Flags have always been a part of his life, and now they are a focal point of his college career as he runs around the basketball court every home game, lifting the crowd’s school spirit.
Joe Mosco, a sophomore health administration and management double major, said he collected over 100 different country’s flags while growing up.
“I’ve always really liked them and I can name most country’s flags,” Mosco said. “When I was younger, I was really into collecting them for some reason.”
Mosco said his interests in flags inspired him to become the Seton Hall flag man at the men’s basketball home games. He said he saw Seton Hall post about the flag man position on social media and decided to try out for the position.
“I was the only one who could lift the flag,” he said. “We had to do a test run and see who can lift and run while holding the flag.”
Mosco said being the flag man is important to him when it comes to school spirit.
“I just want to make the fans happy,” he said. “I also want to break my record every time I go out on the court.”
Before he runs out on the court, Mosco said he is filled with adrenaline.
“I have the pep band behind me and the jumbotron has my name on it,” Mosco said. “I have the flag with me, and I just have so much adrenaline.”
Mosco said most times he’s confident and “ready to run out,” but sometimes he gets nervous right before.
“Right before, I still get a little nervous, but it’s not the whole time,” he said. “It lasts like five minutes, and then I’m ready.”
When running on the court, Mosco said he doesn’t count how many laps he has left - he just runs.
“I just keep on going until I can’t anymore,” Mosco said.
A friend of the flag man, James Nappo, a junior marketing major, said he admires Mosco’s “resilience and boldness.”
“I think he is improving his craft every day and will go down as the greatest flag man to ever run for Seton Hall,” Nappo said.
Nappo said he was “shocked” when Mosco first became the flag man. He also added that he thought Mosco was lying.
“When I realized he was telling the truth, I was thrilled for him because he is notoriously obsessed with flags,” Nappo said.
Nappo said he is inspired by Mosco and his role as the flag man at Seton Hall.
“Keep working hard and chasing your dream of being the flag man for the New York Knicks, Joe,” Nappo said.
Hannah Blend, a junior special Education and social behavioral sciences major, said she wishes she knew Mosco personally.
“He is who I look forward to in the second half of every game,” Blend said.
Blend said she gets excited about Mosco’s performance and enjoys his school spirit.
“Even if we are losing, he unites the student section and gets us excited,” Blend said.
Serena Davis can be reached at serena.davis@student.shu.edu
