Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team. Although the term "fight song" is primarily used in America, the use of fight songs is commonplace around the world, but they may be referred to as team anthems, himnos equipos (Spanish language), or team songs in other countries, such as Australia, Mexico and New Zealand. Fight songs differ from stadium anthems, used for similar purposes, in that they are usually written specifically for the purposes of the team, whereas stadium anthems are not.
The term "Fight Song" may also refer to a piece of music meant to excite or "pump up" a crowd for whatever reason, such as at a rave or concert.
In the United States, fight songs are especially popular for college and high school sports. Among the most notable are "For Boston", The Notre Dame Victory March, The Victors, Minnesota Rouser, Anchors Aweigh, Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech, Buckeye Battle Cry, and On Wisconsin. Additionally, several NFL teams maintain traditional songs that are often several decades old. Notable fight songs include When the Saints Go Marching In; Skol, Vikings; Bear Down, Chicago Bears; Go! You Packers! Go!; Fly, Eagles Fly; San Diego Super Chargers; Hail to the Redskins; Hey, Hey Tampa Bay, and the Detroit Lions' traditional fight song "Gridiron Heroes".
Hundreds of colleges have fight songs, some of which are over a century old. The oldest collegiate fight song in the United States is Boston College's "For Boston", composed by T.J. Hurley in 1885.[1] Fight songs are laden with history; in singing a fight song, fans feel part of a large, time-honored tradition. The following list contains some of the most established and popular in America.
List of college fight songs
Notes:
- Colleges whose names begin with "University of" or "College of" are listed by traditional name; for example, the University of Cincinnati is listed under C, not U.
- The service academies are universally referred to in sports media by their associated branch of service. This means, for example, that the United States Military Academy is found at A, for Army.
- Schools which are normally known by a different contraction of their official name, or an acronym/initialism, are listed by their most common name. Examples:
- Other regional campuses, such as California State University, Fresno, are listed by their regional name, meaning the aforementioned school can be found under F.
A
B
C
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – Fight for California Tech
- California Lutheran University – The CLU Fight Song
- Cal Poly San Luis Obispo – Ride High, You Mustangs
- Cal Poly Pomona – Bronco Fight Song
- California State University, Bakersfield – CSUB Victory!
- California State University, Chico – Chico State Fight Song
- California State University, East Bay – Pioneer Fight Song
- California State University, Fullerton – Fight On, Titans
- University of California, Berkeley (California) – Fight for California (primary fight song), Big "C", Sons of California, The Golden Bear, California Indian Song, Stanford Jonah, Roll On You Golden Bear, Make Way for the Bear, and Palms of Victory
- University of California, Davis – Aggie Fight
- University of California, Irvine – U-C-I Fight
- University of California, Los Angeles – Sons of Westwood and The Mighty Bruins
- University of California, Riverside – Brave Scots
- University of California, San Diego – Triton Fight Song
- University of California, Santa Barbara – El "C" Grande
- Cameron University – Aggie's Fight
- Campbell University – Campbell University Fight Song (tune of Arizona State's fight song, "Maroon and Gold.")
- Canisius College – Canisius College March and Drive Canisius
- Capital University – Pride of the Purple
- Carnegie Mellon University – Fight for the Glory of Carnegie
- Carthage College – Carthage Fight Song
- Case Western Reserve University – Fight On, Case Reserve
- The Catholic University of America – C. U. Marching Song
- Centenary College (Louisiana) – Centenary Fight Song
- University of Central Arkansas – UCA Fight Song
- Central Connecticut State University – C.C.S.U. Victory
- University of Central Florida – UCF Fight Song
- Central Methodist University – Fighting Eagles
- Central Michigan University – The Fighting Chippewa, and Hail Chippewa!
- University of Central Missouri – Go Mules
- University of Central Oklahoma – UCO Fight Song
- Central State University – Fight for CSU
- Central Washington University – CWU Fight Song (tune of Across the Field)
- Centre College – Old Centre
- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (Chattanooga) – Fight, Chattanooga!
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte) – Charlotte Fight Song
- University of Chicago – Wave the Flag (For Old Chicago) and Scholarly Yells
- Christopher Newport University – "CNU Fight Song"
- University of Cincinnati – Cheer Cincinnati, Red and Black,Give A Cheer
- The Citadel – Dixie,
City College of New York – CCNY Fight Song
- Clarion (PA) – Carry On for Clarion
- Clark Atlanta University – Hail! Roaring Panthers
- Clayton State University – Clayton State Fight Song
- Clemson University – Tiger Rag
- Cleveland State University – The Pride of Cleveland
- United States Coast Guard Academy – Semper Paratus
- Coastal Carolina University – Coastal Carolina Fight Song
- Coe College – Coe Fight Song
- Colgate University – Fight, Fight, Fight and Fight for the Team
- College of Mount St. Joseph – MSJ Fight Song
- College of William and Mary – Tribe Fight Song
- Colorado School of Mines – The Mines Fight Song (same tune as Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech)
- Colorado State University – Colorado State Fight Song
- Colorado State University-Pueblo – CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves Fight Song
- University of Colorado – Glory, Glory Colorado, Go Colorado, and Fight CU
- Columbia University – Roar, Lion, Roar, Stand Up and Cheer, Who Owns New York?
