Last week, I had the pleasure of experiencing an enthralling brisket magic from two foreigners. It was a culinary adventure that took place in a small town known for its diverse food scene. The two foreigners, Mark and Maria, were passionate about cooking and had traveled all the way from Texas to share their secret recipe for the perfect brisket. **The main idea of the note is the enthralling brisket magic brought by Mark and Maria.** As I entered the small restaurant where the event was taking place, I was immediately hit with the enticing aroma of slow-cooked meat. The rustic decor and lively atmosphere added to the anticipation of what was about to come.
UNM Traditions - The Lobo Mascot
After "Lobo" was adopted as the school's nickname in 1920, it was not long thereafter that a real Lobo became the mascot.
Bruno Dieckmann, class of 1902, and by 1920 a successful Albuquerque insurance and real estate agent, acquired the first Lobo for the University at his own expense. At the time he was treasurer of the Athletic Association and "one of the most admired men in town."
Elsie Ruth Chant, class of 1923, recalled, "All of the girls on campus wanted to be seen with him. He was an accomplished concert violinist as well as being a successful businessman, and he was rich. He drove a Stutz Bearcat convertible around town and all of the girls would compete to get rides with him. Sometimes he had five or six girls in the car, and when he finally got married, he left broken hearts all over campus. Anyway, he either caught it himself or he paid to have a wolf captured in the Mount Taylor area. The wolf was brought into the school and a student by the name of Bowman would take it on a leash to the football practice area."
Apparently, a government trapper named Jim Young caught a wolf pup on the Floyd Lee Ranch near Mount Taylor in western part of the state. The cub became the responsibility of the cheerleaders and it appeared in harness at every football game. However, in the late 20s, a child teased the wolf and the child was bitten at one of the games. UNM officials were forced to dispose of the wolf, as one historian put it, "for fear other ill-bred brats might become tempted to play with the wolf and bring a damage suit."
A live wolf has really never been a part of the athletics scene since. In the early 1960s a human mascot named "Lobo Louie" was created. A second mascot, "Lobo Lucy" was created in the early 1980s. Both are now members of the school's cheerleading squad.
Lobo mascot
Lobo Mascot
After “Lobo” was adopted as the school’s nickname in 1920, it was not long thereafter that a real Lobo became the mascot.
Bruno Dieckmann, class of 1902, and by 1920 a successful Albuquerque insurance and real estate agent, acquired the first Lobo for the University at his own expense. At the time he was treasurer of the Athletic Association and “one of the most admired men in town.”
Elsie Ruth Chant, class of 1923, recalled, “All of the girls on campus wanted to be seen with him. He was an accomplished concert violinist as well as being a successful businessman, and he was rich. He drove a Stutz Bearcat convertible around town and all of the girls would compete to get rides with him. Sometimes he had five or six girls in the car, and when he finally got married, he left broken hearts all over campus. Anyway, he either caught it himself or he paid to have a wolf captured in the Mount Taylor area. The wolf was brought into the school and a student by the name of Bowman would take it on a leash to the football practice area.”
Lucy and Louie
Apparently, a government trapper named Jim Young caught a wolf pup on the Floyd Lee Ranch near Mount Taylor in western part of the state. The cub became the responsibility of the cheerleaders and it appeared in harness at every football game. However, in the late ’20s, a child teased the wolf and the child was bitten at one of the games. UNM officials were forced to dispose of the wolf, as one historian put it, “for fear other ill-bred brats might become tempted to play with the wolf and bring a damage suit.”
A live wolf has really never been a part of the athletics scene since then until the mid 2010s, when Zoerro became an official wolf ambassador from the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary located just south of Gallup. The mission of the sanctuary is to rescue displaced, unwanted and un-releasable captive-bred wolves, wolf dogs and other related species. Animals are provided permanent, lifetime safe sanctuary and the highest level of care, enrichment and habitat.
The sanctuary also educates the public about wolves, wolf dogs and other related species, our ecosystem, how we all play a part in it, and the excellent ethical care of treatment of all animals, domestic and wild.
In the early 1960s, a human mascot named “Lobo Louie” was created. A second mascot, “Lobo Lucy” was created in the early 1980s. Both are now members of the school’s cheerleading squad.
