Wolfie the Seawolf
{{Short description|Stony Brook University sports mascot}}
{{Infobox College Mascot
| name = Wolfie the Seawolf
| image = Wolfie,_the_Stony_Brook_mascot.jpg
| caption = Wolfie the Seawolf
| image_size = 250
| university = Stony Brook University
| team = Stony Brook Seawolves
| conference = Coastal Athletic Association
| conference_short = Coastal Athletic Association
| description = Anthropomorphic sea wolf
| name_origin = Winning entry in competition
| first_seen = 1995
| related_mascots =
| official_website =
| hall_of_fame =
| height = 6'9"
}}
Wolfie the Seawolf is the mascot of the Stony Brook Seawolves, the athletic teams representing Stony Brook University, one of two public flagship universities in New York state. Wolfie is depicted as an anthropomorphic sea wolf and was introduced in 1995 as the Stony Brook athletic program began its transition to the NCAA's Division I level, the highest in United States collegiate athletics.
History
= Background =
In the 1950s, Stony Brook athletic teams were known as the Soundsmen, named for the campus's then-location in Oyster Bay, New York. After moving to Stony Brook, the teams competed as the Warriors from 1963 to 1966. Since 1966, Stony Brook competed as the Stony Brook Patriots at the Division III level.
= Origin =
In 1994, Stony Brook University sought a new team name and mascot for its transition to Division I. The name "Seawolves" was chosen over 200 candidates by a 32-person committee made up of students, alumni, faculty and administrators. The following year, Wolfie the Seawolf mascot was created.{{Cite web|last=Lauzon|first=Amanda De|date=2019-08-23|title=15 Mascots That Rally Long Island College Spirit|url=https://www.longislandpress.com/2019/08/23/15-mascots-that-rally-long-island-college-spirit/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=LI Press|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Athletic Traditions | Stony Brook Traditions|url=https://www.stonybrook.edu/traditions/athletics.shtml}}
=Design=
The design for Wolfie's costume evolved over the years. The initial costume was thought to be "too intimidating" to children, and was replaced with a more cartoonish design. In 2006, the Wolfie design was changed again in an attempt to appear more "professional." Wolfie has a wardrobe of different outfits for different occasions, including pajamas, a lab coat, a tuxedo, and various hats and pants.
Appearances in media
In 2005, Wolfie beat up J.J. Jumper, the NCAA's official basketball mascot, during an America East tournament game.{{Cite web |last=Gillette |first=Felix |date=2005-04-01 |title=College basketball's unloved, world-weary ambassador. |url=https://slate.com/culture/2005/04/college-basketball-s-unloved-world-weary-ambassador.html |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=Slate Magazine |language=en}}
Wolfie met Al Roker, a weatherman on NBC's Today show, during a live segment in 2008. Along with the Stony Brook University marching band, dance team and cheerleading team, Wolfie was featured in a 2010 episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition which highlighted in a home in East Setauket, New York.{{Cite web|title=Mascot of the Week - Stony Brook|url=http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/3762|access-date=2022-02-12|website=www.collegesportsmadness.com|language=en}}
Wolfie was one of 17 college mascots to appear in a 2011 commercial for ESPN's College GameDay. Stony Brook was the only Football Championship Subdivision school represented by its mascot in the commercial.
In 2012, a video of Wolfie dancing to "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer was named "Web Video of the Day" by ESPN.
