Traditions
Wildcats
Nickname
The official
nickname for the University of Kentucky's athletics teams is "Wildcats."
The nickname became synonymous with UK shortly after a 6-2 football
victory over Illinois on Oct. 9, 1909, on the road.
Commandant Carbusier, then head of the military department at old State University, told a group of students in a chapel service following the game that the Kentucky football team had "fought like Wildcats."
Later the name
Wildcats became more and more popular among UK followers as well
as with members of the media. As a result, the nickname was adopted
by the University.
Wildcats
Mascot
The Wildcat mascot originated during the 1976-77 academic year at UK. Gary Tanner was the original Wildcat, dancing and entertaining thousands of UK fans at Commonwealth Stadium and Rupp Arena during athletics events.
Today, the Wildcat
mascot also attends several academic functions as well and generally
serves as a friendly ambassador for the University.
The
University of Kentucky adopted blue and white as its official colors
in 1892. Originally, however, UK students had decided on blue and
light yellow prior to the Kentucky-Centre College football game
on December 19, 1891. The shade of blue, which is close to a royal
blue, was chosen when a student asked the question, "What color
blue?" At the time, Richard C. Stoll (who lettered in football
at UK in 1889-94) pulled off his necktie and held it up. The students
then adopted that particular shade of blue. A year later, UK students
officially dropped the light yellow color for white.
On, On U Of K (Fight Song) MP3
On, on, U of
K, we are right for the fight today,
Hold that ball and hit that line;
Ev'ry Wildcat star will shine;
We'll fight, fight, fight, for the blue and white
As we roll to that goal, Varsity,
And we'll kick, pass and run, 'till the battle is won,
And we'll bring home the victory.
My
Old Kentucky Home
| A.B. "Happy" Chandler version |  |
The sun shines
bright on my old Kentucky home,
'Tis summer, the time to be gay;
The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright;
By'n by hard times come a-knocking at the door,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night!
(CHORUS)
Weep no more my lady, Oh! Weep no more today!
We will sing one song for my old Kentucky home,
For my old Kentucky home, far away.
UK Alma Mater
Hail Kentucky, Alma Mater!
Loyal sons and daughters sing;
Sound her praise with voice united;
To the breeze her colors fling.
To the blue and white be true;
Badge triumphant age on age;
Blue, the sky that o'er us bends;
White, Kentucky's stainless page.