Soccer Moses Explains How He Became Nashville SC's Unofficial Mascot

Soccer Moses has been cheering on the Nashville SC team for the past five seasons, becoming a staple for fans and players alike. We sat down with the man behind the mascot — Jars of Clay guitarist and The Handsomizer barbershop owner Stephen Mason — to learn more about his alter ego.

How did Soccer Moses come to be?

“A dear friend told me a story of being in a pub in Ireland when a player named Victor Moses scored during the World Cup, and he stood on his chair and proclaimed, ‘Let my people goal,’ and apparently drank for free the rest of the time because he made everybody laugh. And I just thought, Buddy, you gotta make a shirt. And he said, ‘Man, you wanna make a shirt, why don’t you do that? That’d be hilarious.’ So I printed one up for myself.

“It got close to the inaugural MLS debut of Nashville SC, and I thought, it’ll be really funny to go as the t-shirt. A couple of clicks on a digital shopping site later, and I had an outfit. A friend in the barbershop where I work said, ‘Oh, I’ll make you a sign, no problem.’ So I had a sign, an outfit, a beard, and, wouldn’t you know it, the first goal Nashville SC player Walker Zimmerman scored, I was at the top of one of the posts. When it went in, I was right above the goal, and ESPN zoomed in on my ridiculous face.

“That was pretty much it.”

What does game day look like for Soccer Moses?

“Typically, I'm cutting hair the day of a match, especially on Saturdays. Some of my dear friends park at the barbershop, which is just across the street from Geodis Park. Some days it's more formal than others: I'll blow a shofar, everyone will gather, and we’ll make the exodus to the stadium. After tailgating for a bit, we've developed a kind of liturgy where I go down front and do a little cheer, raise my banner, and the people hoot, and then it's just holding out hope for victory.”

How does Soccer Moses feel about days when Nashville SC loses?

“Based on the story of Soccer Moses’ relative, Moses, there was a lot of wandering. There were a lot of unclear next steps. So I think Soccer Moses appreciates the doldrums. We realize that this is part of the ache and beauty of this game. There are some days where it’s all clicking, and other days where it’s not. It’s that Sisyphusian endeavor that really highlights how the joy is in the journey, not in the destination.”