It’s hard to imagine Butch T. Cougar as anything but the high-spirited WSU mascot, but the mask eventually has to come off.

Sunday night, during halftime at the men’s basketball game against California, Chris Lanphear removed the head of his suit to a cheering crowd.

Graduating Butch mascots traditionally reveal their identity during the last home basketball game of the season.

Lanphear is double majoring in history and anthropology and graduates this May. He has been the Butch mascot since his sophomore year.

Lanphear will be reveling in some long-awaited attention: mascots have to keep their identity a secret.

“It’s difficult, to say the least,” Lanphear said. “When people finally learn it, it pays off.”

Lanphear said he will miss being able to connect with fans and make people smile.

“I got to live a true college experience,” he said, “I learned a lot that will help me in my professional future, I made a lot of friends … it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You have to experience it to really understand.”

Reporting by Hannah Street