Big Red always operates in a Big (Red) way.
J.D. Menser, one of the most visible college mascots ever, delighted a packed house at Diddle Arena Valentines week by making a Big Red proposal
during a nationally televised basketball game at Western Kentucky University.
With friends and family watching and a current Big Red dancing to the WKU pep band's rendition of "Hey,hey baby!I wanna know if you'll be my
girl!", Laura Beth Cooksey said she would indeed be J.D. Menser's girl for life.
After he went to one knee to seek a lifetime commitment from her, she joined him on the hardwood. When they both arose, Menser announced, "She
said yes!" and the crowd cheered the suddenly engaged young couple.
Among those present were was his dad, David Menser, a graduate of Russellville High School. Also watching were his grandparents, Norm and Janet
Menser of Russellville.
The young couple met two years earlier while Menser was doing a friend a favor by being Big Red at a church activity. J.D. flirted with her but
couldn’t talk to her because Big Red doesn’t speak. Later at the same church, he let her know who he was and told her she should have called Big Red.
Menser remembers, “She told me that she didn't have Red's number and, of course, I gave her mine instead. We had ice cream that night and I've been in
love with her ever since!”
So it was appropriate that Big Red be part of the proposal scene. Menser was one of those portraying Big Red for almost four years. He was Big Red
for what he calls ‘awesome’ moments-“Deal or No Deal,” Capital One, Mascot Hall of Fame. Big Red is a darling of ESPN.
“I was Big Red for just short of four years, but I should point out that Big Red is a team thing. We have amazing performers that all do a great
job,” Menser says. “I was very blessed to be just a small part of that. I got to do some awesome things, but the real blessing was being about to share
my faith (Christianity) with the young people as a result of that opportunity.”
Laura Beth, who is from Bowling Green, teaches second grade at Franklin Elementary.
“My major was broadcasting, but my parents always joke that I majored in mascoting,” J.D. says. “I am planning on doing the mascot thing for as
long as I can. I am now presently working part time at Forrest Park Church in Bowling Green, and I am Billy the Bison for the ABA Champion's Kentucky
Bisons mascot. I am also looking into possibilities in other professional mascoting programs.”
Back to the WKU-South Alabama game televised on ESPN II on Feb. 7.
“It was in the planning stages for about three or four months. I already had connections with Western’s Athletic Department, so I just contacted
the people I knew and they helped me out,” J.D. says. “It was definitely not for Valentines Day or the audience, it was the only available date we
could work around. I originally wanted a less hectic day, and I didn't want to put too much on the people running the show, but the organized it well,
I guess I was the only one stressing!”
Laura Beth didn’t have a clue. “His mom told us she had gotten free tickets from a co-worker and that J.D. could give the tickets to his friends.
He asked me if it would be okay to give tickets to my parents; I told him I thought they would enjoy the game. I knew
his mom, step-dad, one of sisters, grandma, and dad were coming the game. I didn't know about his grandmommy and granddaddy (the Russellville Mensers).
The plan was to go to the game and then celebrate his birthday by getting dinner afterwards.”
Then Big Red entered the picture. He and his assistant asked her after halftime to be involved in a promotion. “They told me Big Red was going to
serenade me and dance around me. I thought this was something new Big Red had started doing because I hadn't been to a WKU ball game in a while. While
we were waiting for a media timeout, I looked up in the stands and waved at J.D. That was the only time I looked up there...I was into the game until
the timeout. Big Red was dancing and singing to me, and I thought it was funny. The longer I sat there I thought, ‘Why did Big Red pick me out of
everyone here to sing and dance for?’
“The next thing I heard was J.D.'s voice over the sound system. I looked in the stands
where he was sitting before and, of course, he wasn't there. When he said my name the second time I saw him, and was absolutely shocked. I finally
figured out what was going on! I couldn't believe he was proposing.
“I remember saying, ‘Yes! I can't believe you did that!’ His hands were full with the ring box and the microphone so I grabbed the ring and put
it on myself. Looking back on
the video, I look so greedy grabbing the ring from the box! …As we walked off my friend handed us the T-shirts he had made for us which had the date of
the proposal on the front and ‘I do’ on the back.
Laura Beth Cooksey will become Mrs. J.D. Menser on Oct. 3. “Big Red might make an appearance at the wedding, so that connection is still there,”
J.D. says. “We both love Western and are so happy that everything happened the way it did.”