Georgetown College Athletics: A Legacy of Tradition and Transformation

Georgetown College, with its rich history spanning over two centuries, boasts a vibrant athletic tradition marked by iconic figures, passionate fans, and a commitment to excellence. From its early days of intramural sports to its current standing as a Division I competitor in the NCAA, Georgetown athletics has evolved significantly, shaping the university's identity and fostering a strong sense of community.

The Evolution of a Mascot: From Stubby to Jack the Bulldog

Georgetown's athletic identity is deeply intertwined with its mascots, each representing a unique chapter in the university's history. Among the earliest and most remarkable mascots was Stubby, a terrier who served with distinction in World War I. This courageous canine spent 18 months on the front lines, warning his regiment of surprise mustard gas attacks, locating wounded soldiers, and even capturing a German spy. Stubby's bravery and loyalty made him a national hero, solidifying his place in Georgetown's lore.

Following Stubby, another terrier named Hoya, owned by Rev. Vincent McDonough, S.J., became a beloved figure at Georgetown football games in the 1920s and 1930s. Hoya's presence on the sidelines added to the spirited atmosphere of the games, further cementing the connection between the university and its canine companions.

In the 1940s, a Great Dane named Butch served as the team's unofficial mascot. However, with the suspension of Georgetown's football program in 1951, the tradition of live mascots temporarily faded away. Students continued to maintain pet bulldogs as mascots into the early 1970s, keeping the spirit alive.

In 1979, Georgetown pioneered the concept of a "human mascot," a student donning the now-familiar blue and gray bulldog suit. This innovative approach ensured that the mascot tradition continued, even without a live animal on the sidelines.

The modern era of Georgetown mascots began in 1964 when students financed the purchase of an English bulldog named Royal Jacket. Intended to be renamed "Hoya," the dog only responded to "Jack," and the name stuck. The bulldog was chosen for its tenacity, a quality that embodies the spirit of Georgetown athletics.

In 1999, the tradition of an official live bulldog was revived with Jack, who worked alongside the costumed mascot. Today, the tradition continues with John S., the current bulldog, who embodies the spirit and tenacity of Georgetown athletics.

"Hoya Saxa": The Chant That Rocks the Hilltop

The distinctive chant "Hoya Saxa," meaning "What Rocks," has become synonymous with Georgetown University and its athletic teams. This unique phrase, a blend of Greek and Latin, gained popularity in the late nineteenth century and has since become a rallying cry for Hoyas fans.

The origins of "Hoya Saxa" are shrouded in mystery, but several theories exist. One popular explanation suggests that a Georgetown professor, Father James Curley, used the phrase to motivate his students. Another theory connects the chant to the large stone wall that once surrounded the university. Regardless of its precise origins, "Hoya Saxa" has become an integral part of Georgetown's identity, uniting students, alumni, and fans in a shared expression of pride and spirit.

Blue and Gray: Colors of Unity and Remembrance

The official colors of Georgetown University, blue and gray, hold a special significance, symbolizing unity and remembrance. These colors were selected in 1876 by the Georgetown College Boat Club (the original crew team) in honor of Georgetown students and alumni who fought on both sides of the Civil War.

The choice of blue and gray was a deliberate attempt to bridge the divide between North and South, reflecting the university's commitment to reconciliation and healing. The colors serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Georgetown community members during a tumultuous period in American history.

As recounted in a history of the crew by Lawrence H. Cooke, distinctive colors were important in watching crew races, since fans on shore wanted to know their team's location in the race. Harvard's crimson and Penn's red and blue were already well known, but Georgetown had no such colors to call its own. Soon thereafter, a banner was presented to the College by the Boat Club, sewn by the girls of the nearby Georgetown Visitation school. Ocior Auro ("Swifter Than The Wind"). The banner and its colors quickly became a part of college life.

Today, blue and gray are prominently displayed on Georgetown's athletic uniforms, merchandise, and campus decorations, serving as a constant reminder of the university's history and values.

"There Goes Old Georgetown": A Fight Song Steeped in History

"There Goes Old Georgetown," the university's fight song, is a spirited anthem that embodies the pride and tradition of Georgetown athletics. The song is actually an amalgamation of three separate songs, the oldest of which, "The Touchdown Song" from 1913, contains the iconic lyric "here goes old Georgetown."

