The Story Behind the Ephs: Exploring the Nicknames and Mascots of Williams College

Williams College, a private liberal arts college nestled in Williamstown, Massachusetts, boasts a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1793. Founded with funds bequeathed by Colonel Ephraim Williams, the college has evolved into a leading institution of higher education in the United States. Beyond its academic prowess, Williams College is also known for its vibrant athletic program, with its teams competing as the Ephs in the NCAA Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). The story behind the college's nicknames and mascots is as unique as the institution itself, steeped in tradition, humor, and a touch of the unexpected.

From Colonel Williams to "Ephs": A Name Rooted in History

Both the men's and women's athletic teams at Williams are referred to as Ephs. The nickname "Ephs" is a shortened, colloquial form of Ephraim Williams, the college's founder. It's a way to honor the man whose vision and legacy continue to shape the institution. The pronunciation of "Ephs" rhymes with "chiefs". Only Ephs is used to refer to the Williams teams and not Lady Ephs for the women's teams.

The Royal Purple: A Serendipitous Beginning

The college's color, royal purple, has an interesting origin story. In the summer of 1865, the Williams baseball team was preparing to play a crucial game against Harvard. Harvard had already adopted magenta as its college color, but Williams was yet to have one. Two young women, Eugene M. Jerome's sister and cousin, took it upon themselves to remedy this. They hurriedly purchased some royal purple ribbon and made small rosettes, pinning one on each member of the team. According to Eugene M. Jerome (Class of 1867), "The royal purple joyfully floated from the mast-head that next day, for the game was handsomely won." This spontaneous act not only gave the team a color but also inadvertently wove purple into the fabric of Williams College. Williams uses PMS 267 for print and #512698 for the web.

The Purple Cow: An Unconventional Mascot is Born

While the "Ephs" nickname and the color purple have clear historical connections, the story of the Purple Cow as a mascot is more whimsical. In 1907, the student body voted on a name for a mascot for the College’s sports teams and Purple Cows was selected. This decision was heavily influenced by the popularity of a student humor magazine called "The Purple Cow." The magazine, in turn, drew its name from the iconic, nonsensical poem "The Purple Cow" by Gelett Burgess:

"I never saw a Purple Cow,I never hope to see one;But I can tell you, anyhow,I'd rather see than be one."

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The Purple Cow, with its inherent absurdity, became an emblem of the college's playful spirit and willingness to embrace the unconventional.

The Purple Cow Takes Center Stage: An ESPN Cameo

The Purple Cow's unique appeal has even garnered national attention. In the summer of 2010, the Purple Cow mascot was featured in an ESPN College Football GameDay commercial, alongside mascots from major universities like UPenn, Texas Tech, Ohio State, Oregon, and Florida. This marked the first time a Division III mascot had appeared in an ESPN College Football GameDay commercial.

James Dunn, a recent Williams College graduate who had donned the Purple Cow costume during his undergraduate days, was chosen to represent the Ephs in the commercial. He recounts his experience: "It was an ordinary Wednesday (May 4th) when I received a call from Eph Sports Information Director Dick Quinn (DQ) asking if I knew how to get my hands on the Purple Cow mascot outfit, because if I did, then ESPN wanted to fly me to Los Angeles in three days to wear the purple cow suit in a commercial."

Dunn's trip to Los Angeles and his interactions with the other mascots provide a humorous glimpse into the world of college mascots. He recalls the other mascots making fun of his costume, which was significantly smaller and more duct-tape-laden than theirs. Despite the ribbing, Dunn embraced his role, representing Williams College with pride and humor.

Lee Corso, one of the regulars on ESPN's College GameDay show, was known for putting on the head of the mascot of the team he thought would win the game from the site where the show was being staged that week. Corso had donned the purple cow head back on November 10, 2007, emphasizing his prediction that Williams would defeat Amherst on GameDay's first ever appearance at a Division III site -- Weston Field at Williams College.

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Athletics at Williams College

The school sponsors 32 varsity sports, most of which compete in the NCAA Division III as members of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). The school's men's and women's ski teams and men's and women's squash teams compete in Division I.

