When you think of Wright State University, many first think of Rowdy, WSU's beloved mascot, who can be found at all the outings. From cheering on athletes at games to making appearances across campus and on social media, Rowdy brings energy, pride and a little bit of fun to student life, showing that being a mascot is about more than just a costume: it’s about connecting the entire WSU community.
History of Rowdy
At WSU, there are three mascots that have represented the school over the years. It all began with a roly-poly Viking. Eventually, design choices led to the next mascot in 1997, a shift that attempted to move away from a singular gender and instead introduced the iconic wolf. Not just any wolf, but specifically the brown wolf.
Finally, we arrived at our current mascot, the updated “Fierce Wolf,” who continues to represent WSU today.
Communications major Hayden Sallot talks about his opinion on WSU mascots.
"I think Rowdy represents our school great," Sallot said. He added that his favorite mascot is the current Fierce Wolf.
There are plenty of fun facts behind WSU’s mascots and the sports team he supports. According to the university’s website:
“Did you know WSU - founded in 1964 - is the only state school in Ohio named after a person or persons (the flight-inventing Wright brothers)? Flight-oriented names were shunned in deference to crosstown University of Dayton, whose teams are known as the Flyers,” WSU Raiders reads.
Despite WSU being a named after the Wright Brothers, the University of Dayton Flyers were founded in 1923, so they beat WSU to claiming the flight-oriented name, as there could not be two of these in the Dayton area.
Rowdy’s role on campus
Mascots play a big part on campus — their job is to hype up students, boost confidence and keep the school spirit alive.
You can find Rowdy at campus activities, sporting events and even at spots around campus like ReyRey Café. Rowdy is often involved in fun events that get students excited and engaged. There are also plenty of photos on WSU’s social media showing Rowdy participating in different campus activities and interacting with students.
Rowdy is meant to represent our school and our students, embodying the energy and pride that define WSU.
“I believe our mascots represent our school very well because they show the history and determination,” Briggs said.
Rowdy brings the community together at WSU. From alumni to current and future students, the mascot serves as the face of Wright State, representing the school with energy, pride, spirit and putting its best foot forward.
All about Rowdy
Rowdy’s face appears at many sporting events, hyping up both the crowd and the athletes, but that is not all. Rowdy is also posted on social media, promoting things like the latest Taylor Swift album, and he even has a page dedicated to fun facts about himself on the WSU website.
Rowdy enjoys snacks like graham crackers and chocolate milk, has a favorite book, "The Three Little Pigs" and even a favorite song, “Bust a Move” by Young MC, as shown here.
Rowdy has favorite things just like us and has more in common with us than we think. From snacks and books to songs, these little details make him relatable and show that he’s not just a mascot, but a fun part of student life at WSU.
