The Michigan State community mourns the passing of Zeke the Wonderdog
Since 2016, Zeke IV served as the latest in a line that began in 1977
There are certain sounds and sights that signal game day at Michigan State. The drumline warming up. The hum building inside Spartan Stadium. And then, the collective inhale when a golden blur takes off across the turf, eyes fixed upward, body stretched impossibly toward the sky.
This weekend, that blur is gone.
Buckshot – known to the Michigan State community for the last decade as Zeke the Wonderdog (Zeke IV) – passed away peacefully on Saturday, surrounded by family, after a battle with a rare cancer. He was ten years into carrying one of the most beloved traditions in Spartan athletics. The fight, as his owner Jim Foley shared, was valiant. In the end, it was too much to overcome.
“Zeke IV has passed away today, caused by a rare cancer, and a valiant effort by Zeke’s medical team,” Foley said. “It was too much to overcome.”
For Spartan Nation, the loss feels personal. For the Foley family, it is immeasurable.
“I know you’re up in Rainbow Ridge,” Foley said Sunday evening. "But darn, it hurts a lot, because I’d just be pretending if I said anything that won’t bring you back.”
Since 2016, Zeke IV served as the latest in a line that began in 1977 – the fourth Zeke the Wonderdog to race across Spartan Stadium and the Breslin Center, to leap in front of packed crowds, to appear at community events from the Beaumont Tower to the Red Cedar River. He did more than catch frisbees. He embodied a tradition.
He was, quite simply, a symbol.
More than a performer, Zeke IV became a goodwill ambassador whose soaring catches and enthusiastic presence were woven into the rhythm of campus life. He was part of the pageantry, part of the identity, part of the connectivity between generations of Spartans.
“Zeke, you lived a wonderful life and thrilled millions,” Foley said. “Thank God for all the memories. You left a legacy of Spartan love.”
That phrase – Spartan love – has followed Zeke IV everywhere.
He crossed the country coast to coast with Foley by his side, representing Michigan State at events far beyond East Lansing. Airports, hotel lobbies, community fields, stadium sidelines – wherever there was a frisbee in the air and a crowd nearby, Zeke was ready.
“You lighting up a whole room like that,” Foley recalled. “You made us think, made us feel, made us all laugh.”
It is easy to remember the catches. The launch. The arc. The perfect timing. The clean snap of teeth on plastic before landing in stride. But those who watched closely also saw the connection between dog and handler – the eye contact before a throw, the subtle cue, the trust that allowed for split-second precision in front of tens of thousands.
The bond was evident in every leap and every return.
While widely recognized as a campus icon, Buckshot was first a member of the Foley family. To Jim and Terri Foley, he was a loyal companion whose playful spirit filled their home. He was happiest when there was a frisbee in the air, whether practicing in the yard or racing across the turf. He genuinely loved meeting fans. Tail wagging. Eyes bright. Ready for the next toss.
“Thank God for the memories,” Foley said. “He left a legacy of Spartan love.”
As Zeke IV, he carried forward the work of those who came before him while leaving his own mark on Spartan history.
He performed in Spartan Stadium and at the Breslin Center, energizing basketball crowds in the tight quarters of a timeout just as easily as he soared across the wide expanse of a football field. He appeared at community events, charity functions, and student gatherings. He was as comfortable in front of a sold-out crowd as he was posing for photos with a small child experiencing Michigan State for the first time.
His performances became expected, anticipated, even cherished.
He helped turn ordinary halftimes into moments.
He helped remind a campus that joy can be simple.
While the Spartan community grieves, the tradition will continue. The Foley family has shared that Zeke V will carry the frisbee next, with plans underway to introduce the next Zeke the Wonderdog in the near future. A new chapter will begin across Michigan State’s campus – built on the same joy, discipline, and love that defined Buckshot’s run.
But for now, there is space for grief.
“Thank You Spartan Nation for all your Spartan love,” Foley said.
That gratitude runs both ways.
For 10 years, Zeke IV gave Michigan State something pure. In seasons of championships and seasons of rebuilding, in packed stadiums and in quieter moments, he was constant. He was the sprint across the field that sparked applause, laughter, and the awe in a little kid's face, all at once.
In honor of Buckshot’s memory, the Foley family has invited the Spartan community to support the MSU Student Food Bank, which serves students facing food insecurity. Supporting fellow Spartans reflects the care and community that shaped his legacy. A memorial celebration will be announced in the coming weeks.
Zeke IV’s time felt far too short. Ten years on campus. Countless miles traveled. Hundreds of thousands thrilled.
But he lived fully.
And in every archived video, every framed photograph, every memory of a perfect midair catch, that golden blur will remain part of Michigan State’s story.
