The last few years, Nevada has had several members of the cheer team fill the furry feet of the Wolfie costume. Funding for the uniforms is donated by the university's alumni association and various sponsorships. Santa Claws Gretchen Kelly, an affiliate of the alumni association and once a Wolfie stand-in, walked beside the mascot during the annual summer alumni picnic, last year held on the Quad. Kelly expressed amazement at the crowd's response to the mascot, saying he stole the spotlight. They look at him all wide-eyed like they would Santa Claus.
Some kids cry and some are scared, but most have fun.
Even the adults have fun with Wolfie. Perhaps the most memorable Wolfie incarnate was a Japanese exchange student. When Hitoshi Yoshiike first traversed the Pacific Ocean in the early 1980s, he knew little of the language and less about the culture. According to Page, Yoshiike returned to Japan a popular figure among his peers. Nevada's sister school in Japan invited him to speak at its graduation ceremony and tell of his American experience.