St. Joseph's Hawks History

In the early 1920s, when former University president Albert G. Brown, S.J. decided to move the college campus from its location just north of the city at Seventeenth and Stiles to its current site in Overbrook on Philadelphia's west side, he selected the location in part because its hilltop perch overlooking downtown Philadelphia provided a dramatic setting for the construction of the college's main building, Barbelin Hall. In fact, for many years Barbelin's signature carillon tower ranked as the highest point from sea level in the city of Philadelphia. Later, according to oral tradition, students and faculty frequently saw real hawks circling the skies above Barbelin, before swooping down on their prey. The familiar scene eventually led to the coining of the moniker “Hawk Hill.”

School Colors

The college colors of crimson and gray date back to the 1890s when it is related that a young seminarian leading a pep rally saw the colors on a book he was holding. Thinking they looked attractive together, he announced that these would be the school colors.

School Slogan

The Hawk is one of the most famous mascots in the country, best known for staying in constant motion by flapping its “wings” from tip-off to the final buzzer of every game, as well as for “flying” in figure 8s around the court during timeouts. The constant flapping, coupled with the scrappy play of the University's athletic teams, helped to spawn the school's familiar slogan “The Hawk Will Never Die!”

Fight Song

Oh when the Hawks, go flying in,
Oh when the Hawks go flying in,
I want to be in that number,
When the Hawks go flying in.
(Repeat above)
Let's Go St. Joe!
Lets Go St. Joe!
Let's Go St. Joe!