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New Mexico Lobos
History
The Lobo Nickname
 A number of legends have arisen over the years as to how The
University of New Mexico got "Lobo" as its official nickname. When
the university began playing football in 1892, the team was simply
referred to as "The University Boys" or "Varsities" to distinguish
themselves from the prep school kids.
The student body, at least as early as 1917, began to seriously
explore the
possibilities for both a mascot and a new name for the student
newspaper, which was then called simply the "U.N. M. Weekly".
Several names for the paper were suggested, including The Rattler,
the Sand Devil, the Ki-yo-te and the Cherry and Silver. However,
there was no single name that struck a responsive chord among the
students and when school opened in the Fall of 1920 the U.N.M.
Weekly was still there.
On Sept. 22, 1920, sophomore George S. Bryan, editor of the U.N.M.
Weekly
and student manager of the football team, was present at a Student
Council meeting for the purpose of suggesting that the University
teams be given a mascot name as at that time many universities had
mascot names for their teams. Bryan suggested Lobo, the Spanish word
for wolf, as the nickname. The name was enthusiastically received.
The Oct. 1 issue of the student paper said, "The Lobo is respected
for his cunning,
feared for his prowess, and is the leader of the pack. It is the
ideal name for the
Varsity boys who go forth to battle for the glory of the school. All
together now;
fifteen rahs for the LOBOS." From that beginning, the Lobo nickname
has remained with The University of New Mexico for over 70 years.
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.
The UNM Fight Song
The UNM fight Song was written in 1930. The music to the Fight Song
was written by Dean Lena Clauve, who served the University for 32
years as a professor of music
education and as the Dean of Women. Dr. George St. Clair, professor
in the English
Department, wrote the lyrics.
Hail to thee, New Mexico, The loyal sons are we.
Marching down the field we go, Fighting for thee.
RAH! RAH! RAH!
Now we pledge ourfaith to thee, Never shall we fail.
Fighting ever, yielding never.
HAIL! HAIL! HAIL!
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