Mascot memoirs: A history of some of F-M’s most recognizable mascots
The Forum delves into the history of six different area mascots.
By Andrew Haugland
Sept. 1, 2025
Scorch: Minnesota State Moorhead
Last but certainly not least is Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons mascot Scorch. This large red mascot bears resemblance to the dragon from Shrek.
Forum file photo
It may take a minute for some younger MSUM fans to open up to Scorch, but with some mascot magic the previous fears turn into friendship.
“You get different reactions,” said Jon Wepking, the associate athletic director for external relations at MSUM. “But then, Scorch will take a knee, and get down to their level, and act silly and disarm (some) of the scariness through fist-bumps and grabbing his tail and holding it in front of him.”
Following a fire that burned Old Main on campus, the students voted to rename the school’s nickname to the Dragons in 1930, and not a moment too soon.
The school, named at the time the Moorhead Teacher’s College, held the nickname “The Peds” for pedagogues, meaning teachers. A name awfully close to something far scarier than a dragon.
In 1987, graphic design student Haley Johnson designed the iconic fire-breathing dragon logo used by the school today. The Dragons costumes have been altered throughout the years.
Scorch appears at roughly 100 events a year.
David Samson/The Forum
Wepking said it takes somewhat of an adjustment period to be inside the 7-foot tall dragon costume.
“You hit your eyes on a lot of things,” Wepking said. “The hardest part of the tail is kids pulling it. We train our staff whenever a kid pulls on your tail, grab your tail and hold it to your chest, so that you don’t give them the opportunity to keep pulling it.”
Read the full Forum article to learn more about Spuddy, Kernel, Thundar, Hawkeye, and Ogie.