Colorado State University Athletics
History and Traditions
For more than 140 years, Colorado State University's athletics department has enjoyed a number of enduring and endearing traditions. They range from the institutionalized fall rites to lesser known and quirky customs. But, mainstay or quirky, the customs and beliefs handed down from one generation to the next - from Aggie to Ram - are part of what makes us unique. These customs reflect a campus carved out of the wilderness by pioneering men and women whose strength of character and commitment to helping each other succeed can still be recognized on campus today.
The A
The prominent white "A" displayed on the foothills of the Front Range is the oldest ongoing tradition associated with CSU. The "A" stands for Aggies. The "A" evolved after World War I, when a trend began among colleges to display the school insignia on a hill near campus. At a special assembly on Dec. 4, 1923, the students of the State Agricultural College (as CSU was then known) agreed it was time to erect such an emblem. A group of military volunteers formed the "AL" club and donated vehicles for transporting supplies, and female students provided food for the workers.
The college declared Dec. 12 a special holiday, and students worked from that morning until mid-afternoon to form the "A." Construction was completed in just six hours. One small detail was missing: the school didn't own the land on which the insignia sat. The college and governing board members met with landowner R.G. Maxwell and negotiated a long-term lease for the sum of $1.
The following year, on Sept. 20, students lengthened and widened the "A" to its present size of 450 feet high and 210 feet across. For many years, the class carried out the annual tradition of whitewashing the "A." Today, the "A" is an official landmark. Each fall, freshman football players join forces with several campus organizations to give the "A" a fresh coat of white paint.
During that annual tradition, students have the opportunity to hike to the "A." Before the hike begins, students are given a small white pebble to carry with them. The half-mile hike takes students on a scenic trek leading them to the tip of the "A" where they are met by members of the Student Alumni Connection and learn about the significance of the "A." As students prepare to make their descent back down the hill, they are encouraged to reflect upon the mark they will leave at CSU and are asked to each leave their pebble as a symbol of that mark.
The Fight Song and the Alma Mater
The Colorado State Fight song symbolizes spirit at CSU. When you hear the fight song, you should uphold tradition by standing up and singing along, pumping your fist in the air when you get to the last line.
Learn it, love it, and sing it with pride!
Fight on you stalwart Ram Team,
On to the goal!
Tear the (Opponent's) line asunder,
As down the field we thunder!
Knights of the green and gold,
Fight with all your might!
Fight on you stalwart Ram team,
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Colorado State's alma mater is sung after every home football game, win or lose, in front of the marching band.
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater,
Colorado State.
Memories are everlasting
of this place so great!
May thy Green and Gold unite us, loyal ever be.
Colorado State, our Alma Mater,
Hail, all hail, to thee.
CAM the Ram
Colorado State University's loveable mascot, CAM the Ram, always ranks high in fan appeal and enthusiasm.
His name reflects CSU history in that the letters of his name stand for Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College, the University's former name. President Morgan officially named our mascot CAM the Ram during halftime at a basketball game versus archrival Wyoming in 1954. CAM has been a steady spirit booster ever since, still escorted in style by student volunteers known as the Ram Handlers.
The ROTC and Comatose
Shortly after CSU was founded, President Charles Ingersoll - a Civil War veteran - organized a group of students into the school's first drill team. In 1916, with the advent of World War I, Congress passed the National Defense Act, creating the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, more commonly known as ROTC. Participation in ROTC was an important part of student life from that point on, with CSU first operating an Army ROTC program and later becoming one of the first in the country to have an Air ROTC unit (which later became Air Force ROTC). Male CSU freshmen were required to participate in ROTC up until 1962, when President Bill Morgan responded to a call led by The Collegian to make the program voluntary. Women joined the cadet corps in 1969, and in 1987, the Air Force ROTC Detachment at the University of Northern Colorado merged with the one at CSU to form a single cadet corps.
Alumni of CSU's ROTC programs include Four-Star General Lewis "Uncle Lew" Walt (Class of '36), who went on to become assistant commandant of the Marine Corps and chief of U.S. Naval Forces in the Vietnam War. Today, about 400 cadets participate in the two CSU ROTC programs, which honor America before every event at Canvas Stadium and Moby Arena during our national anthem.
ROTC cadets also participate in the best tradition in college sports - The Boot Run. The Boot Run is a 38 mile journey through Highway 287 where the cadets run the game ball for each Border War game between CSU and Wyoming to the Colorado-Wyoming border. CSU's cadets run a longer distance as well as gain nearly 2,000 feet in elevation on years where Wyoming hosts the game.
