Lobo (mascot)

	Lobo Louie at The Pit, early 2000s
University	University of New Mexico
Conference	Mountain West
Description	Male wolf (costume)
First seen	1960s
Related mascot(s)	Lobo Lucy

Last updated September 30, 2024

The Lobo is the official mascot of the University of New Mexico (UNM). Lobo Louie and Lobo Lucy are costumed wolf mascots, members of the UNM cheerleading squad, who rouse and entertain fans during Lobo athletic events.^[1]

"Lobo" is the Spanish 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."^[2]^[3] 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.^[1] The school has returned to the idea of a live mascot, but safety has remained a concern.^[4] 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" wolf mascot was created in the 1960s, and "Lobo Lucy" was added in the 1980s.^[1] During the tenure of Fran Fraschilla 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.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Statues

Lobo statues

Statue at Hodgin Hall

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.^[8] This statue was formerly located in front of Zimmerman Field. 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. 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.^[9]

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Goldy Gopher is the mascot for the University of Minnesota and the associated sports teams, known as the Golden Gophers, as well as a four-time UCA Mascot National Champion. During the year, Goldy makes over 1000 appearances and is at virtually all home games for University teams, usually wearing the appropriate sporting attire. The mascot is based on the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, colloquially referred to as a “gopher” in Minnesota.

University Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in the western United States, located on the south campus of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is the home field of New Mexico Lobos football, which competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference.

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The New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team represents the University of New Mexico, competing in the Mountain West Conference (MWC) in NCAA Division I. The university established basketball as a varsity sport in 1899 and began competing with regional colleges after establishing an athletics department in 1920.

The New Mexico Lobos football team is the intercollegiate football team at the University of New Mexico. The Lobos compete as a member of the Mountain West Conference. Their official colors are cherry and silver. The Lobos play their home games at University Stadium.

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Roy William Johnson, nicknamed "Old Ironhead," was an American football player, coach of football, basketball, and baseball, and college athletics administrator. He served in various capacities in the athletics program at the University of New Mexico for nearly 40 years. He was the university's athletic director from 1920 to 1949, head football coach from 1920 to 1930, and head basketball coach from 1920 to 1931 and 1933 to 1940. He also coached New Mexico's track and tennis teams. In 1957, the university named the newly built Johnson Gymnasium in his honor.

The Pit is an indoor arena in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serving primarily as the home venue of the University of New Mexico Lobos basketball teams. The facility opened in 1966 as University Arena but gained the nickname "The Pit" due to its innovative subterranean design, with its playing floor 37 feet (11 m) below street level. The arena is located on the UNM South Campus and has a seating capacity of 15,411 for basketball and up to 13,480 for concerts, with 40 luxury suites and 365 club seats.

The 1964 New Mexico Lobos football team was an American football team that represented the University of New Mexico in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. In their fifth season under head coach Bill Weeks, the Lobos compiled a 9–2 record, tied for the WAC championship, were ranked No. 16 in the final UPI Coaches poll, and outscored opponents, 185 to 190.

The 1959 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico in the Skyline Conference during the 1959 college football season. In their second and final season under head coach Marv Levy, the Lobos compiled a 7–3 record, finished third in the conference, and outscored all opponents by a total of 260 to 135.

The 1920 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico as an independent during the 1920 college football season. In their first season under head coach Roy W. Johnson, the Lobos compiled a 3–3 record.

The 1946 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico in the Border Conference during the 1946 college football season. In their fifth and final season under head coach Willis Barnes, the Lobos compiled a 5–5–2 record, finished third in the Border Conference, tied with Montana State in the 1947 Harbor Bowl, and were outscored by opponents by a total of 224 to 127.

The 1943 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico as an independent during the 1943 college football season. In their second season under head coach Willis Barnes, the Lobos compiled a 3–2 record and were outscored by opponents by a total of 85 to 59.

The 1983 New Mexico Lobos football team was an American football team that represented the University of New Mexico in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first season under head coach Joe Lee Dunn, the Lobos compiled a 6–6 record and outscored opponents by a total of 239 to 233.

Roar-ee the Lion is the current incarnation of the Columbia Lion, the official mascot of Columbia University and the Columbia Lions. Already a long established symbol of the university, it was first adopted as the university's mascot in 1910 under the name "Leo Columbiae", and was renamed Roar-ee the Lion in 2005. Throughout its history, the Lion has been represented by live specimens on several occasions, including the 1934 Rose Bowl and a 1963 football game against Princeton. During the early 20th century, Matilda the Harlem Goat was an unofficial mascot for the university. Barnard College possesses its own mascot, the Barnard Bear.

References

1 2 3 UNM Traditions - The Lobo Mascot, University of New Mexico.
↑ UNM Traditions - The Lobo Nickname, University of New Mexico.
↑ The Lobos, U.N.M. Weekly, October 1, 1920, p.1.
↑ Associated Press, New Mexico considering live wolf as mascot, April 23, 2004.
↑ See photo, Geoff Grammer, Lobo Tickets Going Quickly, Albuquerque Journal, Feb 27, 2013.
↑ The Pit Official Site, Everyone's A Lobo! Archived 2014-06-18 at the Wayback Machine .
↑ Everyone's A Lobo!, LoboTV, December 2, 2010.
↑ Photo, Landscaping - Sculptures, Lobo statue at Stanford entrance, Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Libraries.
↑ Mara Kerkez, UNM's ‘Spirit of the Lobos’ program roams campus, UNM Newsroom, February 09, 2014.

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[Mascot-1] 1 2 3 UNM Traditions - The Lobo Mascot, University of New Mexico.

[2] UNM Traditions - The Lobo Nickname, University of New Mexico.

[3] The Lobos, U.N.M. Weekly, October 1, 1920, p.1.

[4] Associated Press, New Mexico considering live wolf as mascot, April 23, 2004.

[5] See photo, Geoff Grammer, Lobo Tickets Going Quickly, Albuquerque Journal, Feb 27, 2013.

[6] The Pit Official Site, Everyone's A Lobo! Archived 2014-06-18 at the Wayback Machine .

[7] Everyone's A Lobo!, LoboTV, December 2, 2010.

[8] Photo, Landscaping - Sculptures, Lobo statue at Stanford entrance, Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Libraries.

[9] Mara Kerkez, UNM's ‘Spirit of the Lobos’ program roams campus, UNM Newsroom, February 09, 2014.

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v t e New Mexico Lobos football
Venues	University Field (1892–1937) Zimmerman Field (1938–1959) University Stadium (1960–2019, 2021–present) Sam Boyd Stadium (2020)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Arizona New Mexico State: Rio Grande Rivalry
Culture & lore	Lobo "Hail, New Mexico" Spirit Marching Band Red Menace
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1892 1893 1894 1895–1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

v t e New Mexico Lobos men's basketball
Venues	Carlisle Gymnasium (1928–1957) Johnson Gymnasium (1957–1966) The Pit (1966–present)
Rivalries	New Mexico State
Culture & lore	Lobo Louie
People	Head coaches NBA draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

v t e Mascots of the Mountain West Conference
Full members	The Bird (Air Force) Buster Bronco (Boise State) CAM the Ram (Colorado State) Timeout & Victor E. Bulldog (Fresno State) Alphie (Nevada) Lobo Louie and Lucy (New Mexico) Aztec Warrior (San Diego State) Sammy Spartan (San Jose State) Hey Reb! (UNLV) Big Blue (Utah State) Pistol Pete, Cowboy Joe (Wyoming)
Affiliate members	Vili The Warrior (Hawaiʻi) (football)