The Lobo is the official

mascot A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name. Mascots are also used as fi ...

of the

University of New Mexico The University of New Mexico (UNM; es, Universidad de Nuevo México) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 1889, it is the state's flagship academic institution and the largest by enrollment, with over 25,400 ...

(UNM). Lobo Louie and Lobo Lucy are costumed human mascots, members of the UNM cheerleading squad, who rouse and entertain fans during Lobo athletic events.UNM Traditions - The Lobo Mascot
University of New Mexico. "Lobo" is the

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

word for "wolf" and was suggested as the school mascot in 1920 by George S. Bryan, editor of the school newspaper and student manager of the football team. "The Lobo is respected for his cunning, feared for his prowess, and is the leader of the pack," wrote Bryan in the October 1, 1920 issue of the newspaper. "All together now; 15 rahs for the LOBOS." The Lobo was adopted as the official mascot of the school, and the campus newspaper later became called ''The New Mexico Daily Lobo''. For a brief period in the 1920s, a live wolf pup appeared at Lobo football games, but UNM administrators were forced to cease the practice when in the late 1920s a child teased the wolf and was bitten. The school has returned to the idea of a live mascot, but safety has remained a concern. On October 28, 1989, a live wolf was present on the sidelines of a Lobo home football game, and it reportedly nipped a player who rolled out of bounds. In 2004, a live silver wolf that belonged to a UNM professor appeared at the Cherry-Silver spring football scrimmage. The "Lobo Louie" human mascot was created in the 1960s, and "Lobo Lucy" was added in the 1980s. During the tenure of

Fran Fraschilla Francis John Fraschilla (born August 30, 1958) is an American basketball commentator and former college basketball coach. Career Fraschilla was an assistant coach at University of Rhode Island for Jack Kraft, Ohio University for Danny Nee and B ...

as head basketball coach (1999-2002), a small "Baby Lobo" mascot appeared at men's basketball games, in reality Fraschilla's son. The character was discontinued when Fraschilla was dismissed from the program. In the 1980s, Lobo fans developed a popular chant, "Everyone's a Lobo, Woof Woof Woof!," together with a hand gesture emulating a wolf. The chant and gesture have since become the signature cheer for Lobo fans.

Statues

There are several statues of Lobos on the UNM campus. The most prominent, sculpted by John Tatschl, stands atop a pedestal located near the entrance to campus at Stanford and Central and is dedicated to the UNM students and alumni who gave their lives in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. This statue was formerly located in front of

Zimmerman Field Zimmerman Field was a stadium located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It opened in 1938 and hosted the University of New Mexico Lobos football team until they moved to University Stadium in 1960. The stadium continued in use for intramural sports ...

. Another statue, sculpted by Michelle Middleton, is located in a grove of pine trees overlooking the intersection of Central and University at the southwest corner of campus. A statue of a Lobo head emerging out of the ground is located in front of

Hodgin Hall Hodgin Hall, previously known at various times as the University Building, Main Building, or Administration Building, is a historic building on the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Completed in 1892, it was the first bui ...

. A number of further Lobo sculptures have been sponsored recently by donors for placement in various other locations, including in front of the President's House, Zimmerman Library, and at The Pit.Mara Kerkez
''UNM's ‘Spirit of the Lobos’ program roams campus''
UNM Newsroom, February 09, 2014.

References

{{MWC Mascots New Mexico Lobos