The Man Behind the Mask: UNR Mascot Tells All
Dylan Pauley talks about what it’s really like wearing the suit.
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“I got in a little fight while I was in-suit. A guy, a UNR fan, was trying to take my head off and was yelling nasty slurs in my ear… a lot of drunk fans love to just put you in a headlock and just try and take the head off, which is not okay.”
Dealing with violent fans, entertaining the crowd and sweating buckets is all in a day’s work for Dylan Pauley.
Pauley is a mascot for the University of Nevada, Reno. Most of the time, he’s just a junior at the university studying journalism. But at sports games and school events, he dons a wolf suit and becomes Alfie, one of UNR’s three wolf mascots. Pauley described his experience to me at a coffee table in the comfortable lobby of the university’s library.
Physical altercations between fans and mascots are not uncommon, ranging from younger kids to intoxicated adults all vying to crack open the suit. But the mascots always have a handler watching their backs, someone tasked with keeping them safe and involving security if necessary.
Fortunately, positive interactions with fans are also part of the job. Pauley and the other mascots, Wolfie Jr. and Luna, dart around the venue during sports games, rallying the audience.
“I really like basketball because it’s a tight community, small stadium, so you hear every fan... Football, people leave at halftime because we’re down by 40. So it’s real hard to have that crazy core connection, basketball fans they’re up throwing up threes with their hands celebrating, they’re clapping, high-fiving, I just love the basketball energy.”
All that running around comes at a cost. According to Pauley, the Alfie and Wolfie Jr. suits are very hot inside. Those playing the role are tested for sickle cell disease every year, as those with the disease are at increased risk of passing out from exhaustion. Luna, the female Wolf Pack mascot, often gets too cold due to the lower half of the costume being only leggings, as opposed to the fur-covered male wolf suits.
“I came to this school weighing like 210 and now I weigh like 145 and I can’t get up over 145, it’s impossible. I definitely lose five to ten pounds a game and it’s always like sweat,” Pauley said.
Even with the difficulties, Pauley says that the job does have its perks. Mascots are given a scholarship equivalent to in-state tuition, and even though Pauley is from California, it’s a welcome discount. Mascots also get access to exclusive events; Pauley recalls fond memories of banging the gavel in the Federal Courthouse in downtown Reno, and meeting Bill Nye, a popular science educator.
After college, Pauley’s dream job is to become a professional mascot. “I almost dropped out to become a Warriors mascot because they had a whole listing. I actually got through the second stage, and they wanted me to come out, but of course you have to graduate college,” he said.
Professional sports teams have high standards for their mascots, and that means making sacrifices for the job. Many require constant travel, and don’t hire mascots with children under age 5.
As such, Pauley is keeping his expectations realistic, and plans to help with his dad’s air conditioning company in Southern California if being a mascot doesn’t work out. But for now, he’s going to keep pursuing his dream.
