By Emmie Brooks | Sneakers squeak on the polished court, and a sea of red waits to erupt. Somewhere in the tunnel, a pair of oversized paws flex,…
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By Emmie Brooks |
Sneakers squeak on the polished court, and a sea of red waits to erupt. Somewhere in the tunnel, a pair of oversized paws flex, ears twitch, and a heavy wolf’s head shifts into place. The mascot’s vision narrows to a thin mesh slit, the costume hot and heavy—but the moment the lights hit, Mr. and Ms. Wuf are no longer stitched fabric and foam. They’re the heart of the Wolfpack—larger-than-life symbols who work the sidelines, fire up the crowd, and carry decades of North Carolina State University tradition on their padded shoulders.
“They’ve been around for 50 years,” Rachel Fenton, NC State’s mascot coach, says. “They are integral to the school.” Fenton knows this from experience. She donned the suit as Ms. Wuf from 2021 to 2023, and now trains the next generation of performers.
The story of Mr. and Ms. Wuf begins nearly a century ago. From 1910 to 1919, NC State’s sports teams were represented by bulldogs named Togo and Tige. By 1921, a suggested nickname, “Wolf Pack,” appeared in the alumni newsletter. Another legend claims a newspaper once called the football team “unruly as a pack of wolves,” though no one can confirm it. Over time, the nickname stuck and became a cornerstone of the university’s identity.
The first student mascot debuted in the early 1960s in a wolf costume, and after women’s athletics were introduced, a female mascot appeared in 1975. Back then, they were Mr. and Ms. Wolf. In 1982, Scott Joseph, then the male mascot, wore a costume his mother made. When she realized “Mr. Wolf” wouldn’t fit on the jersey, Wuf was born.
“Mr. Wuf is no longer wearing things like jeans or sweaters; he’s most often seen in shorts and a jersey, for whatever season it is,” Fenton says. “Alumni are very attached to them, which is why if we ever decide to upgrade the suits, we’re not changing the look. I’ve described Mr. and Ms. Wuf as NC State’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse, which they very much are.” In 1981, Mr. and Ms. Wuf were married in a halftime ceremony officiated by the Wake Forest Demon Deacon mascot. The two conjoined in “canis matrimonium,” and Chancellor Joab Thomas gave the bride away. In 2011, the couple renewed their wedding vows at another basketball game, also officiated by the Demon Deacon.
Aside from their own wedding, Mr. and Ms. Wuf are often seen as surprise guests at many NC State alumni weddings. “They do hundreds of weddings,” Fenton says. “You would not believe how many weddings I went to as a college mascot … it was almost one a week!”
Fenton’s own story is a testament to the mascot’s unique role in bringing people together. She and her fiancé, Chase Smith, met while performing as Mr. and Ms. Wuf. “So we’re planning to have them at our wedding as well,” she says.
Beyond the court (and wedding reception dance floors), Mr. and Ms. Wuf appear at nearly every corner of campus. “You can see them at award ceremonies, the chancellor’s fall address, outdoor events … pretty much anything they’re requested for,” Fenton says.
Rivalries bring their own brand of mischief, too—like when Ms. Wuf poses with UNC fans but casually covers the Tar Heel logo on their shirts. “We’re still friendly,” Fenton laughs. “But you’ve got to cover that up.”
And sure, the wolves have their traditions—tumbling across the mat with the cheer team at NCA Nationals, or the fourth-quarter routine where Ms. Wuf climbs the marching band conductor’s ladder to lead Hey Baby while Mr. Wuf belts it back from the field. But ask Fenton what sticks with her, and it isn’t the big, rehearsed routines. It’s the little things.
“Every time I got a young kid who was scared or unsure, I’d sit with them, work with them, and try to make them happy,”
she says. “When they gave me a hug or a high-five afterward—those are all of the things I remember the most.”
Being Mr. or Ms. Wuf, of course, is no casual gig. Students go through a tryout process that starts with interest meetings and video submissions before moving on to interviews and even a trial run in the suit. The standard is high—every paw wave and head tilt has to feel seamless. But for the few who make it, the reward is worth it.
“When mascots are taking photos and we’re in the suits, most of us are grinning, even under the heads,” she says. “Raleigh sees them as representative of NC State and their spirit.”
On the court, at a wedding, or in the middle of the Brickyard, Mr. and Ms. Wuf embody the same thing everywhere they go: decades of tradition, connection, and Wolfpack pride. It’s a heavy responsibility—but also the magic that keeps the legend alive.