What sets Georgetown's fight song apart is its unique mention of other colleges by name. Specifically, it references Yale University, Harvard University, Princeton University, College of the Holy Cross, the United States Naval Academy, and Cornell University, all of whom were rivals of Georgetown in the early to mid-20th century. The song playfully mocks their fight songs, adding a touch of humor and rivalry to the mix.

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"There Goes Old Georgetown" is sung with gusto at athletic events, pep rallies, and other university gatherings, uniting students, alumni, and fans in a shared expression of school spirit.

A Timeline of Athletic Milestones

The evolution of Georgetown athletics can be traced through a series of significant milestones:

1830s: Early forms of football were played by Georgetown students. A letter from student John Carroll Brent in 1830 describes a "football" game involving a leather bag filled with air.
1840: The diary of Georgetown prefect Charles Stonestreet, S.J., records an injury sustained while playing football, indicating the sport's growing popularity.
1860s: Baseball emerges as Georgetown's oldest sport, with intramural teams competing on Copley Lawn.
1866: Georgetown plays its first intercollegiate baseball game against Columbian College (now George Washington University).
1870: The baseball team is formally organized and sanctioned.
1874: The first attempts at organizing football on campus occur, with the formation of a football association.
1876: The Georgetown College Boat Club is founded, marking the beginning of organized rowing at the university.
1887: Georgetown plays its first recorded football games against external opponents.
1889: Inter-collegiate football competition begins at Georgetown with a game against the University of Virginia.
1892: Georgetown achieves its highest-ever football score, defeating the Neptune Boat Club 96-0.
1895: Georgetown's baseball team achieves early prominence, going 12-2 and outscoring opponents by an average of 16-4. However, a severe injury to a football player leads to the suspension of the football program.
1897: Intramural football play resumes after a two-year hiatus.
1898: Georgetown defeats Columbian College in football, marking a significant victory.
1900: Arthur Devlin, a superb all-round athlete, captains the football team.
1905: Georgetown suffers its worst-ever football defeat, losing 76-0 to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School.
1906: Georgetown plays Virginia on November 10, 1906.
1907: Georgetown's first intercollegiate men's basketball team is formed.
1909: The death of Archer Christian leads to another suspension of the football program.
1910: Coach Fred K. Nielsen leads the football team to a successful season.
1915: Tom Gormley is ejected from a football game against Army for allegedly biting an opponent.
1916: John "The Great Gilroy" sets school records for scoring and touchdowns in football.
1920: The campus's first sports newspaper begins publishing under the name The Hoya.
1921-1923: Georgetown's baseball team enjoys a 38-game winning streak, including an undefeated season in 1922.
1941: Georgetown's football team plays in the Orange Bowl, losing to Mississippi State.
1951: Georgetown suspends its football program. A men's lacrosse team is first organized.
1952: Women students begin participating in organized sports with the establishment of the Womenâs Athletic Association. The men's soccer team was organized.
1959: Tommy Nolan becomes the head baseball coach.
1964: Georgetown allows its students to start a football program as an exhibition-only club sport.
1970: Varsity football resumes at what later became known as the Division III level. The women's basketball team was first formed. Men's lacrosse enters Division 1 play.
1977: The women's lacrosse team is formed.
1979: Ken Kelly replaced Nolan as head coach of the baseball team.
1983: Georgetown's baseball team qualifies for its first-ever postseason appearance. The women's basketball team joined the Big East.
1984: Steve Iannini wins the NCAA batting title with a .470 average.
1985: Georgetown joins the Big East Conference for baseball.
1991: The women's soccer team began play.
1998: The men's golf team wins its first Big East Conference championship.
2000: A women's rugby team was founded.
2001: The women's lacrosse team wins the first of six consecutive Big East titles.
2005: Georgetown's men's rugby team reaches the Final Four of the USA Rugby Collegiate Division II National Tournament.
2010: The men's golf team wins another Big East Conference championship.
2011: The women's cross country program wins the NCAA Championship.
2012: Georgetown and six other Catholic, non-FBS schools announce that they were departing the Big East for a new conference.
2016: The men's golf team wins another Big East Conference championship.
2017: The women's golf team wins its first Big East Conference championship.
2018: Both the men's and women's golf teams win Big East Conference championships.
2019: The men's soccer team wins a national championship.
2022: Ed Cooley is named Naismith Coach of the Year.
2024: The men's crew team wins a national championship.

