have come to expect with a few new wrinkles thrown in, but one idea won’t be on the pregame entertainment menu.
“I wanted to fly into the stadium in a helicopter with the Navy SEALS,” said Dvorak. “But the FAA has these rules.”
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