Oskee Wow-Wow

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Oskee Wow Wow is the official fight song of the University of Illinois.

The song was written in 1911 by two Illinois students, Howard Green and Harold Hill. The school had recently discovered that its official school song, Illinois Loyalty, was not well suited to rousing a crowd during a game.

There have long been two versions of the song. Most commonly, it is played "from the hold" at the start of the chorus, when the "O" in "Oskee Wow-Wow" is held out. This version is played after first downs and touchdowns in football, and leading into time outs in basketball. Coincidentally, the buzzers at nearly every arena are in the same chord as the hold. The song is used to be played "from the top" after an extra point was kicked, but has recently been replaced in favor of "Fight, Illini."

For many years, the band started playing the song "from the top" toward the end of the warmup period in basketball. When conducted correctly, the "hold" is played just as the buzzer sounds.

The song appears to have been written to be played after a touchdown (much like Fight On, State), as it slows down while being played "from the top" before picking back up after the "hold."

[edit] Lyrics

Old Princeton yells her tiger, Wisconsin her Varsity.

And they give the same old "Rah-rah-rah! at each university.

But the yell that always thrills me, and fills my heart with joy

is the good old Oskee-Wow-Wow that they yell at Illinois.

(Chorus)

Oskee-Wow-Wow, Illinois! Our eyes are all on you.

Oskee-Wow-Wow, Illinois! Wave your orange and your blue (rah, rah!).

When the team trots out before you, every man stand up and yell.

Back the team to gain a victory. Oskee-Wow-Wow, Illinois!

There is also a second verse, which is rarely sung:

Teddy Roosevelt may be famous, and his name you often hear.

But it's heroes on the football field each college man holds dear.

We think with pride of Roberts, Artie Hall and Heavy, too.

Oskee-Wow-Wow for the wearers of the Orange and the Blue!

[edit] See also

• Marching Illini recordings
• Marching Illini

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v • d • e Official Fight Songs of the Big Ten Conference Illinois Loyalty & Oskee Wow-Wow (Illinois) • Indiana, Our Indiana (Indiana) • Iowa Fight Song & Roll Along Iowa & On Iowa (Iowa) • The Victors (Michigan) • Michigan State University Fight Song (Michigan State) • Minnesota Rouser (Minnesota) • Go U Northwestern (Northwestern) • Across the Field & Buckeye Battle Cry (Ohio State) • Fight On, State (Penn State) • Hail Purdue! (Purdue) • On, Wisconsin! (Wisconsin)