A Legacy of Baseball Excellence

Baseball holds a special place in Georgetown's athletic history, as it is the university's oldest intercollegiate sport. The first recorded game took place in 1866, and the team was formally organized and sanctioned in 1870.

In 1899, Georgetown's baseball team achieved national recognition, winning 18 of 20 games against college teams and defeating powerhouses like Princeton and Yale multiple times. The team's triumphant return from their northern trip was celebrated with a torchlight parade and fireworks.

Despite its early success, Georgetown's baseball program has faced challenges in recent years. The team has not appeared in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship since its establishment in 1947. However, the program remains steeped in tradition and has produced several notable players, including Guy "Doc" White, who won the deciding Game 6 of the 1906 World Series.

Basketball: A National Powerhouse

The Georgetown University men's basketball team is arguably the most well-known Hoya program. The team's first intercollegiate season was in 1907. Under legendary coach John Thompson Jr., the Hoyas became a national powerhouse in the 1980s, winning the NCAA Championship in 1984.

The basketball program has produced numerous NBA stars, including Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson, and Alonzo Mourning. The team plays its home games at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C., drawing large crowds and generating significant excitement. Ed Cooley is the team's current head coach.

The women's basketball team also competes in the Big East Conference. The team was first formed in 1970, and joined the Big East in 1983.

Football: A Storied Past and a Promising Future

The football team at Georgetown was first formed on November 1, 1874, with the earliest recorded games dating to 1887. By the 1940s, Georgetown had one of the better college football teams in America, and played in the 1941 Orange Bowl, where they lost 14â7 to Mississippi State.

After a period of dormancy, varsity football resumed in 1970 at what later became known as the Division III level. Today, Georgetown plays at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision, competing in the Patriot League. The Hoyas have also begun a cross-town rivalry with Howard University for a championship known as the D.C. Cup.

Lacrosse: A Rising Force

Both the men's and women's lacrosse teams have become highly competitive in recent years, both in conference and tournament play. A men's lacrosse team was first organized in 1951, and entered Division 1 play in 1970. The women's lacrosse team was formed in 1977, and won the first 6 consecutive Big East titles from 2001 to 2006. The Lady Hoyas reached the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship final in both 2001 and 2002.

Rowing: A Tradition of Excellence

Rowing at Georgetown has a distinguished history dating back to the founding of the Boat Club in 1876. The men have won 7 national championships at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta, the most recent being the men's varsity lightweight fours with coxswain on June 1, 2024.

Georgetown's crew teams have seen success in recent years, including trips to the Henley Royal Regatta and entry into the Eastern Sprints for the men's heavyweight and lightweight teams and second-in-the-nation finishes for both men's and women's lightweight teams.

Sailing: National Champions

The sailing team competes in the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association (MAISA) of the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA). The team has won numerous national championships, including the 2016 national co-ed championship.

Soccer: A National Title

The men's soccer team was organized in 1952, and won a national championship in 2019. The women's soccer team began play in 1991.

Other Sports

Georgetown University fields a variety of other varsity sports teams, including:

Cross Country
Golf
Track and Field

Club Sports: A Diverse Range of Activities

In addition to its varsity sports, Georgetown University offers a wide range of club sports, providing students with opportunities to participate in a variety of athletic activities. These club sports range from versions of varsity sports, such as tennis or basketball, to sports for which there is no varsity equivalent, such as men and women's Water Polo Clubs or Ultimate Frisbee.

The Challenge of Fostering a Vibrant Sports Culture

Despite its rich athletic history and numerous successes, Georgetown faces the challenge of fostering a vibrant sports culture on campus. Student attendance at athletic events, particularly for sports other than men's basketball, can be lackluster.

Several factors contribute to this challenge, including Georgetown's academic rigor, the location of some athletic facilities off-campus, and a lack of awareness among students about the university's athletic programs.

However, the university is actively working to address these challenges and create a more engaging sports environment. The athletics department is implementing new marketing strategies, collaborating with student organizations like Hoya Blue and the Pep Band, and leveraging social media to promote games and increase student involvement.

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