College football is unique for a number of reasons, chief among them the pageantry and pride shown for programs by alumni and fans alike. No amount of pageantry would be complete without the role of mascots.
There are over 134 different teams in FBS, with as many varied and different backgrounds as there are teams. Uniquely, the University of Nevada, Reno, is one of only two schools represented by the Wolf Pack. How did the Nevada Wolf Pack mascot come to be, and in what ways does the history help tell the story that the name now represents?
Who (or What) is the Nevada Wolf Pack Mascot?
Founded in 1874, the University of Nevada, Reno is a public university located in the capital city of Nevada. It is the flagship university for the state and was originally founded in Elko, Nevada where it was known as Nevada State University. The school moved in 1885 and was renamed the University of Nevada in 1906
Nevada’s athletic teams didn’t have an official nickname in the early years of the school. They were sometimes referred to as the “Sagebrushers” or the “Sage Hens,” which were a reflection of the abundance of the plant with the same name.
The emergence of the Wolf Pack mascot and moniker dates back to a football game in 1921 against the University of California, Berkeley. Although considered the underdog in the game, the team played with such tenacity and executed so well as a team that a journalist compared them to a pack of wolves. The moniker stayed, and so was born the Nevada Wolf Pack.
While partial happenstance, the wolf was fitting for Nevada as they were common in the state before being thinned as the 20th century rolled around.
Why is Nevada the Wolf Pack?
Initially, there was no physical representation of the Wolf Pack like with some other mascots; it was more of a concept than an actual character. As the development of brands in college sports became more widespread, so did a more solidified representation of the Wolf Pack identity.
In the 1950s and 1960s, live wolves would occasionally make appearances at games, though the practice was eventually discontinued in part due to safety concerns and animal welfare considerations. This prompted a shift to a costumed version of the mascot that wouldn’t make an appearance until the 1980s.
The first introduction of an anthropomorphized mascot was “Wolfie,” a plush wolf costume that has undergone several changes and redesigns over the years to look more athletic and fierce, better representing the Nevada athletic department and accompanying teams.
In 2001, Alphie was announced as the latest representation of the Wolf Pack mascot. The name was chosen after fans voted for the Alpha of Nevada’s Wolf Pack. In the following years, Alphie was joined by a younger brother, Wolfie Jr., who won the Capital One mascot challenge in 2012. Later, the school added Luna, the younger sister to Alphie, in 2013.
The Wolf Pack has become an integral part of the campus and culture around Nevada. In addition to being used as branding on various marketing materials and as a rallying point, the “Wolf Pack Walk” before football games allows fans to cheer on the team as they enter the stadium.
The “Nevada Fight Song” includes howling, and fans will often mimic the sound to show support.
The Wolf Pack’s enduring popularity, based on a single game, continues to proudly represent the University of Nevada and is a powerful representation of a proud community behind a winning institution.
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