Williams, along with fellow NESCAC members Amherst and Wesleyan, is part of the Little Three rivalry, one of the oldest continually contested rivalries in college athletics. It dates to 1899, when the three schools formed the Triangular League for athletic competitions. Williams has consistently won the NACDA Directors' Cup, an annual award for the most successful athletic program in each NCAA division.

Varsity intercollegiate sports began at the school on July 1, 1859, when Williams was defeated by Amherst 73-32 in the first-ever college baseball game. On May 3, 2009, Williams's baseball team played Amherst at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1859 game. Williams was one of the 39 institutions that founded the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1905. Women's varsity athletics began at Williams after the college became coeducational in the 1970-1971 school year.

Baseball

The baseball team is coached by Bill Barrale, who has held the position since the start of the 2007 season. On July 1, 1859, the team played in the first-ever college baseball game, losing to Amherst 73-32 in a game that lasted 25 innings. The two teams played a game on May 3, 2009, to celebrate the first game's 150th anniversary. Six Williams alumni who played baseball for the program went on to play in the major leagues: Artie Clarke, Edward M. Lewis, Jack Mills, Bill Otis, Iron Davis, and Mark Filley.

Men's Basketball

The men's basketball team is coached by Kevin App, who has held the position since the start of the 2014-15 season. The team plays at Chandler Gymnasium on campus. The program holds the record for the longest home win streak in men's Division III history, having won 64 consecutive games at Chandler Gymnasium from January 16, 2001, to January 4, 2005. The team has had 14 players named to the Division III All-America Team since 1971, including three two-time and two three-time selections. The individual honorees include Harry Sheehy III (1974, 1975), Garcia Major (1990), Rob Bice (1994), Noah Clarke (1995), Geoff Chapin (1996), Michael Nogelo (1996, 1997, 1998), Matt Hunt (1999), Ben Coffin (2004), Michael Crotty (2003, 2004), Blake Schultz (2010), Troy Whittington (2011), James Wang (2010, 2011), Michael Mayer (2013, 2014), Duncan Robinson (2014), and James Heskett (2018). The team reached the quarterfinals of the 1961 College Division Tournament, where it lost to Wittenberg 64-51. As a result of Wittenberg students' unruly celebrations after the game, Williams administrators decided to ban teams from participating in national tournaments.

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Men's Crew

The men's crew team is coached by Marc Mandel, who has held the position since the start of the 2017-18 season. The team rows on Lake Onota in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, approximately 30 minutes from campus. The program began varsity competition in 1869 but withdrew in 1879. It was brought back for a short time in the 1930s until the start of World War II. In 1968, Williams alumnus John A.

Football

The team's annual rivalry game against Amherst is known as the Biggest Little Game In America. It is traditionally the final game of each season.

Men's Indoor Track & Field

The men's indoor track & field team is coached by David Thompson, who has held the position since the start of the 2013-2014 season. The team competes at the Towne Field House on campus. It has had numerous athletes named to the Division III All-America Team since varsity play began. The indoor program does not compete in either the Little Three Meet (held in the spring) or the NESCAC Championships (sponsored only in the outdoor season). Thus, the team's postseason play consists only of regionals and nationals. It has had three individual national champions: Bobby Walker in the 35 lb. Weight Throw in 1995, Ethan Brooks in the 35 lb.

Skiing

The men's Nordic ski team is coached by Jason Lemieux, who has held the position since the 2014-2015 season. The men's alpine ski team is coached by Kelsey Levine, who has held the position since the 2014-2015 season. The Nordic ski team competes at Prospect Mountain in Woodford, Vermont, approximately 30 minutes from campus.

Men's Tennis

The men's tennis team is coached by Dan Greenberg, who has held the position since the start of the 2010 season. The team plays at the Torrence M. Hunt Tennis Center on campus.

Women's Golf

The women's golf team has been coached by Tomas Adalsteinsson since 2016. Adalsteinsson replaced coach Bill Kangas, who was serving as interim head coach for the 2014-2015 season after Eika DeSanty left to become the head coach at Princeton. The team plays at the Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, located next to campus. The program began varsity play in the 2004-2005 season. In 2014, the Ephs' Georgiana Salant won the individual national championship.

Women's Ice Hockey

The women's ice hockey team is coached by Meghan Gillis, who has held the position since the start of the 2011-2012 season. The team plays at Lansing Chapman Rink on campus. The program has had three players named to the Division III All-America Team since the beginning of varsity play in the 1993-1994 season.

