SLIPPERY ROCK — The original Slippery Rock Sliders might be gone, but the team's mascot will live on in Nick Bronson.

Bronson, a North Allegheny High graduate who will be a senior sports management major at Slippery Rock University in the fall, will be the new Slider this summer.

In 2007, the Sliders, a team in the Frontier Baseball League, called Slippery Rock home. But after the season, the team packed its bags and is now based in Michigan.

The 2009 version of the Slippery Rock Sliders, a member of the new Prospect League, will have the same name and green and white colors as the old squad.

And, of course, the same mascot.

There's no one better suited to give Bronson advice than the original Slider himself, Nathan Geisler, a 2002 graduate of Slippery Rock High who graduated from Slippery Rock University in December with a communications degree.

Two summers ago, he wore the green-and-white uniform and recognizable oversized baseball head that everyone came to associate with Slider.

"During the summer of 2007, I became good friends with Mike Bencic, who now owns the Slippery Rock Sliders," said Geisler. "After I heard he bought the team, I told him I'd do anything the club needed me to do."

Bencic offered Geisler a position as the team's promotions director.

"He told me either I could be the new Slider or find someone else to do it," Geisler said.

Enter Bronson, who will play the role as part of his summer internship. He does have a backup in SRU student Zack Zimmerman, who will fill in if needed.

For any mascot, heat is always a concern. And with the Sliders' season running into August, Bronson has thought about how hot it could get inside Slider's garb, especially the head.

"That's one of the advantages of the team playing at Critchfield Park. It's usually windy there," he said. "I'd be happy with anything below 80 degrees."

Bronson believes he has the right attitude to be a good mascot.

"I have a personality that is somewhat goofy to begin with," said Bronson, a native of Wexford, "so I should be OK."

But Geisler does have a few bits of advice for Bronson.

"Nick will be doing pretty much what I did, helping with onfield promotions," he said. "I really enjoyed it, but I did tell him of the promotion I didn't like: the mascot race.

"They put me out there with a bunch of little children and I would always have to find a way to let one of them win," added Geisler. "Sometimes I'd trip over a bag, get tripped by one of the players or get into an argument with somebody. You know, find something that would occupy me so one of the children would win the race."

Based on his own experience, Geisler has told Bronson to stay away from grumpy fans.

"And whatever you do, don't talk, especially to little children," Geisler added. "That might scare them."

But for the most part, Geisler's advice is to just have fun with it.

"Think to yourself, 'If I were a fan, what would I like to see,'" he said. "Nobody wants to see a mascot just sitting there watching the game.

"You have to think outside the box or, in this case, the baseball head."

Slider will make several appearances aside from his presence at the baseball games, including showing up at Slippery Rock Elementary's Kids Day June 2.

Bronson assures all Sliders fans that he will be a mascot with an vested interest in the game.

"Definitely, the best way to get community support is for the team to win," he said. "I hope they do well."