Wolfie marched alongside the Stony Brook baseball team in the 2012 New York City Columbus Day Parade to commemorate the Seawolves' Cinderella run to the College World Series.{{Cite web|date=2012-10-10|title=PHOTOS: Stony Brook Marches in Columbus Day Parade|url=https://patch.com/new-york/threevillage/photos-stony-brook-marches-in-columbus-day-parade|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Three Village, NY Patch|language=en}} Since 2014, Wolfie regularly marches with the Stony Brook dance team and marching band in the annual Columbus Day Parade.{{Cite web|date=2018-03-19|title=Fun Facts About Wolfie {{!}}|url=https://news.stonybrook.edu/athletics/fun-facts-about-wolfie/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=SBU News|language=en-US}}
On March 15, 2014, Wolfie was involved in a physical fight with Damien the Great Dane, the mascot for the Albany Great Danes, in the first half of the America East Championship game. The well-publicized altercation came as Stony Brook faced its longtime New York rival Albany with a bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.{{Cite web|last=Kussoy|first=Howie|last2=|first2=|last3=|first3=|date=2014-03-16|title=Mascots square off at America East title game|url=https://nypost.com/2014/03/15/mascots-square-off-at-america-east-title-game/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=New York Post|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Sherman|first=Rodger|date=2014-03-15|title=Albany, Stony Brook mascots fight during game|url=https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/3/15/5512130/stony-brook-albany-mascots-fight-during-america-east-championship-game|access-date=2022-02-12|website=SBNation.com|language=en}}
In 2020, Ryan Field, an Emmy-winning broadcaster for ABC's Eyewitness News, portrayed Wolfie in a segment.{{Cite web|last=Field|first=Ryan|date=2020-02-22|title=Field Trip: Mascot Madness!|url=https://abc7ny.com/field-trip/5956793/|access-date=2022-02-12|website=ABC7 New York|language=en}}
For two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023, Wolfie won the SUNY Mascot Madness title for Stony Brook. Mascot Madness is the annual competition that brings the State University of New York mascots together in a competition to find out who the fans feel is the best in all of New York.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-07 |title=Wolfie Wins SUNY Mascot Madness for Second Straight Year |url=https://news.stonybrook.edu/university/wolfie-wins-suny-mascot-madness-for-2nd-straight-year/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |language=en-US}}
In January 2024, Wolfie finished fifth in the Open Mascot division at the Universal Cheerleading Association's College Cheer and Dance Team National Championships{{Cite web |last=Harrington |first=Joe |date=2024-01-13 |title=UCA National Mascot Championship Results 2024: Aubie The Tiger Wins |url=https://tv.varsity.com/articles/11881868-uca-national-mascot-championship-results-2024-aubie-the-tiger-wins |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Varsity TV |language=en}}
On September 26, 2024, a bronze statue of Wolfie was unveiled in the academic mall of Stony Brook's West Campus.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=Wolfie’s World: New Statue Unveiled on the Academic Mall |url=https://news.stonybrook.edu/university/new-wolfie-statue-unveiled-on-the-sbu-academic-mall/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |language=en-US}}
Lore
Wolfie was born on February 10, 1994. His height is 6 feet tall and he is a double major in marine biology and cheerleading.
The Seawolf is described as a mythical sea creature from the Tlingit tribe with the head of a wolf and the fins of a killer whale. The Seawolf brought good luck to those able to see it.{{Cite web|last=Sports|first=World-Herald|title=What is a Seawolf?|url=https://omaha.com/sports/cws/what-is-a-seawolf/article_e005b8d3-8424-54fc-a9e2-858db206aae5.html|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Omaha World-Herald|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212073044/https://omaha.com/sports/cws/what-is-a-seawolf/article_e005b8d3-8424-54fc-a9e2-858db206aae5.html|archivedate=12 February 2022|language=en}}{{Cite web |date=3 December 2015 |title=Wolfie continues to make his mark at Stony Brook |url=https://www.sbstatesman.com/2015/12/02/wolfie-continues-to-make-his-mark-at-stony-brook/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204062452/http://sbstatesman.com/2015/12/02/wolfie-continues-to-make-his-mark-at-stony-brook/ |archive-date=4 December 2015}} However, the Stony Brook mascot looks like an ordinary wolf.
{{commonscat|Wolfie the Seawolf}}
References
External links
- {{Official website|https://stonybrookathletics.com/sports/2016/9/10/what-is-a-seawolf.aspx}}
{{The State University of New York at Stony Brook}}
{{Stony Brook Seawolves football navbox}}
{{Stony Brook Seawolves men's basketball navbox}}
{{Stony Brook Seawolves women's basketball navbox}}
Category:Coastal Athletic Association mascots
Category:Stony Brook Seawolves