- Columbus State (GA) – Cougar Fight
- Concordia University, St. Paul – Concordia Fight Song (Same tune as On Wisconsin)
- University of Connecticut – UConn Husky
- Converse College – Ride of the Valkyries
- Cornell University – Primarily, Give My Regards to Davy. Also, The Big Red Team, Fight for Cornell and New Cornell Fight Song
- Creighton University – The White and the Blue
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E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
- University of Maine – Maine Stein Song (school song) For Maine (fight song)
- Marist College – The Marist Song
- Marquette University – Ring Out, Ahoya!
- Marshall University – Sons of Marshall
- University of Maryland, College Park – Maryland Fight Song (for football - played after opposing team scores) and Maryland Victory Song (more commonly heard during games, for football - played after Maryland scores).
- University of Massachusetts Amherst – Fight Mass
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology – The Engineer's Drinking Song
- McNeese State University – Joli Blon (official), On McNeese (unofficial)
- University of Memphis – Go! Tigers! Go!
- Mercer University – Hail to Mercer
- United States Merchant Marine Academy (Merchant Marine Academy) – King's Point Victory
- University of Miami (Florida) – Hail to the Spirit of Miami U and Miami U How-Dee-Doo
- Miami University (Ohio) – Miami March Song
- University of Michigan – The Victors, Varsity, and The Yellow and Blue (alma mater)
- Michigan State University – MSU Fight Song, and MSU Shadows (alma mater)
- Michigan Technological University – Fight Tech Fight
- MidAmerica Nazarene University – Pioneer Fight Song (tune of FSU Fight Song (Florida State University))
- Middle Tennessee State University – MTSU Fight Song
- Middlebury College – Cheer, Boys, Cheer
- Midwestern State University – Here's to the Maroon and Gold
- University of Minnesota Duluth – Minnesota-Duluth Rouser
- University of Minnesota Morris – Minnesota-Morris Rouser
- University of Minnesota – Minnesota Rouser
- Minnesota State University, Mankato – The Maverick Rouser
- University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) – Forward Rebels, From Dixie With Love (The Hotty Toddy is a cheer, not a song, but it is often set up with Rock and Roll Part 2)
- Mississippi College – Mississippi College Fight Song
- Mississippi State University – Hail State
- University of Missouri – Every True Son & Fight, Tigers
- Missouri State University – The Scotsman
- Missouri University of Science and Technology – Fight, Miners
- Missouri Western State University – Missouri Western Fight Song
- Monmouth University (NJ) – Fight for Dear Old Monmouth
- University of Montana – Up With Montana
- Montana State University – Stand Up and Cheer
- Montana State University-Billings – MSU-B Fight Song (tune of Across the Field)
- Morehead State University – Fight for Morehead
- Morgan State University – Fight on ‘ole Morgan Grizzly
- Mount Union College – On, Mount to victory!"
- Murray State University – Murray State Fight Song
N
- United States Naval Academy (Navy) – Anchors Aweigh
- University of Nebraska – Hail Varsity and Dear Old Nebraska U (There Is No Place Like Nebraska)
- University of Nebraska at Kearney – UNK Fight Song and UNK Color Song
- University of Nebraska at Omaha – UNO Fite
- University of Nevada – Hail to Our Sturdy Men
- University of New Hampshire – "New Hampshire Hymn", "On to Victory" (recognized song), UNH Cheer (alt.)
- University of New Mexico – Hail New Mexico
- New Mexico Highlands University – Highlands Fight Song
- New Mexico State University – Aggies oh Aggies
- University of New Orleans – Let's Hear It For UNO
- New York University – The Palisades (also known as Our Dear Old NYU)
- Niagara University – Here's to Old Niagara
- Nicholls State University – Nicholls State Fight Song
- Norfolk State University – Norfolk State Fight Song
- University of North Alabama – North Alabama Fight Song
- University of North Carolina – I'm a Tar Heel Born, Here Comes Carolina
- University of North Carolina-Charlotte – UNC Charlotte Fight Song
- University of North Carolina-Pembroke – UNC-P Fight Song
- University of North Carolina-Wilmington – Green and Gold
- North Carolina State University – The NCSU Fight Song (Official) and Red and White (Popular but unofficial)
- North Central College – Cardinal Fight Song
- University of North Dakota – Fight On Sioux, It's For You, North Dakota U, Stand Up and Cheer
- North Dakota State University – On Bison
- North Park University (IL) – NPU Fight Song
- University of North Texas – Fight, North Texas
- Northeastern University – All Hail Northeastern
- Northeastern Illinois University – Go Golden Eagles
- Northeastern State University – Northeastern, Northeastern
- Northern Arizona University – Lumberjack Fight Song
- University of Northern Colorado – UNC Fight Song
- Northern Illinois University – Huskie Fight Song
- University of Northern Iowa – UNI Fight Song
- Northern Kentucky University – Onward Ye Norsemen
- Northern Michigan University – Northern Michigan Fight Song
- Northwest Missouri State University – Wings of Victory
- Northwest Nazarene University – Victory Is Sure
- Northwestern University – Go U Northwestern and Rise, Northwestern!
