K-State Traditions

Traditions help keep the spirit of a university alive.

Whether it is singing the Fight Song at the top of your lungs at a football game, running a 5k race to support Greek philanthropy projects, keeping the identity of Willie the Wildcat a mystery or eating Call Hall ice cream, students found a way to participate in K-State traditions throughout campus.

“Traditions at K-State are imperative to the pride that each K-Stater feels about our university,” Taylor Symons, junior in speech, said. “You can literally feel the excitement and passion each student feels at the football and basketball games when we’re doing the Wabash, or singing the Fight Song or Alma Mater. All of our traditions, from something as visible as the K-S-U Chant to the friendliness each K-Stater displays daily all over campus, is what gives all the thousands of Purple and White Faithful a common bond. Traditions are the reason why there are so many people out there that are proud to be a Wildcat, no matter where they are!”

Here are some well-known traditions at K-State:

Wabash Cannonball

This rousing anthem was the only band music to survive the 1968 Nichols Hall fire. Band director Phil Hewett took the sheet of music home and the tune was played repeatedly at a basketball game three days later. Today this song inspires K-Staters to lean back and forth whenever it’s played.

Alma Mater

The alma mater was selected from a campus contest in 1903 and was written by Humphrey W. Jones, class of 1888. Here are the lyrics:

I know a spot that I love full well,
‘Tis not in forest nor yet in dell;
Ever it holds me with magic spell.
I think of thee, Alma Mater.
KSU, we’ll carry thy banner high.
KSU, long, long may thy colors fly.
Loyal to thee, thy children will swell the cry.
Hail, hail, hail, Alma Mater.

Fight Song

“Wildcat Victory” was written in 1927 by Harry E. Erickson, class of 1927. Here are the lyrics:

Fight, you K-State Wildcats
For Alma Mater fight-fight-fight!
Glory in the combat
For the purple and the white.
Faithful to our colors
We will ever be,
Fighting ever fight for a
Wildcat victory!
Go State!

School Color

K-State’s official color — royal purple — was chosen in 1896 by two representatives from each class, but it wasn’t approved by the faculty until 1921. Surprisingly, purple is K-State’s only official color, though it is commonly paired with white or gray.

Call Hall Ice Cream

Treat yourself to K-State’s tastiest tradition. The dairy bar in Call Hall serves more than 35 amazing flavors, including purple pride. You can also buy the student-made ice cream in the K-State Student Union and at several locations off campus.

Homecoming

Students compete in various events to generate K-State spirit throughout Homecoming week. Today activities include designing banners, performing group chants, painting windows in Aggieville, building floats and so much more! Instead of Homecoming king and queen, K-Staters elect a pair of ambassadors who represent the student body at Alumni Association events throughout the state and at university activities.

Willie the Wildcat

Mascots have been in place at K-State since 1906, with Boscoe, a black Labrador from 1906 to 1909 and in 1922, a real wildcat named Touchdown served as the team mascot during games. K-State’s mascot uniform first appeared in 1947 and has since undergone makeovers, but one thing remains the same, his identity is still kept a secret. The Willie head, used today, has gray fur with two white stripes to resemble the Powercat logo, weighs five pounds and features an electronic cooling fan.

You can look up more traditions and K-State facts HERE.

-Melissa M. Taylor
New Student Services Intern