Whether it is on the basketball court in the Show Me Center or on the football field at Houck Stadium, Southeast Missouri State University sports fans have surely spotted the great yellow beak and red feathers of its beloved mascot Rowdy the Redhawk dancing and firing up the crowd.

Rowdy is the face of Southeast sports present at most athletic events, cheering -- silently of course -- with enthusiasm whenever a team scores and is a great source of entertainment for every fan who comes to enjoy the game. But who is this student that rallies so much school spirit amongst fans and sports teams? Well, until now, not many knew that one of the three students behind the beak is Chelsea Nesbit, who has spent the last four years supporting Southeast Athletics as Rowdy.

Nesbit is a senior from Springfield, Illinois, majoring in elementary education. She began her journey as Rowdy as a freshman at Southeast in 2011 when she learned of the student who played Rowdy at the time was stepping down, meaning Department of Athletics was looking for a replacement.

"I had to go in for a tryout, and I had to do different things like putting the suit on, run on the football field, and other little tests like throwing and catching the ball," Nesbit said. "I was up against three other people and I got it."

Nesbit said she was motivated to try out because she had always wanted to be a mascot. She was heavily involved in her high school sports team's spirit club and would even dress up along with fellow students for a large basketball tournament hosted in her hometown every year.

Once Nesbit got the part she flew right into her role and began attending various events. Some of her fondest memories, she said, came from embarrassing moments that she was able to laugh off.

"One of my first basketball games I was late for an event, so I was running out onto the court and I was at mid-court when I completely fell on my face and I busted my knee open," Nesbit said with a laugh. "My knee started bleeding through the suit and everything."

While moments, such as falling down, were embarrassing parts of the job Nesbit said along with that comes great opportunities to connect with people because she gets the opportunity to entertain kids, parents and students alike. She said her favorite time as Rowdy was when she was on the basketball court and got to interact with people in the crowd.

"Basketball games, they were probably the most fun. You get to be on the court and just seeing all the kids and meeting people and making people laugh."

Nesbit did not just simply walk through crowds and dance during her time as Rowdy, she found other interactive ways to cheer on sports teams as well like joining the Southeast Cheer Team during a performance.

"This year the cheerleaders and I got to put together a stunt and I was in the pyramid," Nesbit said. "Being able to do that was really memorable."

Nesbit's memories of her time as Rowdy also included some challenging situations as well that included trying the beat the heat, cleaning the suit and dealing with people who may have been more rowdy than she was at times.

"Football games were one of the hardest things, it was so hot all of the time, but even when you were inside at events it was still hot inside of the suit," Nesbit said. "Also cleaning the suit. We have three suits we use and having to take them home after every game and clean them is just a lot of hours that people don't realize."

Nesbit also said that during many events people would hit the top of the Rowdy head or poke the body, which may have been fun for spectators but not so much for her inside the suit.

"Our head is hard and it is like a helmet that we strap on so when you hit the head it does hurt," Nesbit said. "People will also push you and mess with you a little too hard, which is another hard part of the job, but then I just mess with them back 10 times harder."

So many may wonder, "Why keep the identity of Rowdy a secret, and why tell people you are Rowdy now?" Well according to Nesbit, it is in order to keep the character Rowdy intact for the fans, but now that she is graduating this May and is ending her role as Rowdy, she can now say openly that she was one of three people behind the mask.

"When people know who you are it kind of takes ways from the character," Nesbit said. "My whole sorority knew it was me when I first got it, and they tried to keep it a secret, but when they would see me as Rowdy they'd say it was different."

Nesbit said that she would recommend this job to everyone, from acting students to students who just love sports.

"It is really worth it. We need a lot more people to try out since I am leaving there will only be two people left, and I would recommend being Rowdy to anyone who is just really spirited or even people who want to get into acting," Nesbit said. "You also get to be at the games right on the court or on the football field right there in front of everything."

While Nesbit's time as Rowdy is coming to a close, she still has a few opportunities to wear the suit again before graduation with First Step Orientations taking place and other events Rowdy may have to make an appearance at. So if you just so happen to be attending an event or a game before the semester comes to an end, you may just know the woman behind the beak.