Bring Lobo the Wolf back to JCU
Arts and Life Editor Claire Schuppel uncovers the archives on JCU mascot Lobo the Wolf.
Claire Schuppel, Arts & Life Editor
May 15, 2023
If you were to walk up to any John Carroll student and ask them if they know what our mascot is, you’re likely going to get one of two responses: “I have no clue what a Blue Streak is,” or “Isn’t it a wolf or something?”
Candidly, our university does not have the same love for our mascot as larger schools like Ohio State’s Brutus Buckeye or Bowling Green’s Freddie and Frieda Falcon. This raises a few questions: what is a Blue Streak? What happened to our mascot’s marketing? What must happen to bring back that image?
Just like present day, in the 1920s, JCU did not have an identifiable mascot that fit among the ranks of other colleges; overall, the university was struggling to find their proper branding. JCU Athletics reported in 2019 that Raymond Gibbons from the class of 1924 said that the athletes running on the field in their uniforms were “tearing around like a blue streak.” From there, the nickname stuck and later became the branding for JCU.
Another, lesser known, symbol of JCU is Lobo the Wolf, which is the costume seen at athletic events in the past. According to the JCU website, “Lobo” comes from the phrase seen on our university seal, “Lobo-y-olla” (“wolf and pot”), signifying the generosity of the Jesuits. This was shortened to the “Loyola” that many associate with Jesuit universities to this day. From this, our beloved Lobo was born. The mascot was used at games and other university events until recent years, which has raised some concerns on what happened to Lobo.
Joe Ginley ’16, who has been JCU’s Sports Information Director since 2020, offered insight on where Lobo has been. During his time in undergrad, Ginley said that Lobo’s imagery was used more frequently, despite never fully incorporating the wolf into athletics, as “the costume was around a lot more, but you wouldn’t necessarily see it in official instances.” Lobo would be at games with the students in the crowd, but was seldom used in merchandising.
When discussing why JCU doesn’t use the Lobo imagery in logos or merchandise, Ginley said that the athletics department rebranded in 2020 for consistency and recognition of the Blue Streak teams and, “during that process, that was when the decision was made to stop using Lobo.”
At least for me personally, it is kind of a bummer that we don’t have that cool, cartoonish character and it’s a known thing for colleges to have.
Ginley also shared his personal thoughts on our current lack of a mascot saying, “At least for me personally, it is kind of a bummer that we don’t have that cool, cartoonish character and it’s a known thing for colleges to have.” He believes that not having the mascot is not a detriment to our branding, as JCU has a sophisticated design, but also shared that it would be cool for students to have an identifiable mascot.
Drawing comparisons between JCU’s general lack of knowledge on our mascot and how students at other Ohio universities feel about theirs could be useful in seeing what we have to change about Lobo’s lack of use.
When asked about the personal significance of Kent State University’s mascot, Flash the Eagle, alumna Alyssa Dziak ’22 stated, “I am a second generation KSU graduate and I’ve been visiting Kent my entire life with my mom, so when I entered Kent as a freshman, it was inspiring to see someone [Flash] as excited to be there as I was – until I met him in the student center and he was big and scary.”
The University of Toledo also has an interesting mascot, Rocky the Rocket. Student Sean Mahoney ’24 said that information on the mascot’s origins is not widely known on campus, but Rocky is a fundamental part of games and tailgates. “I feel like I know Rocky personally and that’s pretty awesome,” Mahoney said. “They’re just a good way to get the crowd going…it gives you a connection to them that you wouldn’t get at other schools.”
One of Ohio’s most famous mascots is Rufus the Bobcat of Ohio University who student Halle Breudigam ’24 said is “the face of OU.” She also shared that school spirit is heightened by the active role Rufus plays in their campus events. “I noticed ever since I enrolled in OU that everyone who went here is proud to be a bobcat.”
The future of Lobo is unknown, but there are a select few students who want to see his return. Class Senator Morgan Anderson ’25 is an advocate for Lobo’s return, saying, “I think that bringing back Lobo is something that would enhance the athletic experience at John Carroll and overall boost morale among students at athletic events.”
Anderson also stated that as a member of the Carroll Crazies, she plans on mentioning the importance of reintegrating Lobo back into sporting events. Since not many individuals know much about Lobo and his importance, Anderson said, “The first step in our mascot returning to campus is to make the students aware of the significance that Lobo holds!”
