Kansas State University Parent Guide
Traditions are the Heart of K-State
K-State is a school rich in history. Founded in 1863, the University encompasses many traditions that have been enjoyed and carried forth by college students for decades.
On any given day, students can be seen wearing the school color - royal purple. It is not just at football or basketball games, but also studying in Hale Library, or eating lunch at the K-State Student Union. Another purple tradition is found at Call Hall where milk from K-State cows is made into delicious ice cream. Call Hall features a dairy ice cream bar that serves up to 30 flavors, including blueberry flavored “Purple Pride.”
K-State’s mascot, Willie the Wildcat, attends many events as an ambassador of school pride. He entertains the crowd with his comical antics and of course, leads everyone in chanting “K-S-U WILDCATS!” The original Willie appeared in 1947 and has undergone several changes over the years. The tradition of keeping his identity a secret however, still remains.
Athletic events inspire many traditions. At football games, students jingle “kickoff keys” and count as Willie does pushups for every Wildcat point. Basketball games turn Bramlage Coliseum into a blizzard of newspaper confetti with the announcement of K-State’s starting lineup. In recent years, Bramlage has been proclaimed the “Octagon of Doom,” and the slogan “Every Man a Wildcat” that started in the 1950s has regained popularity.
Students cheer on the team with the fight song—“Wildcat Victory”—and join together to proudly sing the “Alma Mater,” which dates back to 1903. Another familiar K-State tune, the Wabash Cannonball, was the only piece of music to survive the 1968 Nichols Hall fire. Today, the start of the Wabash brings on enthusiastic back and forth swaying of the crowd, creating a moving sea of purple pride.
For more traditions of K-State visit Traditions.
— Jennifer Heim, Sophomore in Humanities