Women's Indoor Track & Field

The women's indoor track & field team is coached by Nate Hoey, who has held the position since the start of the 2013-2014 season. The team competes at the Towne Field House on campus. It has had numerous athletes named to the Division III All-America Team since varsity play began. The indoor program does not compete in either the Little Three Meet (held in the spring) or the NESCAC Championships (sponsored only in the outdoor season).

Women's Skiing

The women's Nordic ski team is coached by Jason Lemieux, who has held the position since the 2014-2015 season. The women's alpine ski team is coached by Kelsey Levine, who has held the position since the 2014-2015 season. The Nordic ski team competes at Prospect Mountain in Woodford, Vermont, approximately 30 minutes from campus.

Women's Swimming & Diving

The women's swimming & diving team is coached by Steve Kuster, who has held the position since the start of the 1999-2000 season. The team competes at Samuelson-Muir Pool on campus. The team has had numerous swimmers named to the Division III All-America Team since varsity competition began in 1977-1978. In rivalry meets against Amherst (beginning in 1977), the team holds a 34-4 record, as of the end of the 2013-2014 season. In meets against Wesleyan (beginning in 1978), the team holds a 35-0 record, as of the end of the 2013-2014 season. It has won every NESCAC Championship since the conference began holding a women's swimming & diving championship in 2001. The team has won 69 individual and 21 relay national championships.

Women's Tennis

The women's tennis team is coached by Alison Swain, who has held the position since the start of the 2008 season. The team plays at the Torrence M. Hunt Tennis Center on campus.

Rugby

The Williams Rugby Football Club was established in 1959, starting with a handful of incoming freshmen with experience playing rugby while studying in England, the Club was formed and supported by Peter Pearson, the first Williams Rugby coach. The following fall, the WRFC entered the Eastern Rugby Union (ERU) and won the ERU Championship in 1960 with a 5-0-1 record.

Athletic Facilities

Williams College boasts a number of athletic facilities.

Lee Track of Weston
Torrence M.
Weston Field Grandstand & Press Box constructed in 1987 and demolished in early 2014 to accommodate a synthetic turf playing field for football and lacrosse. The Farley-Lamb playing field was completed in September 2014. Weston Field is the home of Williams's football team. The field hosted its first football game in November 1883. It has a seated capacity of 10,000 spectators, with additional standing room.
Chandler Gymnasium, a part of the larger Chandler Athletic Center, is the home of Williams's men's and women's basketball teams and women's volleyball team. The gym opened in 1987 and is named for Williams's 12th president, John Wesley Chandler.
Lansing Chapman Rink is the home of Williams's men's and women's ice hockey teams and can also be configured for indoor men's and women's tennis. The Williams men's ice hockey team has used the rink since its construction in 1953.
Cole Field, a part of the larger Cole Field athletic complex, is the home of Williams's men's and women's soccer programs.
Bobby Coombs Field was built as part of the Cole Field Athletic Complex.
The Williams Softball Complex, part of the larger Cole Field Athletic Complex, features dugouts, bleacher seating, and a permanent fence.
Torrence M. Hunt Tennis Center, the home of Williams's men's and women's tennis teams, features six tournament courts.
Samuelson-Muir Pool, part of the Chandler Athletic Complex, is the home of the men's and women's swimming & diving programs.
The Simon Squash Center, a part of the Chandler Athletic Complex, features 12 glass-backed squash courts.
Lasell Gymnasium, part of the Chandler Athletic Complex, is the home of the college's men's wrestling program.
The Tony Plansky Track, used by the men's and women's outdoor track & field programs, rings Weston Field.
The Towne Field House is the home of the men's and women's indoor track & field programs and also has indoor practice facilities for a number of outdoor sports.

Traditions

In 1907, Williams students began publishing a humor magazine named the Purple Cow, which credited its name to Burgess' poem.
The Walk, which began in 1971, is a post-game tradition of the Williams football team. If Williams wins its homecoming football game, played against either Amherst or Wesleyan, the team walks up Spring Street to St. Pierre's Barber Shop. There, they enjoy cold beverages and cigars and subject underclassmen players to embarrassing haircuts.

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