The CSU Army ROTC also mans “Comatose," the cannon fired at CSU football games and the University’s longest-running tradition - certainly the loudest. “Comatose,” a 1918 French 75mm field gun managed by ROTC cadets, has been a booming presence at football games since 1920. Every attendee of a CSU football game has been privy to the startling sound of Comatose being fired before kickoff, after touchdowns and field goals, and at the end of every game.
The Rivalry Games
Though every game is an important one to the Rams, three opponents stand above the rest for bragging rights around the dinner table.
Rocky Mountain Showdown
When Colorado State and in-state rival Colorado get together in football, it's known as the “Rocky Mountain Showdown.” The Rams and Buffs regularly face each other in all sports as well. For 10 years, the two football teams met in Denver at the home of the Broncos for the neutral site game which produced the largest crowds to witness a college sporting event in state history.
Border War Game
The Border War game with Wyoming - the longest rivalry in each school's history - dates back to 1893 and is the school's most intense rivalry. Since 1968 in football, the schools have battled for possession of the Bronze Boot traveling trophy. The bronzed battle boot was worn in Vietnam by CSU ROTC instructor Dan Romero. In 2020, officials at Colorado State restored the Bronze Boot to its original glory so that it might be fought over for generations to come.
Ram-Falcon Trophy
The Ram-Falcon Trophy originated in 1980 to highlight the football series between CSU and Air Force. The wood-carved trophy was produced by local artist Bill Wrage. The Air Force ROTC detachment on the CSU campus initiated the creation of the trophy.
Olympians and Gold Medalists
When Glenn Morris was distinguishing himself as one of the area's best athletes in both football and track at Colorado State College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts in 1935, winning an Olympic gold medal was just a glimmer of a dream. Morris became intrigued with the decathlon during the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles and went on to compete in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, where he was determined to win the gold medal and break his world record. He did both, closing with a stirring personal-best time in the 1500 meters and leading an American sweep of the medals. When the team returned from the Games, Morris received the prestigious Sullivan Award, given annually to the nation's top amateur athlete.
At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta a young woman from Colorado State University stretched her long arms and made her dreams a reality. Amy Van Dyken, an NCAA champion and an All-American at CSU, became the first female athlete in U.S. history to win four gold medals in one Olympic games. By the time the last lap had been completed, Van Dyken's American team emerged as the dominant force in Olympic swimming, collecting 26 medals in all, 13 of which were gold. Van Dyken alone wore four golds - two as part of relay teams and two in individual events - went on to appear on the David Letterman and Rosie O'Donnell shows and had her face smiling down from Wheaties cereal boxes.
Paralympic athlete and Colorado State graduate ('07) Erin Popovich was born with achondroplasia, severely restricting the growth of her limbs. She stands just 4-foot-4 ¾ tall. At the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, she competed in six events and medaled in each: four gold and two silver. She competed previously in Athens, Greece, in 2004 and in Sydney, Australia, in 2000 and now has 14 gold medals in her career and two world records. Popovich is a native of Silverbow, Mont., but lives and trains in Fort Collins with former CSU swim coach John Mattos and Fort Collins Area Swim Team coach Bill Spahn.
Conference Championships
Colorado State's commitment to a "Championship Culture" is brought to life on the field of play in the form of conference championships. The Rams have belonged to a variety of conferences over the years and have been a member of the Mountain West conference since its creation in 1999.
For a list of Colorado State's conference championships, click here. Research is on-going to include conference championships from discontinued sports.
All-Americans
Colorado State has a long and distinguished history of All-Americans across its sports. Kenny Hyde (football) was the first All-American in school history in 1925, and the tradition has only continued in earnest from there.
Director of Athletics
Since 1904, when John McIntosh became the school's first official Director of Athletics, Colorado State has seen 19 individuals sit in the department's top chair on a full-time basis. At various moments in history, head coaches also served as the Director of Athletics.
- John McIntosh (1904-1906)
- Claude Rothgeb (1906-1910)
- George Cassidy (1910-1911)
- Harry W. Hughes (1911-1953)
- Bob Davis (1953-1965)
- Tommy Tompkin (1965)
- Jim Williams (1965-1968)
- Perry Moore (1968-1974)
- Jack O' Leary (1974-1976)
- Thurman "Fum" McGraw (1976-1986)
- Oval Jaynes (1986-1991)
- Corey Johnson (1991-1994)
- Tom Jurich (1994-1997)
- Doug Max (Interim, 1997)
- Tim Weiser (1997-2001)
- Jeff Hathaway (2001-2003)
- Mark Driscoll (2003-2006)
- Paul Kowalczyk (2006-2012)
- Jack Graham (2012-2015)
- Joe Parker (2015-2024)
- John Weber (2024-Pres.)