LAS CRUCES, N.M. – At kickoff during Aggie football home games, fans wait for the beloved “wonder dog” to fetch the kicking tee. The wonder dog tradition has been around since the mid 1990s and has been a fan favorite ever since.
Wave, a border collie, is NMSU’s current wonder dog and is entering his fourth year on the job. His owner, Dr. Steve Stochaj, is an electrical engineering professor at NMSU. This is not Dr. Stochaj’s first time being the wonder dog owner as he was also the owner of the previous wonder dog, Striking.
Dr. Stochaj enjoys the wonder dog tradition as it connects him to students, but it also builds a bridge between athletics and academics.
“There’s also conflict between, like academics and athletics… and it’s mainly because both sides don’t really take time to understand what’s happening,” Dr. Stochaj said. “So, you know it gives me a really unique insight into all of athletics.”
Dr. Stochaj not only has a special connection with students, but he has a unique connection with the football coaching staff and the athletic department at NMSU. After the Aggies’ last home victory against Louisiana Tech, Dr. Stochaj and Wave walked up to head coach Tony Sanchez to shake his hand and congratulate him on the win.
Wave is nothing short of being an athlete, so Dr. Stochaj trains him like one. Wave participates in dog events that test his agility and obedience. Wave is also a part of the Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue program.
Dr. Stochaj trains Wave and gameplans for different situations he might see on the field. During one game, the opposing team kicked off from the 50-yard line and the black kicking tee was in Pistol Pete’s hat. Wave had trouble finding the tee, so next time he trained, Dr. Stochaj made sure to practice the unexpected.
With thousands of people in attendance cheering and ringing their cowbells, and with the sideline being filled, Dr. Stochaj has trouble recreating the environment of the games to prepare Wave.
“The problem is the environment, and you can’t simulate that right,” Dr. Stochaj said. “When he comes back (to the sidelines) there’s a line of people… and I always look to see what color the team’s wearing and I try to not wear that color.”
If you’re an athlete and you don’t know anything about dogs, you know intensity, and you know being locked in, and I think they see that (with Wave) and at least can appreciate it.
Dr. Stochaj does have one thing to his advantage to help Wave. The band practices on the horseshoe right outside his office. When the band is warming up, he asks them to leave a small opening so Wave has to practice running through people while having all the noise in the background to retrieve the tee.
Dr. Stochaj likes to bring Wave to spring and summer practices to get Wave familiar with the team, and to also get the team familiar with him. This helps Wave and Dr. Stochaj build connections with the coaching staff, but most importantly the players.
“I’ve met every kicker’s parents for the last bunch of years, and I stay in touch with them,” Dr. Stochaj said. “If you’re an athlete and you don’t know anything about dogs, you know intensity, and you know being locked in, and I think they see that (with Wave) and at least can appreciate it.”
During Saturday game days, Dr. Stochaj and Wave get to the stadium at 8 a.m. to get some last-minute practice in to prepare for the game. The band is also practicing, so Wave can get a feel for the game environment. During weekday game days, Wave spends his time at home waiting for Dr. Stochaj to come home and get him ready.
Wave wears a famous bandana for every game. He has five different versions to choose from according to the game’s theme, but he takes the bandana off when he is running on the field.
Dr. Stochaj, being an electrical engineering professor at NMSU, wanted to name him Wavelength, but he was informed that dogs like Wave respond better to short names so he shortened his name to Wave.
You can see Wave at the next Aggie home game when they take on Conference USA opponent Western Kentucky Saturday, Nov. 9.
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