In the spring of 1951, students took a formal vote to change Southern Illinois University’s mascot from the Maroons to the Saluki, an obscure Egyptian hound plucked from its homeland during the time of Alexander the Great.
Rejecting alternative mascot names, such as the Knights, Flyers, or Marauders, 536 of a 2,000-strong student body adopted the Salukis as their new nickname. At the time, the American Kennel Club estimates there were fewer than 500 of the dogs in the United States.
Still, drawing on the breed’s Egyptian roots and pairing them with Southern Illinois’ colloquial moniker “Little Egypt,” for the region’s geographical resemblance to the lands around the Nile River, the Saluki has become one of the most unique mascots in college sports. Even if people don’t recognize SIU by name, chances are they know it by the Saluki nickname.
Today, the Saluki presence on campus is carried by both live dogs from local owners and SIU’s two iconic game-day mascots – Grey Dawg and Brown Dawg.
SIU will celebrate the 75th anniversary of becoming the Salukis at this year’s Homecoming and has invited alumni who once wore the Saluki mascot costume back to serve as grand marshals.
While the costumes have changed and the roles have evolved over the last 75 years, one thing remains the same: the person inside is taking on something bigger than themselves.
"I think I look back at being a mascot more than anything, education-wise. It was the highlight of my time at SIU."
Scott Wattelet '99
The Salukis Behind the Salukis
Traditionally, students in the mascot costume are supposed to keep it a secret. Suitemates, however, can sometimes be a loophole.
Scott Wattelet ’99, for instance, was aware when his roommate responded to an advertisement about mascot tryouts in the Daily Egyptian in the fall of 1997. He followed by trying out himself that same year when basketball season rolled around.
In those days, the university spirit squad typically sought about four students to be in the rotation for either Grey Dawg or Brown Dawg. Wattelet made it during his tryout and began making appearances at a few softball games and golf tournaments that year.
The life of a mascot isn’t easy. It’s somewhat a club of blood, sweat, and tears – emphasis on the sweat. The Saluki mascot costumes, like many, don’t have fans or much ventilation built in. Wearing one for an extended period of time, even in a moderate climate, can be taxing. Wearing it on a hot day, Wattelet said, can be brutal.
“One year there was a golf outing in the morning for a fundraiser and a football game in the afternoon,” he said, reminiscing about his time at McAndrew Stadium. “I weighed myself that morning out of curiosity about what would happen after I spent all day sweating in the costume. I think I lost 10 pounds that day!”
Endurance was part of the game, so just like the student-athletes, Wattelet said he and fellow mascots would condition with runs around Campus Lake. Even with the training, one could still find themselves in distress while in character.
Since mascots were supposed to speak and never be seen partially out of costume, they always traveled with spotters to watch for signs of trouble, be it exhaustion or the occasional unruly child.
Wattelet was a mascot when the costumes featured shaggier designs, with long fuzzy ears and, most notably, an imposing set of realistic canine teeth and fangs known for frightening the youngest children. (The mascot costumes were redesigned to their current form in 2009.)
He said being around small children often required some care. Wattelet said he was taught to keep his hands covering as much of the costume's teeth as possible. This obscured a full-on view of the fangs and made the Salukis appear like they were shy.
After a few months, Wattelet said he learned to read the room around kids. “You could tell pretty quickly if they were going to approach you or scream and run away.
Wattelet, who is now a caseworker at the St. Charles Detention Center in Missouri, looks fondly on his time at SIU and as a mascot.
“I enjoyed it,” he said. “I think it probably kept me out of trouble. I think I look back at being a mascot more than anything education-wise. It was the highlight of my time at SIU.”
Wattelet’s daughter is currently a freshman at SIU.
Gabe Herbst '15 became Grey Dawg with a little encouragement from an old friend.
Herbst, an English education major who attended SIU from fall 2012 through December 2015, had a friend from high school who was already wearing the suit. He friend loved the experience and convinced Herbst to give it a try.
What followed was a front-row view of Saluki Nation.
Herbst embraced every opportunity to be part of student and community life. He traveled for Arch Madness in St. Louis, joined Salukis for a game against Southeast Missouri State at Busch Stadium, and experienced the heat of a 100-plus-degree day when SIU traveled to play the University of Illinois in Champaign in 2013.
But some of his favorite memories happened away from the spotlight. He welcomed incoming students during New Student Orientation, visited local schools and attended community golf scrambles. Wherever Grey Dawg appeared, there were smiles, high fives, and plenty of excitement.
"The excitement of putting on the suit and representing a university and community you love is something that stays with you long after graduation," Herbst said. "Most of all, it’s the rare opportunity to experience Saluki Nation from a perspective shared by only a select few."
Gabe Herbst as Grey Dawg with his then-girlfriend (now wife) Jenna.
Nicholas Steinberger, who attended SIU until 2025, said when he became a mascot, he saw it as a natural extension of his love of performance as a theater major. Before coming to SIU, Steinberger also did mascot work for his high school and for the "Thrillbillies" baseball team in Marion, Illinois.
For Steinberger, his favorite part of being a mascot was the buildup to an event – the runout before a football game or the moment he emerged on the basketball court to a crowd of cheering fans.
“With my performance background, I already knew the aspect of being the center of attention,” he said. “Actually, it’s really rare that there are moments when everyone is looking at you and you alone.”
Steinberger describes being a mascot as being a symbol of the school, with whatever you do during a performance reflecting on the university.
Decorum aside, there was another equally important aspect to being a mascot: costume care.
“Once the suit comes off, hygiene and maintenance become essential,” he said. “You always wanted to make sure you were drying out the suit, because even if it was slightly damp, it can become moldy.”
Body heat and sweat can often leave a costume worse for wear. Plus, for the person, picking it up and putting it on later, the condition of the costume can make for a jarring experience, especially when it’s something you have to wear for hours at a time.
Steinberger now works as a marketing coordinator for the SIU theater department and at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center. Being a mascot was an integral part of his SIU story, not to mention something he got to put his passion for performance into, being a character recognized by thousands of Saluki alumni and fans.