The NCST mascot is a representation of the National College of Science and Technology. It serves as the official symbol and mascot of the institution, embodying the identity and spirit of the school community. The mascot plays an important role in promoting school pride, unity, and enthusiasm among students, faculty, and staff. The NCST mascot is often seen during various school events, such as sports tournaments, intramurals, and cultural celebrations. It is usually depicted as a character or animal that embodies characteristics or values that align with the school's mission and vision. The mascot's appearance can vary but is commonly designed to be visually appealing, memorable, and relatable to the wider community.

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

Over the years, NC State has had a range of mascots, from children to robotic wolf-men. All of these changes have culminated in our current mascots, who have become staples at NC State sporting events and celebrations. For more information about mascot history at NC State, refer to part I of the “Mascot Mania” blog series .

Mr. and Ms. Wuf are recognizable figures in collegiate sports, but there was a period of time when other mascots reigned supreme. In 1946, a mechanical engineering student, Ira Helms, built and operated a mechanical wolf-man costume known on campus as “Hell” or “Wolf-Monster. ” The robot costume stood over seven feet tall with a chest that measured 10 feet around, and Helms created the costume with assistance from an instructor in the Mechanical Drawing Department. According to a Technician article , “it is believed that State College is the first school ever to have a robot (mechanical wolf) for a mascot.” However, Helms ran out of time to make the robot costume fully operational, so he wore the wolf costume at football games while another student walked behind him with a fake control box. The mascot lasted less than a year, and sadly, it was “laid to rest” in a funeral ceremony after the 1947 Gator Bowl. Different versions of the wolf mascot appeared in the following years, including an imposing figure featured in the 1948 Agromeck .

By the 1960s, the cheerleading team created one of the earliest iterations of the wolf mascot known at the time as “Mr. Wolf.” Mr. Wolf’s first known appearances date from the early 1960s, and his first costume was a wolf felt suit . The felt suit lasted from around 1963 to 1969, and by 1975, the look transitioned to this gray costume featuring a friendlier design and a white cap. Mr. Wolf wore this costume until the 1980s, after which the costume incorporated a white sailor hat with “NCSU” stitched on the brim.

In the 1980s, the mascot’s name officially changed from “Mr. Wolf” to “Mr. Wuf '' when a student, Scott Joseph, debuted a new costume made by his mother. Joseph’s mother began sewing the mascot’s name on the back of the jersey, and she didn’t have enough room to spell “Wolf,” so she shortened the name to “Wuf.” This spelling change became permanent after the 1982-1983 season, and the figure known as Mr. Wuf was born. The 1990s ushered in new changes to the Mr. Wuf costume, as a new cartoonish costume was adopted at this time. Between 2000 and 2003, Mr. Wuf’s suit was updated again before the creation of the current costume seen around campus today.

In the 1970s, the athletics administration and students decided that Mr. Wuf needed a companion. Following the passing of Title IX in 1972, Ms. Wuf was introduced alongside Mr. Wuf to represent women’s athletics at NC State. Over the years, Ms. Wuf would undergo numerous costume and clothing changes. Her first costume (pictured on the right) featured overalls, a head, and a tail. The original costume for Ms. Wuf was replaced by another costume between the 1983 and 1984 seasons when the mascot first switched to wearing a sleeveless dress. This costume changed between 1990 and 1991 to feature her signature halter dress and bow. In 1992, the head of the costume was changed to showcase an even friendlier expression, and this costume design would continue for years until it was eventually replaced in the early 2000s. Her signature bow and halter dress were a staple for years, along with a ring she received from her 1981 wedding to Mr. Wuf.

After the creation of Ms. Wuf, Chris Belton, the student portraying Mr. Wuf, argued that the name Mr. and Ms. Wuf was confusing since it implied that the duo was married. Consequently, members of the cheer squad insisted that NC State should conduct a marriage ceremony to unite the pair in "canis matrimonium” and promote school spirit. On February 28, 1981, the couple officially wed at Reynolds Coliseum in a ceremony held at halftime during a men’s basketball game against Wake Forest. Chancellor Joab L. Thomas escorted Ms. Wuf down the aisle while the Demon Deacon mascot officiated the wedding. There were also two wolf cubs at the wedding, but it is unclear whether they were a part of the wedding or were Mr. and Ms. Wuf’s children. The happy couple renewed their vows 30 years later in 2011 at Reynolds Coliseum, with the Demon Deacon again officiating, and Ms. Wuf received a new ring.

