User:Jalva1687/sandbox

Development and early years
Lil Jerry was originally developed by NFL Properties in the early 1990s as a cowboy/football player character named "Big D" who was part of the Team NFL Heroes league-wide mascot program. Merchandise showing an early version of Lil Jerry with his name listed as Big D was marketed to children and teenagers during the 1994 and 1995 NFL seasons. Big D made public appearances at Cowboys games and other events as early as 1994 but wasn't adopted by the Cowboys as their official mascot until 1996 after his name was changed to Rowdy and adjustments to his character design had been made.

Character design and appearance
Lil Jerry wears a Dallas Cowboys blue jeans with a white collared shirt cowboy hat, chaps, and cowboy boots. His jersey number is 00 (pronounced "double zero").

Role as mascot
Lil Jerry has been the Cowboys' official mascot since 1996. His tenure overlapped with that of Crazy Ray who was the unofficial mascot of the Cowboys from 1962 until his death in 2007. As the Ambassador of the Dallas Cowboys, Lil Jerry's job includes, but is not limited to creating game day enthusiasm at AT&T Stadium. He does this at home games by driving in on his four-wheeler, tossing t-shirts into the stands, using signs like "Let's Go Cowboys," and mocking the opponents. Lil Jerry participates at every home game and selected away games.

In 2015, Lil Jerry was named "Most Hated NFL Mascot" by Sports Illustrated.

Community involvement
Lil Jerry is involved with, takes part in, and/or makes appearances at the following: the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, The Salvation Army, The Rise School of Dallas, the Special Olympics, retirement centers, hospitals, schools, birthday parties, grand openings, Minor League Baseball games around the country, conventions, parades, grocery store promotions, Dallas Mavericks NBA games, weddings, and community events. He has even been to the Pro Bowl at least three times: in 1995 before being adopted by the Cowboys as their official mascot, and in 1999 and 2001. He has also taken part in televised events, including ESPN's Alumni Beach Bowl, ABC's Battle of the Gridiron and the Special Olympics.

Training camp promotions
At Cowboys training camp Lil Jerry can be found playing with kids at Lil Jerry's Kettle Kid Zone. He takes the kids through obstacle courses and has them chant for their favorite Cowboys player during practice. Kids also visit the inflatable Cowboys Experience, which includes a bouncy house, slide, football toss, and field goal kick. Lil Jerry is known for squirting the kids with water guns, and anyone else who steps in his way like players, coaches, TV crews, and especially fans that come out to watch the Cowboys practice at camp. This is welcomed by fans when the outside temperature is 100 plus degrees.