Mascot Mania: The Evolution of NC State's Mascot - Part I

This blog post was authored by Trey Kaufman, Special Collections Desk Assistant, and edited by Clara Wilson and Taylor Wolford.

Despite being known as the “Wolfpack,” NC State’s first mascot wasn’t a live wolf, or any animal for that matter. The first mascot was possibly Wallace Whitfield Riddick, son of future NC State President Wallace Carl Riddick. Appearing in a photo with the 1899 baseball team and described as "mascot," Riddick would have been around 5 years old at the time. The appearance of a child mascot may be surprising, however, some of the first known mascots in American sports were children. For example, "Little Nick" was a child mascot for the Boston Browns baseball team in the 1880s. Most early mascots were either children or live animals because they were associated with good luck. 

Wallace Whitfield Riddick, small child in the center, pictured here with the 1899 baseball team.

Following Riddick, the first live animal mascots appeared in the 1910s and were two adorable bulldogs. One was an English Bulldog named Tige and what appears to be an American Bulldog named Togo. Togo reportedly marched with students following a win for the baseball team, while Tige wasn't as widely reported as participating at games. Neither dog was officially declared mascot, but NC State students and athletes alike came to see them as the face of team sports at the college.

After Togo and Tige, it is likely that NC State didn’t have another live mascot for around 30 years. This would change in the 1940s with the addition of an actual wolf. The new mascot was a Timber Wolf named “State,” who would be NC State’s mascot for several years. In 1946, State the mascot was sold for $25 to a traveling zoo.

With State having been “sold down the river” to a zoo in 1946, NC State was without a mascot for another decade. This changed in 1959 with the addition of Lobo I. Lobo I received his famous name from a student vote, which opted for a nickname based on Mexican Gray Wolves. Lobo I came straight to North Carolina from the Philadelphia Zoo. Unfortunately for Lobo I, he wouldn’t be around for long, as he reportedly passed away two weeks after reaching NC State. Lobo I frequently appeared anemic and sickly, and it’s believed that he passed after being given a vitamin shot.

In light of Lobo I’s unfortunate passing, Lobo II was quickly located and brought to his new home at NC State in 1960. Another Timber Wolf like Lobo I, Lobo II appeared at some football games and other events, but was fearful of large crowds and loud noises. Anxiety with crowds likely contributed to Lobo II’s escape from his handlers, though it's possible that he was freed according to some sources. Despite a thorough search, complete with various baits, traps, and search dogs, Lobo II was never seen again.

After waiting a few years, the campus community decided another mascot was needed. NC State welcomed Lobo III in 1966 after the student body raised over $700 for his purchase and upkeep. Though initially believed to be, and advertised as a Timber Wolf like previous Lobos, Lobo III was a coyote. This spurred the phrase “Kyoties are Kool” and other variations shared in the Technician, such as this October 1967 issue. Unlike the Lobos who came before him, Lobo III would have an ordinary life as a mascot making numerous appearances at games and student events over the years. In 1970, it was decided that Lobo III was ready to retire, as he was living at a farm away from the university and had become less tame. Initially, the NC Zoo was the proposed home for Lobo III, but the zoo had no funds for his upkeep. A place was found for him with a man who used to raise dogs, and there was plenty of space for Lobo III to live out the rest of his coyote days. 

After Lobo III, another Lobo took up the mantle as NC State's mascot. Despite the previous naming conventions, this Lobo was also known as Lobo II, although being the pet of a faculty member, his name was Fritz. Fritz was ⅔ wolf and ⅓ German Shepherd, and he had a calmer attitude and an easier time with crowds. Following the Lobo “dynasty," there were some unnamed huskies or malamutes kept as mascots for State in the 1970s, with some of them making appearances at NC State games and others for some photos with Ms. Wuf.

After a series of huskies and/or malamutes, NC State wouldn’t see an official live mascot for decades. In an oral history interview, Student Body President Andy Walsh (2012-2013) recalls the challenges of bringing a live mascot to NC State. According to Walsh, the process of acquiring a Tamaskan dog as the official mascot faced opposition from both campus administrators and vet groups on campus. Walsh met with members of the vet school to discuss the proposal, after which it was decided that the Tamaskan would be raised with a local family to provide training and care for future NC State mascots. Walsh states that the support of Athletics Director Debbie Yow was instrumental in getting the bill approved for a live mascot. 

The mascot drought finally ended with the addition of Tuffy in 2010. The first Tuffy appeared for only a single football game. This Tuffy didn't return, however, as his owner was alleged to have been running a puppy mill for breeding Tamaskans, which possibly contributed to the Athletic Department’s decision not to renew that Tuffy for further appearances. Following this, another Tamaskan dog was located, a pet named Wave, who would join NC State in 2010. Wave, or Tuffy I, would eventually shift away from his job as NC State’s mascot and be replaced by Tuffy II, also known as Hulk (pictured below). 

Tuffy II became the new mascot in June of 2016, and quickly adjusted to being a fan-favorite. Unfortunately for Tuffy II, a heart condition called canine dilated cardiomyopathy, which weakens the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body, resulted in Tuffy II passing away in his sleep in October of 2020. Following Tuffy II’s passing, Tuffy III was brought to campus in July of 2021. Fathered by Tuffy I, Tuffy III became the new face of NC State on July 13, 2021. Tuffy III continues to represent the Pack with appearances at NC State games and athletic events, and you can follow him at @packtuffy3 on Instagram. 

To learn more about our mascots and other symbols of the University, check out the Libraries' NC State Mascots, Colors, Team Names, and Symbols Timeline. You can also browse additional images of the mascot in our Rare and Unique Digital Collections. SCRC holds several oral histories discussing the history of NC State's live mascot, including interviews with Haden Edward Knox and Andy Walsh.

If you have any questions or are interested in viewing Special Collections materials, please contact us at library_specialcollections@ncsu.edu or submit a request online. The Special Collections Research Center is open by appointment only. Appointments are available Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm and Saturday, 1pm–5pm. Requests for a Saturday appointment must be received no later than Tuesday of the same week.