As NC State’s mascot pair, Mr. and Ms. Wuf have seen their fair share of strange events. In 1977, Mr. and Ms. Wuf were kidnapped for a March of Dimes fundraising event. NC State’s Circle K club abducted the mascot pair and subsequently posted a demand for their ransom in the Technician . The ransom note stated that in order to “ensure their [Mr. and Ms. Wuf’s] safe return for the ACC tournament, send a donation” to the Circle K club. A year later, Ms. Wuf’s head was stolen at a NC State club hockey game in Greensboro. The culprit, who was later identified as a UNC-Chapel Hill student, snuck up behind Ms. Wuf at the game. The student ripped the mascot’s head off and then fled into a waiting car. Thankfully, the student returned the mascot’s head to UNC cheerleaders out of fear of legal trouble, and the cheerleaders returned the head to NC State.

Despite many changes over the years, Mr. and Ms. Wuf are known today for their vibrant red costumes and friendly wolf faces, and they represent the Wolfpack at games, celebrations, and other important events. More recently, the iconic duo was voted the nation’s top mascot , and they continue to represent excellence in the NC State community and beyond.

To learn more about 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 . If you are interested in following the adventures of Mr. and Ms. Wuf, their official accounts are @mr.wuf and @ms.wuf on Instagram.

If you have any questions or are interested in viewing Special Collections materials, please contact us at [email protected] 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.

The story behind a decal of NC State's mascot eating UNC's mascot

Last week, eagle-eyed Rabbit Hole reader Lesa Kastanas flagged this tweet for me:

It bears repeating: The sticker you are looking at is NC State’s beloved Mr. Wuf 1 FEASTING UPON THE CARCASS OF A DEAD RAMESES. Look, I know that college mascots are pretty much the Platonic ideal of anthropomorphism. That said, I’m really weirded out by a wolf in a sweater feasting upon the bones of a ram in a UNC sailor hat. It’s… a lot.

It turns out that this is not the only sticker that shows Mr. Wuf committing potential war crimes upon other ACC mascots:

I have a particular beef with the decal that shows Mr. Wuf boiling the Duke Blue Devil alive. He’s a devil! He should be impervious to heat! Still, I’m okay with it because 1.) this is Duke we’re talking about and 2.) this appears to be the precursor to the classic NC State Slobberin’/Horny Wolf logo . I’ll allow it.

Also, it appears that Mr. Wuf is putting the Wake Forest Demon Deacon into the Boston Crab or the Sharpshooter . Apparently the Deacon forgave him, since he officiated Mr. Wuf’s wedding a few decades later.

At this point, you may be wondering: How did they get away with this? As in, how can you make stickers that show a representative of an institution of higher learning committing murder and/or mercilessly torturing other mascots? Well for that, I have to take you back. Back in time. Back to a point in our nation’s history where colleges and universities didn’t give a shit about making serious money off of their mascots.

The mascot's appearance can vary but is commonly designed to be visually appealing, memorable, and relatable to the wider community. The mascot represents the lively and vibrant atmosphere of the school and serves as a rallying point for students and alumni. It helps to create a sense of belonging and camaraderie among individuals associated with the institution.

You down with ‘Pack IP? Yeah you know me!

