Rhode Island University

Name: Upstate Underdog

Homepage:

School: University of Rhode Island

Location: Kingston, RI

School Colors: Keaney Blue and White

School Mascot: Rhody the Ram

Do outsiders “get” your mascot?:

School Fight Song:

We’re Rhode Island born
We’re Rhode Island bred
And when we die
We’ll be Rhode Island dead
So, Go, Go Rhode Island, Island
Go! Go! Rhode Island, Island
Go! Go! Rhode Island, Island
U.R.I !

Traditions:

Geographical Features:

Architectural Features:

Notable Alumni: Cuttino Mobley, NBA, LA Clippers
Tom Ryan, CEO of CVS Corp.

Anything else we need to know?:

Robert Morris University

Name: Andrew Chiappazzi from Colonials Corner

Homepage: Colonials Corner

School: Robert Morris University

Location: Moon Township, Pennsylvania

School Colors: Navy Blue, White, and Red

School Mascot: RoMo The Colonial

Do outsiders “get” your mascot?: RoMo = Robert Morris. And its a big version of what we believe a Colonial would dress like, equipped with a much bigger head and a 13 star flag that he waves around. He was going to be named “Bobby Mo” but someone else apparently was ticked at RMU and copyrighted that name, so we couldn’t use it.

Jerks.

School Fight Song:

These are believed to be the lyrics to the song:

Go Colonials, take it for the win
As you hear our shouts of loyalty
We shout all out about our team
Together on the way to victory

But it’s usually used just as an instrumental/introductory/victory song.

Traditions: On game day, we have the Colonial Crazies. Sponsored by the men’s lacrosse team, they stand near the opposing basket in the first half and the opposing team entrance throughout the game. The only other tradition is no more - Fight Night. It was an annual amateur boxing event that lost its way the last couple of years under new leadership that didn’t understand its value. College kids would sign up to knock the snot out of each other in three rounds. It was great fun, and all proceeds went to charity. But now, alas, it is no more.

Geographical Features: Groundhogs. Lots of groundhogs. And squirrels.

Architectural Features: We have a very large dome at the center of our campus, and the football stadium - Joe Walton Stadium - towers above everything else on a hillside.

Notable Alumni: Kevin Colbert is the Director of Player Personnel for the Pittsburgh Steelers; Hank Fraley, Tim Levcik, Tim Hall, Robb Butler, have all played in the NFL.

Anything else we need to know?:

Purdue University

Name: Nick

Homepage:

School: Purdue University

Location: West Lafayette, IN

School Colors: Black & Gold

School Mascot: Boilermaker Special & Purdue Pete

Do outsiders “get” your mascot?: I don’t know if outsiders get it. The official mascot, the Boilermaker Special, represents Purdue’s engineering + railroad heritage. A “special” is a lone locomotive without any railcar attached. Purdue Pete was originally an advertising icon for University Book Store.

School Fight Song:

Hail, Hail To Old Purdue!
All Hail To Our Old Gold And Black!
Hail, Hail To Old Purdue!
Our Friendship May She Never Lack.

Ever Grateful, Ever True,
Thus We Raise Our Song Anew;
Of The Days We’ve Spent With You,
All Hail Our Own Purdue!

Traditions: There is the Purdue Grand Prix, a go-cart race at the end of the year designed to showcase students engineering skills, as well as a plethora of urban legends, ala the Virgin Lions, Bell Tower, etc. Virgin Lions - There are 2 Concrete Lions on campus, sort of like drinking fountains, that supposedly roar every time a virgin passes. (They do not have the capability to roar.) There is a Legend that anyone who walks directly under the bell tower won’t graduate for 4 years. There used to be a tradition of running through the Eng. Fountain, but now it has a metal condom on it

Geographical Features: Its a flat campus, but the one hill, Slayter hill, hosts a couple outdoor concerts during the year. Also people hang out at the Memorial Mall.

