Gonzaga Bulldogs History

Gonzaga's first intercollegiate teams were simply called the Blue and White since the two colors represented the school's official colors. After the start of football in 1892, Gonzaga's teams of the early 1910's were also called 'Fighting Irish,' thought to be used on the desire for the school to become the Notre Dame of the West. Gonzaga's first football team had been formed in 1892 with Dr. Henry Luhn forming the team to play on Thanksgiving Day against the Spokane Amateur Athletic Club. Luhn had been a member of Notre Dame's very first football team. Gonzaga's most famous football coach was also a Notre Dame alumnus. Former Notre Dame player Gus Dorais became the first full-time Gonzaga football coach when he took the program reigns in 1920.

In 1921 plans for a new football stadium were underway in Spokane as the team was entering its glory years. Following the regular season Gonzaga was invited to play in a Christmas Day bowl in San Diego against West Virginia University. Even though Gonzaga lost the game 24-0, a San Diego sportswriter was impressed with Gonzaga's Bulldog like tenacity and that moniker was adapted for Gonzaga's athletic teams and has been used ever since that December 25, 1921 game. For the next year a combination of Fighting Irish Bulldogs and Fighting Bulldogs was used, but those nickames were quickly dropped.

Due to a budget crisis with the football stadium and football program, Gonzaga officially dropped football following the 1941 season. The stadium was torn down in 1949.
 

GONZAGA FIGHT SONG

Originally used at Gonzaga football games during the 1930's, the Gonzaga fight song was adapted for basketball in recent years. The song was played at Gonzaga football games until the program was dropped in 1941. The fight song was played at men's basketball games until 1986 when the school's band director departed. Based on the recent success of the men's basketball team a Pep Band was formed and has been playing the song at men's and women's basketball games ever since.

Oh when those brawny Bulldogs fall in line,
There's going to be a basket every time!
And we will cheer, cheer, cheer for old GU
Our alma mater, we will sing her praises too.
And then we'll cheer boys for another score
And we will cheer them, cheer them all the more,
For we are Bulldogs of the Blue and White,
Full of Fight,
Fight on to victory!
 

Spike the Bulldog

Human mascots replaced live dogs in 1980 when a Gonzaga student, Mike Griffin, wore a cape and called himself "Captain Zag." He would remain the Gonzaga mascot from 1980 until 1982. A few more students would done the Captain Zag uniform before a Bulldog mascot would return in 1985.

Lee Mauney, a student from Hatchie Bottom, Mississippi, would introduce the Gonzaga crowd to the first human Bulldog mascot in 1985. He was the first student to wear the mascot suit and held the role from 1985-88.

Today Spike has become a recognized figure with Gonzaga basketball cheering at every home men's and women's basketball game. In 2000 Spike became a national figure when he was among a group of mascots that appeared in Nike's 'Welcome To Bracketville' commercials for the NCAA Tournament.