- Northwestern Oklahoma State University – Ride Rangers
- Northwestern State University (LA) – Demon Fight Song
- University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame Victory March ("Cheer, Cheer for Old Notre Dame") and Hike Notre Dame and When Irish Backs Go Marching By and Rakes of Mallow and Celtic Chant and Down the Line and "The 1812 Overture" (played between the third and fourth quarter) and the alma mater, "Notre Dame, Our Mother"
O
P
- University of the Pacific - UoP Fight Song
- Pacific Lutheran University - PLU Fight Song, When the Saints Go Marching In
- University of Pennsylvania - Cheer Pennsylvania, Fight on, Pennsylvania, The Red and Blue, The University of Pennsylvania Band March, Drink a Highball, The Battle Cry of Penn (Hang Jeff Davis)
- The Pennsylvania State University - Fight On, State, The Nittany Lion, and Victory
- Pepperdine University - Fight Fight Fight for Pepperdine
- Pittsburg State University - On To Victory
- University of Pittsburgh - Hail to Pitt, Pitt Victory Song, and The Panther
- Polytechnic University of New York - Marching Song
- University of Portland - Pilot Fight Song (a.k.a. Portland Victory March)
- Portland State University - Fight for Portland State
- Prairie View A&M University - Mighty Panthers
- Princeton University - The Princeton Cannon Song, Princeton Forward March, Princeton Stadium Song, Goin' Back. Tiger Rag, Orange and the Black, Princeton University Band March, Princeton Jungle March
- Providence College - When the Saints Go Marching In (was originally "Friar Away;" Saints was popularized in the 1950s as the introduction music to basketball broadcasts on WPRO-AM)
- University of Puget Sound - Fight for UPS
- Purdue University - Hail Purdue!
Q
R
S
- Sacramento State University – Fight Hornet Fight
- Sacred Heart University – Pioneer Fight Song
- Saginaw Valley State University – Cardinal Fight
- St. Bonaventure University – Unfurl the Brown and White
- St. Cloud State University – St. Cloud State Rouser
- St. Francis Xavier University - "Hail & Health"
- St. John's University (NY) – Fight For Old St. John's
- St. Joseph's University – When the Hawks Go Flying In, Mine Eyes
- St. Lawrence University – The Scarlet and The Brown
- St. Louis University – We Hail Saint Louis U.
- St. Olaf College – Um Ya Ya
- Sam Houston State University – Bearkat Fight Song (To the tune of "Semper Paratus")
- Samford University – Samford Fight Song
- San Diego State University – SDSU Fight Song
- University of San Francisco – Victory Song
- San Francisco State University – State Victory Song
- San Jose State University – San Jose State Fight Song
- Santa Clara University – Fight For Santa Clara
- University of Saskatchewan – Fight! Fight! Fight!
- Seton Hall University – Onward Setonia
- Siena College – When the Saints Go Marching In, and "S-I-E-N-A"
- Shepherd University – "Fight On" [For Old SU]
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania – The Horse
- University of South Alabama – Jaguar Pride Fight Song
- University of South Carolina – Also sprach Zarathustra (the 2001 song), Carolina Fight Song, Fight! USC, The Fighting Gamecocks Lead the Way (Step to the Rear), and The NC-4
- South Carolina State University – Bulldog Fight Song
- University of South Dakota – Hail South Dakota
- South Dakota State University – Ring the Bells
- University of South Florida – Golden Brahman March
- Southeast Missouri State University – SEMO Fight Song
- Southeastern Louisiana University – Cheer Our Team
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University – Southeastern
- Southern University – Southern Fight
- University of Southern California – Fight On (primary fight song), Conquest, Tribute to Troy, Cardinal and Gold, Carry On, Marching Song of USC, Clear the Way for USC, Watch the Trojans Roll, Tusk, and USC Beloved Varsity
- Southern Illinois University – Go! Southern! Go!
- University of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville – SIU-E Fight Song
- Southern Methodist University – Peruna
- University of Southern Mississippi – Southern to the Top
- Southwest Baptist University – SBU Fight Song
- Stanford University – Come Join the Band (De facto: All Right Now)
- Stephen F. Austin University – SFA Fight Song
- Swarthmore College – Hip, Hip, Hip, for Old Swarthmore
- Syracuse University – Down, Down the Field and The Saltine Warrior
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See also
References
External links