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Washington Huskies
History
 School Colors: Purple
and Gold
Washington’s school colors, Purple and Gold, were adopted in 1892 by a
vote of a student assembly on the original downtown Seattle campus. One
patriotic group favored Red, White and Blue as the University’s colors,
reasoning that “since the school was named after the father of our
country, our national colors should be the school’s colors.” The
opposing faction argued that national colors should not be degraded for
such everyday use. The debate was ended when a young English instructor,
Miss Frazier, stood and read the following excerpt from Lord Byron’s
“Destruction of Sennacherib.”
“The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,
And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;
And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,
And the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.”
School Logo
In 1995, Washington’s logo depiction of its Husky mascot was redesigned.
The new version of the Husky was drawn by Michael G. Reagan using an
Alaskan Malamute named Turbo Carrera as the model for the new image. The
new version of the Husky shows a three-quarter profile of the mascot in
a pose that is more majestic and regal than the previous version.
King Redoubt
King Redoubt is the eighth Alaskan Malamute to have served as the Husky
mascot. He leads the football team out of the tunnel before every home
game and wanders the sidelines during the contest accompanied by trainer
Kim Cross and several of his children, who act as handlers. The previous
mascots were Frosty I (1922-29), Frosty II (1930-36), Wasky (1946),
Wasky II (1947-53), Ski (1954-57), Denali (1958), King Chinook
(1959-68), Regent Denali (1969-80) and Sundodger (1981-91). The Sigma
Alpha Epsilon fraternity acquired the first dog, Frosty I, and acted as
its handlers. In 1959 Harry Cross, a professor of law at the University,
took over the dog handler duties with King Chinook. Chinook’s first
appearance was the Idaho game that season. Cross’ son, Kim, watched the
dog on the sidelines.
Husky Spirit Songs
Washington's fight song 'Bow Down to Washington' was written by Lester
Wilson in 1913. Following are the lyrics to the tune, which Husky
students and alumni proudly sing at Husky sporting events.
Bow Down to Washington,
Bow Down to Washington,
Mighty Are The Men
Who Wear the Purple and the Gold,
Joyfully We Welcome Them
Within the Victors Fold.
We Will Carve Their Names
In the Hall of Fame
To Preserve the Memory of Our Devotion.
Heaven Help the Foes of Washington;
They're Trembling at the Feet
Of Mighty Washington,
The Boys Are There With Bells,
Their Fighting Blood Excels,
It's Harder to Push Them Over the Line
Than Pass the Dardanelles.
Victory the Cry of Washington...
Leather Lungs Together
With a Rah! Rah! Rah!
And O'er the Land
Our Loyal Band
Will Sing the Glory
Of Washington Forever.
Alma Mater
To her we sing who keeps the ward
O'er all her sons from sea to sea
Our alma mater Washington
A health, a health we give to thee
Child of the mighty western land
You're the mother of a mighty race
Silent her gentle vigil holds
In strength, purity and grace
All hail! O Washington!
Thy sons and daughters sing glad acclaim
Through years of youth and loyalty
And still in age we sing they fame
In honor thy towers stand
The battlements shine in dawning light
And glow again in sunset rays
All hail! O Washington!
Victory for Washington
Vict'ry for Washington
For the purple and the gold
Vict'ry for Washington
Hear the Husky cry of old to win
The Husky pack is fighting on again
Hear the loyal rooters sing
Vict'ry for Washington
Our Alma Mater will ring.
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