University of Nevada Mascot History: From Sagebrushers to the Wolf Pack

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), boasts a rich athletic history, evolving from its humble beginnings as the Nevada State University in Elko to its current status as a Division I powerhouse. A key element of this evolution is the story of its mascot, the Wolf Pack, a symbol that embodies the spirit and tenacity of the university's athletes. This article delves into the history of the Nevada mascot, from its initial, unofficial beginnings to its current representation.

The Sagebrushers Era

In the late 1890s and early 1900s, Nevada's athletic teams were known as the Sagebrushers, or sometimes Sage Hens, after Nevada's state flower, the sagebrush. The university was originally located in Elko, where sagebrush was plentiful. As the school moved to Reno in 1885 and began adding more sports programs in the early 1900s, following the lead of Ivy League and California schools, the need for an official mascot arose.

The Emergence of the Wolf Pack

The shift from Sagebrushers to Wolf Pack began during the 1921-22 season. A local writer, inspired by the spirited play of Nevada's team, described them as "a pack of wild wolves." This description resonated with Leslie Bruce, a student and editor of the Nevada Sagebrush, who initiated a poll in the school paper to solicit student input on a new name for the athletic teams.

Tragically, Bruce passed away in an accident before the votes could be tallied. In honor of Bruce, the school rallied to officially change the team's nickname to Wolf Pack. According to Amy Hunsaker, a librarian and Wolf Pack historian with UNR Libraries, the student population felt that wolves embodied the spirit of Nevada, even though wolves are not native to the state.

Early Representations of the Wolf Pack

The school initially attempted to raise a live mascot called "Willie the Wolf," although it was actually a coyote puppy. Due to safety concerns, the school administrators deemed Willie a safety hazard. This inspired students to create their own wolf costumes out of paper, plastic, and carpet, starting in the 1950s. In the 1970s, these human wolves became known as "Wolfie," the name of the school's original mascot.

Modern Mascots: Alphie, Wolfie Jr., and Luna

In 1999, Alphie took over for Wolfie as the school's mascot. Alphie is considered the Alpha of Nevada's Wolf Pack, and fans voted on his name when he joined the team in 2001. In 2007, Wolfie Jr. was added to the mascot lineup, and in 2013, Luna, a female mascot, joined the crew, creating a family of mascots representing the Wolf Pack at all of Nevada's sporting events.

Wolfie Jr. achieved a significant milestone in 2012 when he won the Capital One Mascot Challenge, beating out Buzz from Georgia Tech and earning $20,000 for the Nevada spirit program.

The Wolf Pack Logo

The current logo of the Nevada Wolf Pack features a stylized image of a blue wolf’s head. This logo represents the 15 men’s and women’s teams that compete in various sports, including basketball, football, tennis, golf, and swimming.

The former emblem of the Nevada Wolf Pack in the early 2000s was based on the large symbol “N.” It was combined with the image of a wolf inside the left vertical leg of “N.” On the right leg of “N” was written the word “Nevada,” and under the letter “N” was the bold inscription “Wolf Pack”. In 2008, the logo was updated to feature a profile of a wolf’s head looking to the right. Above it, the word “Nevada” is drawn in an arc. The color palette for the logo is a combination of dark blue and white.

Nevada Wolf Pack Athletics

The Nevada Wolf Pack is a sports department that unites 15 student teams from the University of Nevada. Its participants belong to the Mountain West Conference and compete in NCAA Division I. They are based in Reno, Nevada.

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Football

The Nevada Wolf Pack football team had its debut season in 1896. Throughout the department’s existence, the football players have won 14 national championships in various conferences and have participated in 16 bowl competitions. Chris Ault, who spent 28 seasons as head coach in three separate stints, is credited with creating the Pistol Offense, which he implemented at Nevada in 2004. The football team plays home games at Mackay Stadium.

Basketball

The men’s basketball team emerged under the name Nevada Wolf Pack in 1913. It has participated in NCAA competitions eight times, twice reaching the “Sweet Sixteen” - in 2004 and 2018.

Other Sports

In addition to football and basketball, the Nevada Wolf Pack fields teams in various other sports, including:

Baseball: The baseball team plays at William Peccole Park and has made four appearances in the NCAA regionals.
Women's Soccer: Nevada won its first WAC tournament title in 2006 and qualified for its first NCAA tournament since the program's inception in 2000.
Softball: The softball team has qualified for the NCAA tournament three times (2006, 2008, 2009).
Swimming and Diving: The swimming and diving team won the AIAW-Division II national title in 1979 and has won 10 conference championships since 1992.
Volleyball: The volleyball team has qualified for the NCAA tournament five times in its history.

Traditions and Rivalries

The Nevada Wolf Pack has several traditions and rivalries that contribute to its unique identity.

The Blue Crew: A student booster organization that debuted in the 2003-04 academic year to bring out the spirit of the Silver and Blue in current students.
The Mountain Howitzer: Nevada's two university football teams annually play for the right to house the mountain howitzer each season.
Rivalry with UNLV: The Wolf Pack's biggest rivalry is with UNLV, especially in football, where they play for a big yearly trophy.

UNLV's Mascot History: A Contrast

As the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), considers a potential mascot change, it's interesting to note the contrasting history of its mascot compared to UNR's Wolf Pack. UNLV's original mascot, Beauregard, was a cartoon wolf with a Confederate uniform, intended to "rebel" against UNR and its Wolf Pack mascot. However, due to changing times and concerns about Confederate imagery, UNLV students relegated Beauregard to the history books.

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UNLV's most recent mascot, Hey Reb!, was created in 1982 and was modeled after the western trailblazers of the 1800s. However, Hey Reb! was permanently retired in January 2021 due to criticism and a desire to find a solution representative of varying perspectives and the campus's rich diversity.

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