I know! We now live in a world where there’s a mad scramble to lock up every bit of intellectual property because everyone from corporations to colleges sees it as a potential revenue stream. This can lead to hilariously preposterous results, like Ohio State University’s successful trademarking of the word “The. ”

But until about 40 or 50 years ago, hardly any universities had any internal licensing departments. UCLA administrators were the first to realize they could make a lot of money by getting others to pay to put their logo on, say, t-shirts and mugs. Ohio State followed in 1974 . Then, in the early 1980s, the floodgates opened. UNC and NC State trademarked their logos, along with dozens of other schools. Today, the Collegiate Licensing Company handles the licensing for hundreds of institutions, and the move was one of many that nudged regionally beloved universities toward becoming national brands. This also had the side effect of standardizing all of the looks of the mascots. You can only trademark so many traditions, images, and slogans.

Before that, though, the world of mascots was a free-for-all. “Back in the day, licensing didn’t exist,” says Homefield Apparel founder Connor Hitchcock. “Because of that, it’s hard to find any institutional memory of these things.” Today, Homefield works with universities to create shirts, pants, and stickers that feature vintage logos. If you look at enough of them, you may notice something: They all seem to have sort of a Disney feel to them. That’s because many of them were created by one man, Arthur Evans, who supposedly was once a Disney illustrator. In 1933, a new decal company named Angelus Pacific hired him to be its lead artist , and Evans spent the next 45 years there sketching, drawing, and painting on-demand logos for stickers. If your college or university didn’t have a mascot, Evans would create one.

How custom were these logos? Depends. An authoritative article on the origins of Occidental College’s tiger logo showed that that the same drawing was used as the LSU, Auburn, and University of the Pacific tigers, albeit in different colors and lettering on their sailor hats 2 . UNC’s ram, for example, was also adopted by Fordham, Colorado State, and other colleges and high schools.

Those Murderous Mr. Wuf images? They look like Arthur Evans decals. They seem to be from the right era. But were they actually… real?

The mascot is often present at games and rallies, encouraging and motivating participants and spectators alike. Furthermore, the mascot is used as a promotional tool for the institution. It can be featured in various marketing materials, such as brochures, banners, and social media campaigns, to attract prospective students, sponsors, and supporters. By showcasing an engaging and recognizable mascot, the NCST can communicate its unique identity and create a positive impression on potential stakeholders. In conclusion, the NCST mascot serves as a symbolic representation of the National College of Science and Technology. It plays a vital role in promoting school spirit, unity, and enthusiasm among the school community. Through its presence at events and use in promotional materials, the mascot helps to foster a sense of belonging and pride in the institution..

Reviews for "The Ncst Mascot's Journey: From Tryouts to Center Stage"

1. Jane - 1/5 stars - The Ncst mascot was just terrible. It didn't resemble anything related to the school or its values. It was an awkward-looking character that seemed creepy to both children and adults. The mascot's costume was poorly designed and the material used felt cheap. Overall, it was a disappointing choice for a mascot and I hope they consider changing it soon.

2. Mike - 2/5 stars - Although the Ncst mascot had good intentions, it was poorly executed. The character's design was confusing, and it didn't effectively represent the spirit and identity of the school. Additionally, the mascot's movements during sports events were clumsy and uncoordinated, which did not engage the audience as intended. For a mascot to be successful, it should inspire school pride and bring a sense of excitement, but sadly, the Ncst mascot fell short in these aspects.

3. Kelly - 1/5 stars - The Ncst mascot was far from impressive. It lacked creativity and originality, appearing like a generic character that could be found anywhere. The lack of thought put into the mascot's design was evident, as it didn't reflect the spirit and uniqueness of the school. Furthermore, the mascot's presence during events seemed forced and artificial, failing to generate any real enthusiasm or connection with the students and fans. Overall, the Ncst mascot was a disappointment and failed to leave a positive impression on me or anyone else I spoke to.

4. Mark - 2/5 stars - As a longtime supporter of the Ncst team, I was hoping for a mascot that would embody the school's values and ignite excitement among the fans. Unfortunately, the Ncst mascot fell short of expectations. Its design was unimaginative and lacked personality. The costume looked outdated and didn't seem professionally made. It was disappointing to see the lack of effort put into the mascot, as it could have been an integral part of the Ncst spirit. I hope the school reconsiders and invests in a more engaging and representative mascot in the future.

How the Ncst Mascot Boosts Game Day Excitement and Fan Engagement