Rhode Island Rams History

The University was chartered as the state's agricultural school in 1888. The Oliver Watson farm was purchased as a site for the school, and the old farmhouse, now restored, still stands on the campus. The school became the Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1892, and the first class of 17 members was graduated two years later.

The Morrill Act of 1862 provided for the sale of public lands. Income from these sales was to be used to create at least one college in each state with the principal purpose of teaching agriculture and mechanic arts. From this grant of land comes the term "land grant," which applied to the national system of state colleges. In a later adaptation of the concept, federal funds given to colleges for marine research and extension are called "sea grants."

In 1909 the name of the college was changed to Rhode Island State College, and the program of study was revised and expanded. In 1951 the college became the University of Rhode Island by an act of the General Assembly. The Board of Governors for Higher Education appointed by the governor became the governing body of the University in 1981.
 

The Fight Song

We're Rhode Island born;
and 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 Rhode Island, U - R - I!
 

The School Colors

Frank Keaney, in addition to being the most famous basketball coach in University of Rhode Island annals, was also an accomplished professor of chemistry during the same time his fastbreak chemistry was working magic on the court.


During his long coaching and teaching tenure at Rhode Island - spanning more than four decades - Keaney was constantly experimenting with new ideas both as a coach and as a chemist, including his up-tempo "point-a-minute" style of basketball as well as a foot hardener suitable for the Rams' fastbreak-style, a potent smelling lineament for aches and pains, and the famous "Keaney Blue," also known as "Rhody Blue."


Before Keaney concocted his special shade of powdery blue, Rhode Island's colors had been white and royal blue. But Keaney, after spending considerable time mixing a variety of blue and white paints together in his on-campus laboratory, came up with his special shade of blue - a light, soft tint all but the same color as the University of North Carolina's. Later, after Keaney Gym was finished in 1953, Keaney set up a small lab in a third floor room - now called the Century Club Room - in the southwestern corner of the building.


The color was almost immediately adopted as the university's "new blue" and used on everything from athletic uniforms, tennis shoes and warmup jackets, to handrailings, building trim and letterhead stationary. Over the years, however, other shades of blue started to appear on campus as college officials began leaning toward a darker hue.


About seven years ago it was decided to officially change the Keaney Blue to a somewhat darker shade. A group of approximately 50 administrators and alumni met to study and discuss a variety of different shades of blue that had been painted on pieces of plywood at the campus workshop. The group then voted for the color they liked best and the new Rhody Blue was born, to be worn, as proudly as Keaney's blue had been, by a new generation of Rhode Island athletes and students.