This former Rameses is on a Rampage
In his ninth season with the Los Angeles Rams, Alex Floch lives his sports career dreams as a professional mascot.
Alex Floch ’17 grew up playing sports and never envisioned doing anything else. At Carolina, he found a way to do that: Become a mascot.
He was Rameses for over three years as a student and is now entering his ninth season as Rampage, the Los Angeles Rams mascot. The role has taken him everywhere from the Super Bowl to Australia, where the Rams open the NFL season Sept. 10.
“The unique thing about sports is there are so many different avenues where you can deploy your strengths to have an impact. Whether you’re a math student with a passion for analytics, or you’re interested in medicine or health care or mental health awareness, there’s a space for you in sports,” said Floch. “I think finding the mascot program at UNC allowed me to see another opportunity where I could continue to not only have that positive impact but have it in sports.”
Now in his ninth season as the Los Angeles Rams’ Rampage, Floch has taken his Carolina experience to the NFL — and around the world. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Rams)
Mascots are busy during games, but they also make an impact off the field.
The year after the Rams won the Super Bowl, Floch visited the pediatric unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, dressed as Rampage. He met a 4-year-old boy with pediatric leukemia, and his mother, who later began to cry.
“Mascots don’t talk; they feed on emotions. You are left to make behavioral decisions with only the best intentions in mind,” said Floch. “I opened my arms in case she wanted a hug, and she just buried her head in my shoulder and cried. I began to cry as well. She kept telling me how much this meant to her and her son.”
The mother was going to school and working two jobs to support her son in the hospital. Floch told her he would come back later just as himself to check on the boy.
“I think giving people and children an authentically positive experience during trying times is one of the most valuable things you can provide to someone,” said Floch. “Sports and mascots have the ability to bring people together for all the right reasons.”
Two weeks later, Floch brought the boy a Rams’ children’s book. They read it together, and Floch periodically returned to visit. Floch got an update from the boy’s mother a couple of months later that he had beaten his leukemia and was cleared to go home. She sent Floch a picture of him the next school year, ready to start kindergarten.
“I cried more looking at that photo than I ever did seeing him in the hospital. I will never forget that memory,” said Floch. “I chose to pursue this career full time to create joy for other people, give people genuine experiences and make people excited about living life and having genuine emotions. I think that’s the beauty that mascots bring to not only professional sports but to life in general.”
As the Rams prepare for another season, Floch is excited to connect with the community yet again.
“We want to showcase our presence in the community to create better opportunities, interactions and support on behalf of the team,” he said. “I’m excited to go win the community again — to see how many more fans we can continue to make, how many schools and students we can impact and help change the trajectories of people’s days.”
At Carolina, Alex Floch ’17 spent three years as Rameses, discovering the power of mascots to create joy and connection. (Submitted photo)
And each day, he’s thankful for Carolina setting him on a path to success in sports.
“I’m very grateful for Carolina for giving me so many different opportunities to become the person I am,” said Floch. “This University has always been for and by the people. I truly think it’s the people who make Carolina the place that it is and that the people will continue to make this University a better place for everyone.”