Architectural Features: All the buildings are made out of brick, according to the school’s charter. Though, Purdue has some non-brick buildings - which technically aren’t on campus. Also, University Hall was to be the tallest building on campus, but the University found ways around that rule as well.

Notable Alumni: Neil Armstrong, Amelia Earhart, Drew Brees, Len Dawson, Bob Greise, Gary Danielson, Glenn Robinson, John Wooden, Orville Reddonbacher, Eugene Cernan, Gus Grissom, Edward Mills Purcell, Jim Gaffigan.

Anything else we need to know?:

Duquesne University

Name: The Duke from Dukes Court

Homepage: Dukes Court

School: Duquesne University

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

School Colors: Blue and Red

School Mascot: The Duke

Do outsiders “get” your mascot?:

School Fight Song:

Traditions:

Geographical Features: Duquesne is located on “The Bluff” in Pittsburgh. “The Bluff” overlooks Pittsburgh’s historic South Side.

Architectural Features:

Notable Alumni:
John Clayton from ESPN.
German filmmaker Werner Herzog.
Chip Ganassi from NASCAR.
MLB Hall of Famer Cumberland Posey.
The founder and current owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Art and Dan Rooney.

Anything else we need to know?:

West Texas A&M University

Name: kova

Homepage:

School: West Texas A&M University

Location: Canyon, TX

School Colors: Maroon and White

School Mascot: Buffalo

Do outsiders “get” your mascot?: The mascot plays tribute to Charles Goodnight’s buffaloes. Now all the buffalo that dash onto the field share DNA with one of those buffalo (or water bison if you want to be 100% correct). The mascot is named Thunder, after the first. Most people will refer to the buffalo by their nickname instead (like Jack, Liz, or Sadie in recent memory).

School Fight Song: It apparently is the same as Kentucky’s, but the lyrics are similar to Colorado University’s because of the buffalo. WT calls their fight song, On, On, Buffaloes

Traditions: The school has the usual welcome back activities, homecoming bonfire, and town clean-up. We do have ghost stories for each of the dorms. Every spring, a kickball tournament is held at night. The fall brings Oozefest, a mud volleyball tournament.

Geographical Features: West Texas is pretty much flat; however, the second largest canyon in the United States is a short 10 minute drive from the town of Canyon. The campus is green, in contrast to the yellow grass elsewhere.

Architectural Features: Old Main is a rebuilding of the first building on campus, which burned down in the school’s early history. The Fine Arts building was completed in 2006. Jones and Cross Halls are towers near each other. Panhandle-Plains Museum also stands on campus, and is one of the largest history museums in Texas.

Notable Alumni:
Chaun Thompson, a lineman for the Cleveland Browns
Maurice Cheeks, former NBA player and current coach of the 76ers
Terry Funk, wrestler

Anything else we need to know?: The stadium, Kimbrough Memorial Stadium, is named for Frank Kimbrough, the coach with the second-most wins for the team (the first coached during the name change). The stadium opened in the 1950s with media attention from Lyndon B. Johnson, and SI, Time. 20,000 can be seated, but the hills on both sides allow for more fans. The stadium has held more than 20,000 for its 2005 and 2007 Homecoming game. The university opened in 1910 and joined the Texas A&M system in 1990.

Winthrop University

Name: Big Stuff

Homepage:

School: Winthrop University

Location: Rock Hill, SC

School Colors: Garnet & Gold

School Mascot: Big Stuff the Eagle

Do outsiders “get” your mascot?: Big Stuff was started as a mantra for the basketball team, and morphed into today’s Mascot. The old style mascot was a crazed eagle head with a brown gorilla suit under it. In 1994 the mascot had a redesign done to it, so it was an actual eagle suit.

School Fight Song:

Traditions: Sliding down the spiral fire escapes without getting caught by campus police.

