Lobo History Marilee Petranovich

LOBO HISTORY WOOF, WOOF, WOOF!

The University of New Mexico was founded in 1889 and has since then amassed a number of institutional traditions that remain strong even today. One of the oldest and most recognized of these is the Lobo mascot and Lobo cheer.

When UNM began playing football in 1892, the team was referred to as “The University Boys” or “Varsities.” By 1917, the student body was interested in both a formal mascot and a name for their newspaper that was, at that time, simply called the UNM Weekly. While students suggested several names, there was no clear agreement as to a name that would reflect the University’s desire to have a representative mascot.

In the fall of 1920, George S. Bryan, who was editor of the UNM Weekly as well as student manager of the football team, suggested the “Lobo” as the mascot. He pointed out that Lobo is the Spanish word for wolf which would reflect the growing diversity and Southwest feel of the campus. With much enthusiasm and support, the Lobo as a mascot was embraced and has remained the representative of the University of New Mexico for nearly 100 years.

With a mascot name in hand, UNM alum Brieno Dieckman, class of 1902, set out to get a real wolf for the school. Mr. Dieckman had already become a successful Albuquerque real estate and insurance businessperson. While treasurer of the UNM Athletic Association, he acquired the first Lobo at his own expense. As the story goes, Mr. Dieckman either caught himself or paid to have someone capture a lobo in the area of Mt. Taylor near Grants, New Mexico.

The Lobo puppy became the responsibility of the cheerleaders and was taken

on a leash to all football games and practices. In the late 1920s, however, a young child teased the wolf while at a football game and ended up being bitten. Fearing a repeat of the incident, UNM administrators felt they had no choice but to dispose of the wolf.

Since that time, UNM has not had a live Lobo mascot. Lobo Louie, a costumed human mascot came on the scene in the early 1960s. Joining the spirit squad in the 1980s was Lobo Lucy who is never far away from Louie as they encourage UNM spirit at athletic and other events around campus.

The campus newspaper, formerly called the UNM Weekly, has been called the Daily Lobo since the 1920s and publishes twice weekly to inform the campus and community of UNM news and events. The award-winning Daily Lobo is a student-run publication.

Anyone familiar with The University of New Mexico knows well the Lobo cheer of touching one’s middle and ring fingers to the thumb, raising the index and pinky fingers and chanting “Everyone’s a Lobo, woof, woof, woof!” The cheer can be seen and heard at sporting events, student orientations, or campus events where Lobos want to celebrate UNM history and tradition and show their solidarity and connection to their university.

For more information contact: Marilee Petranovich mpetrano@unm.edu (505) 863-7770

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