Mascot Memories
By WuShock | Mascot, Wichita State University
“There are flocks of birds and many a cat but only one WuShock.”
As every Shocker knows, my identity is kept top-secret. Those who portray me — the big, bad, muscle-bound bundle of wheat that I am — are bound by a code of silence and anonymity. They don’t talk when they’re me, and they don’t reveal their identities (at least not until after they graduate). The students who’ve been me over the years have been very different, but there are a couple things we all have in common: We get charged up being the No. 1 supporter of all things Wichita and Wichita State — and we have stories to tell …
WuShock Brad ’87 Ever wanted to be in a costume where no one knew who you were at the very same time everyone knew who you were? That’s being WuShock, Wichita State’s mascot since 1948. My opportunity to be Wu came in the fall of 1983 and I had great fun as Wu until spring 1986.
From football games at Cessna Stadium to basketball games in Levitt Arena and even around the world in Tokyo, Japan. Hanging out with referees during a time-out on the basketball court. And yes, there were a few refs that were willing to be a part of the fun and even have a conversation during the time out. One even let Wu shine his shoes and his bald head. All for the enjoyment of the crowd. One memory was when a fan made a walking stick for Wu to assist in his “blind ref gig” during basketball games. Children were always scared of that big 7-foot tall “Big Guy” until you got on one knee and got on their level. Adults loved to give you high fives. Being WuShock for three years was a highlight of my time at Wichita State — gifting me with memories that’ll last a lifetime.
WuShock Alan ’88 Growing up and later as an undergraduate, I was such a big Shocker fan that I needed another outlet for my Shocker passion. In spring 1986, I found it: I auditioned to be WuShock. I still don’t know how I passed the tryout. My routine was, let’s say, unconventional. I pantomimed driving a car with engine trouble, then pulled a banana out of the engine. I’m sure it looked ridiculous. But somehow, they said yes. My tenure began with a few community festivals — a low-pressure way to figure out how to wear the oversized costume. Back then, WuShock was much bigger, and I saw the world through his mouth.
That fall was the 1986 football season. The games were a blast, and roaming the sidelines felt safe and free. Only years later did it hit me: I was Wu at WSU’s final football game, a loss to Rose Bowl-bound Arizona State. Basketball was a different challenge. I was one of two WuShocks at Eddie Fogler’s first game. The sidelines were tighter, the steps in the arena trickier — and navigating them in costume was nerve-racking. But the energy of the crowd made it unforgettable. Being Wu taught me more than I realized at the time — about spirit, tradition and the joy of making people smile without saying a word.
WuShock Sydney ’22/24 I was on a visit to an elementary school. We’d been to several classrooms for Wu to meet the kiddos, a fun visit thus far. Then, we round a corner and my “handler” warns me that this is a room of younger kids, probably kindergarten-age. Important note: Wu has made his fair share of children cry. He’s not the kindest looking mascot. I step into the classroom and immediately a little girl on the front row audibly gasps, her jaw drops. Her eyes get huge and her whole body tenses up. I think to myself, “Oh, great! She’s gonna cry.”
To my shock, she stands up in a flurry and screams, “Oh, my gosh! It’s a bumble bee!” She comes sprinting into my arms, nearly tackling me to the ground. Needless to say, the joy and surprise of that moment will stick with me forever.