Geographical Features:

Architectural Features: Fountain in front of Tillman Hall… Has had more soap in it over the past 60 years, than most of the fraternity houses… Withers building, part of the original Winthrop Training School. [Virtual Tour]

Notable Alumni: Andie McDowell

Anything else we need to know?:

Louisiana State University

Name: C. Lewis

Homepage:

School: Louisiana State University

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

School Colors: Purple & Gold

School Mascot: Live Bengali-Siberian Tiger, Mike VI

Do outsiders “get” your mascot?: The first Mike the Tiger was purchased in 1936 from the Little Rock Zoo. He was originally named “Sheik”, but LSU changed his name to Mike in honor of its athletic trainer, Mike Chambers. LSU’s current live mascot, Mike VI, enjoys his days in a new $3 million habitat.

School Fight Song: Our official fight song is “Fight for LSU”, but it is traditionally played by the band as they leave the field after a halftime performance. Most people think our fight song is “Hey Fightin Tigers!”

Traditions: Tiger Stadium seats 92,400, and is the 6th largest stadium in the SEC. On gamedays, the Tiger Band marches from the band hall to Tiger Stadium, stopping at Victory Hill, where it plays the opening lines to the Pregame Salute. The Pregame Salute is derived from “Hold that Tiger”, a jazz song popular in 1917.

Geographical Features: LSU is famous for its oak trees and creole architecture, but the most iconic image is the Bell Tower. LSU is also the home to 2 Indian Mounds (left), manmade geographical features that are believed to be over 5,000 years old.

Architectural Features: LSU is known for its Spanish clay-tiled roofs, stucco buildings, and arched loggias around the Quad. It is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful in America.

Notable Alumni: Among LSU’s world-famous alumni in the areas of academia, politics, sports, entertainment, economics, and the arts are: Pete Maravich, Shaquille O’Neal, James Carville, Billy Cannon, & Kenneth Brown.

Anything else we need to know?: LSU has won 43 national championships: Baseball (5), Men’s Basketball (1), Boxing (1), Football (2), Men’s Golf (4), Men’s Track and Field (6), Women’s Track and Field (24).

Alex Box Stadium, home of the five-time national championship LSU Baseball program, was built in 1937 under the Works Progress Administration.

The live oak trees on LSU’s campus have been valued at $36 million.

Villanova University

Name: Nova Girl ‘04

Homepage:

School: Villanova University

Location: Villanova, PA

School Colors: Blue & White

School Mascot: Villanova Wildcat

Do outsiders “get” your mascot?: In 1926, a contest was conducted to adopt a mascot for Villanova. Edward Hunsinger, a former All-American defensive end at Notre Dame, hit upon the nickname “Wildcats”.

They actually had a real wildcat in 1930, 1945, 1947, and 1949 named “Count Villian.” Also, until the late 1970’s the Villanova women’s athletic teams were often referred to as the “Wildkittens”.

School Fight Song:

“V” for Villanova, “V” for Victory
“B” for Blue and “W” for White
For the Blue and the White we will fight!
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Fight for Villanova, Fight for Victory
For we’re out to win the fray;
Villanova leads the way,
With a capital “V” for Victory.
For we’re out to beat the foe
Show the en-e-my we know
how to win with a “V” for Victory.

Vill-a-no-va, V-I-L-L-A-N-O-V-A
“V” for Vic-tor-y, V-I-C-T-O-R-Y
It’s a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye,
and a “V” for a V-I-C-T-O-R-Y

[Link]

Traditions: Nova Nation, The Oreo, Special Olympics and a haunted campus, just to name a few.

Geographical Features: The Main Line (a posh Philly suburb)

Architectural Features: Gothic buildings mostly and a campus center that looks like a ski lodge.

Notable Alumni: Golden Globe-nominated actress Maria Bello, Pennsylvania Governor and Democratic luminary Ed Rendell and John L. Hennessy, president of Stanford University, just to name a few.

Anything else we need to know?: For more than a decade, Villanova University has been ranked #1 by U.S. News and World Report in the Best Universities-Masters category in the northern region.

In 2004, Caroll Spinney, creator of Sesame Street and voice of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, was the commencemnt speaker at graduation. This created a stir on campus becasue the news falsely reported that “Big Bird” was going to give the commencement address. They did not communicate that Carol Spinney is single-handedly responsible for educating million of children worldwide.