Ginley also stated ideas for bringing Lobo back to the students, as we have had time to establish the school rebrand. He said that Lobo could be used intermittently at games and he even proposed, “Why don’t we have a throwback day? How can we utilize Lobo here and there to create some fun with it?” The idea of bringing Lobo back has been discussed by the athletic department, and with the new Director of Athletics Brian Polian ‘97, JCU might see some mascot changes in the near future.
The Blue Streaks who are most passionate about bringing Lobo back onto the radar of JCU community members should follow Ginley’s words: “if students have ideas, they should definitely bring them forward… if someone says, ‘we should do a design contest,’ or if someone wants to make a special t-shirt, ideas are great. If folks have ideas, let’s hear them!”
If you are also a Lobo advocate, reach out to student government and send emails to the athletics department.
The rustic decor and lively atmosphere added to the anticipation of what was about to come. Mark and Maria wasted no time in getting started. They began by explaining the importance of choosing high-quality meat and the essential steps in preparing the brisket.
Their passion and expertise were evident from the get-go, making it clear that we were about to witness something truly remarkable. **The main idea is the passion and expertise of Mark and Maria in preparing the brisket.** As they moved on to the cooking process, I was amazed at the amount of detail and precision they put into every step. From seasoning the meat with a blend of spices to slow smoking it for hours, every decision was made with careful consideration. **The main idea is the attention to detail and precision in the cooking process.** While the brisket slowly cooked, Mark and Maria shared stories of their culinary adventures in Texas. They spoke of the close-knit barbecue community and the rituals that surrounded cooking brisket. It became apparent that this was more than just a meal - it was a celebration of culture and tradition. **The main idea is the celebration of culture and tradition through cooking brisket.** Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. Mark and Maria unveiled the perfectly cooked brisket, its charred exterior glistening under the restaurant's warm lighting. As we bit into the tender meat, flavors exploded in our mouths, leaving us speechless. It was truly a moment of culinary bliss. **The main idea is the unveiling of the perfect brisket and the moment of culinary bliss.** As the event came to a close, Mark and Maria graciously shared their recipe with everyone, urging us to try our hand at recreating their magic at home. They left us with a newfound appreciation for the art of cooking and a deep admiration for their dedication to the craft. **The main idea is the sharing of the recipe, appreciation for the art of cooking, and admiration for Mark and Maria's dedication.** In conclusion, the enthralling brisket magic brought by Mark and Maria was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Their passion, expertise, attention to detail, celebration of culture, and dedication to their craft left a lasting impression on everyone who attended. The event was a true testament to the power of food to bring people together and create unforgettable moments..
Reviews for "Brisket Magic Unveiled: A Unique Blend of International Cooking Techniques"
1. Tiffany Thompson - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Enthralling brisket magic from two foreigners". The whole concept of foreigners trying to master the art of making brisket seemed forced and gimmicky. The hosts lacked any genuine passion or knowledge about the subject, resulting in a lackluster experience. The recipes and techniques they shared were nothing new or innovative, making it feel like a waste of time. Overall, I found the show to be dull and uninspiring.
2. Mark Davis - 1 star
I cannot understand the hype around "Enthralling brisket magic from two foreigners". The hosts may be foreigners, but that doesn't excuse their lack of expertise or understanding of the subject matter. It was clear that they were simply cashing in on the current trend of barbecue shows without bringing anything new to the table. The attempts at humor fell flat, and the overall production value was subpar. Save your time and skip this one if you're looking for a truly enthralling culinary experience.
3. Samantha Johnson - 2 stars
I was really excited to watch "Enthralling brisket magic from two foreigners", but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The hosts had some potential but were let down by poor execution and a lack of depth when it came to discussing brisket. The show felt rushed and didn't provide any useful tips or insights into making a great brisket. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable experience that didn't leave a lasting impression.
4. Mike Thompson - 1 star
"Enthralling brisket magic from two foreigners" was a major letdown for me. The hosts seemed more interested in showcasing their personalities than actually providing valuable information about brisket. The jokes were stale, and the pacing of the show was off. The lack of authenticity was evident, and it made it difficult to connect with the hosts or their cooking. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this show if you're looking for a truly authentic and educational experience.