Rhode Island Rams

The Rhode Island Rams are the athletic programs of the University of Rhode Island, based in Kingston, Rhode Island, USA. The school sponsors 18 athletic programs (8 men's, 10 women's), most of which compete in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. The football team, however, competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision.^[1] The program's athletic director is Thorr Bjorn.^[2]

The school's colors are light blue (officially referred to as "Keaney blue"), white and navy blue.^[1] The school's mascot is Rhody the Ram. It was chosen in 1923 as tribute to the school's agricultural history, making its first appearance in 1929. The school has not used a live ram since the introduction of "Rhody," a student in an anthropomorphic ram costume, in 1974.^[3]

Teams

^[4]

Men's basketball

URI Basketball has not reached the NCAA tournament since 1999,^[5] but in the 1990s the Rams made the Big Dance in 1997,^[6] 1998,^[7] and 1999.^[8] In 1998, the Rams went on a surprise run to the Elite 8.^[9]

Fight song

Rhode Island Born
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!^[10]

There are often physical as well as vocal elements to the song's performance. The song begins with a slow clap that continues until the final line, setting a constant rhythm throughout. At the end of the performance, the shouting of the letters "U! R! I!" is accompanied a movement of the right fist. The fist is placed on the left shoulder on U, the right shoulder on R, and is projected forward into the air on I.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "University of Rhode Island". NCAA. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5yyE6pjnW. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 
2. ^ "From the Desk of Thorr Bjorn". Go Rhody. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5yyEHFSu3. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 
3. ^ Peregolise, Adam (September 18, 2003). "Legend Of The Ram". Go Rhody. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5yyEOBpGK. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 
4. ^ "URI Athletics - Facilities". Go Rhody. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5yyEYca4s. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 
5. ^ Ryder, Kevin. "Rhode Island Rams Finally Show They're an NCAA Tournament Team". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5yyF5UQhZ. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 
6. ^ "1997 NCAA Basketball Tournament Bracket". Database Sports. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5yyFBpujC. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 
7. ^ "1998 NCAA Basketball Tournament Bracket". Database Sports. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5yyFLatWi. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 
8. ^ "1999 NCAA Basketball Tournament Bracket". Database Sports. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5yyFWT0km. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 
9. ^ "End of the Rhode: Stanford makes up 6 points in 59 seconds, shocks URI". CNN/SI. March 22, 1998. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5yyFhKjmr. Retrieved 26 May 2011. 
10. ^ "That Ram Marching Band: Sounds". URI.edu. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5yyFrHiuF. Retrieved 26 May 2011.