Penn State’s Amazing White Out

Here is a photo of the amazing White Out at Penn State football games. Taken by our blog-buddy at Run Up The Score!

Surely that gives you at least a taste of the goose-bumps.

What we mean when we say FIGHT ON! or ROLL TIDE! or WAR EAGLE! or HOOK ‘EM HORNS

-By Amy Lamare of The Gridiron Goddess

Some people have a security blanket. Some people have a teddy bear.

I have a security sweatshirt.

On Saturday morning, er, almost afternoon actually, as I crawled out of bed close to noon and grabbed my white hooded USC sweatshirt, it suddenly occurred to me just how many events in my life that particular sweatshirt has been witness to.

In February 1987 my father and I went on a road trip. It was my Senior Year of high school and we were off on the obligatory father-daughter bonding college campus trip. We loaded up the banana mobile (a yellow Oldsmobile station wagon that was the bane of my existence until I embraced it for its gigantic 8 cylinder engine) and set out for Southern California.

On our agenda: University of Southern California, California State University Long Beach and the University of San Diego, where one of my best friends was a freshman.

First up was USC, being the closest. It was also not a school I intended on attending. We got lost. We got lost in such a bad neighborhood that when we got to USC, its neighborhood seemed good. Anyone who knows about SC knows this is so far from the truth that it is laughable.

I wanted to go to Long Beach and major in Art. LBSU has a great art program. And if not there, to USD where Didi was and Jodi was going to go. USC was a VERY distant third.

Until I stepped foot on campus. Just seeing the carved rock entrance signs that say University of Southern California gave me chills. And they still do. Seeing the red brick campus and all the students and everything going on there— it was what college was supposed to be. At least to me. So I marched us to the bookstore and bought a sweatshirt. A white hooded sweatshirt with USC on it in Cardinal and Gold.

And it was this moment that I knew this was where I was going to college.

It was this sweatshirt I wore to my Long Beach State visit. It was this sweatshirt I wore to my USD visit. It was this sweatshirt I was wearing on the drive home when we got snowed in at Mountain Pass and had to backtrack to Baker to find a room for the night. And wore to bed because there was a hole in the window, the heat did not work, and the advertised cable television out front that we were so relieved about—well, every time the lobby TV changed channels, so did the one in our room. My Dad and I laughed and laughed and laughed that night.

It was this sweatshirt I wore to nearly every football game of my collegiate career. It was this sweatshirt I wore on every break home—just so that everyone knew I no longer lived there, that I’d gotten out and was going to a fabulous school.

It was this sweatshirt that was at the ready when my parents told me they were getting divorced. It was this sweatshirt that was there when nine years later, they remarried each other.

It is this sweatshirt I am wearing in my first ever picture with my newborn niece. She is now 15 and looking at USC in her future.

It was this sweatshirt I wore when I moved to San Diego. It was this sweatshirt I wore when I moved back to LA. And nearly every weekend for twenty years. It’s been to Chicago, to Las Vegas, to New York, to San Francisco, to Phoenix, to Tucson, to D.C., to Orlando, to Hawaii, to Philadelphia, to tiny Ely, NV; to Paris, to Cabo San Lucas, to St. Thomas, Antigua, Anguilla and St. Martin.

It was this sweatshirt that I wore when I went thru the not changing my clothes phase of breakups with the most serious and loved of my exboyfriends.. It was this sweatshirt that I again turned to when I made the difficult choice to leave The Philly Fan because it was healthier for me. It is this sweatshirt that until recently, I did not even realize had been such a witness to my life. And such a talisman of comfort and home and family. When I chose USC, I took the first step into my adult life. And it is fitting that this first purchase at my school would become my oldest surviving and still in use and most beloved sweatshirt.

Linus ain’t got nothin’ on me with his blanket.

FIGHT ON!

Amy Lamare is The Gridiron Goddess