Bobcats
Texas State University - San Marcos adopted the bobcat as an official athletic mascot in 1920. The bobcat is a resident of the Central Texas Hill Country, as well as a fighter of great courage. Texas State coach Oscar Strahan once said, "A bobcat will fight you with everything he has; with four claws, teeth, speed and brains." Texas State was the only college in the country until the late 1920s to possess the name for its athletic teams.
Maroon & Gold
Texas State's school colors are maroon and gold and are inspired by the native wildflower, the Gaillardia. These colors have had various versions over the years, but the main colors have been a staple of the university and the athletics department for years.
Go Bobcats! | Play
There was no official fight song until 1961, when Paul Yoder was commissioned to compose Go Bobcats. It is the rousing "call to arms" for all Texas State athletic games and competition.
Go Bobcats all the way,
Keep the maroon and gold on high!
Fight on for every play Until you hear the Bobcat battle cry!
We're gonna cheer for our team today
Until the whole world knows our name,
No doubt about it We're gonna shout it Bobcats will win this game!
Eat' em Up, Eat' em Up, Go 'Cats Go
Eat' em Up, Eat' em Up, Go 'Cats Go
Alma Mater! | Play
The Texas State Alma Mater was written by Jessie Sayers in the early 1900's to the tune of Ancient of Days (a Presbyterian hymn written in 1896) by J. Albert Jeffrey. Sayers was a Texas State professor (one of the first, in 1903) and sister of Texas Gov. Joseph Sayers. The song's words harken back to the golden era of school tributes. The song paints a classical and idyllic portrait of the hilly campus above the San Marcos River. All five verses of the Alma Mater follow:
O, Alma Mater, set upon the green hills,
With turrets pointing upward to the sky;
We yield to thee our love and our devotion;
Mother of hopes and aspirations high.
Thy feet are laved by pure and limpid waters,
Fair river flowing gently to the sea;
Thy hills are crowned with ancient oak and laurel
Fit emblems they of strength and victory.
Thy walls call tell of struggles and temptations,
Hard honest toil, and eager restless strife;
Hopes, smiles and tears, and radiant youthful friendships,
And all that makes for brave and earnest life.
Dear mother, ours, should effort be successful,
Ambitions crowned with glory or renown,
We turn to thee with reverence and affection,
Thine is the conquest, thine the victor's crown.
Thy spirit urges us to deeds of valor,
Raising the fallen, cheering the oppressed;
Thy call will echo clearly down the ages.
Dear Alma Mater, mother loved and blessed.
Texas State Chant! | Play
The "Texas State" chant heard at Bobcat athletic events is unlike any other. At any point during the game fans on one side of the venue can be heard chanting "Texas" followed by a response from the other side of the venue, "State."
Heart of Texas State
The State of Texas is a great place and at the heart of this great place is Texas State University. As a shown sign of this match Bobcat faithful can be seen holding up the left hand in the shape of the State of Texas with the two outside fingers pointing down toward the middle of the palm indicating the location of the university.
Eat 'em up Cats
Along with the Heart of Texas State hand sign Bobcat fans routinely display their right hand in the shape of Bobcat paw while saying "Eat 'em up Cats!"
Bobcat Volleyball "Point Bobcat"
The head coach of the Bobcats for the past 22 years has been head Coach Karen Chisum. Throughout those years Coach Chisum as established herself as a prominent volleyball head coach and brought numerous traditions to the Bobcat volleyball program. Most notably is the "Point Bobcat" tradition. After every point scored by the Bobcat volleyball team the entire crowd chants the words "Point Bobcat" immediately following the announcer's statement of the sentence.
"I-35 Maroon vs. Orange Rivalry Series"
The trophy idea was developed over 10 years ago and was created to build the rivalry in athletics' competition while bringing added attention to college sports in Central Texas, especially in the I-35 Corridor. Historically the trophy was only awarded to the winner of the men's basketball series, but starting with the 2007-2008 season the rivalry was expanded to an all sport competition. The series looks to provide a sense of pride from each university's alumni, build school spirit among each institution's student body and increase attendance at sporting events between the two schools.
Bobcat Football "Battle for the Paddle"
Annually Texas State University and Nicholls State take to the football field for the "Battle for the Paddle" rivalry game. Several year ago just before the Bobcats were scheduled to take on the Colonels, San Marcos had a great flood which soaked the field at Bobcat Stadium. Athletic Directors and coaches from each school decided to continue with the game and coined the annual contest the "Battle for the Paddle", poking fun at the fact that fans and athletes needed to use a boat and paddle to get to the game.
Bobcat Volleyball Ace Your Face
The Texas State Volleyball program is one of the most successful volleyball programs in the country. A staple of the program are the numerous aces that the Bobcats serve to opposing teams. After every ace and "Ace Your Face" shirt is thrown into the crowd.
Bobcat Alley
Bobcat Alley is one of the newest football traditions. Led by S.A.C.A. (Student Association for Campus Activities) the parking lot of Bobcat Stadium is completely taken over and organized for Bobcat fans who wish to tailgate before each home football game.
Victory March
Before each home game the football team conducts a "Walk of Champions" through "Bobcat Alley." The walk gives Bobcat fans a chance to encourage the team and cheer them on to victory and gives the players a chance to thank their fans for coming to the game.
Bobcat Victory Ball
Dedicated in 2006, the Bobcat Victory ball sits on a marble base outside the main entrance of the endzone complex at Bobcat Stadium. All persons entering the complex are encouraged to rub the ball for luck.
The ball was dedicated in the memory of Bill Miller who was an athletic director at Texas State and the coach with the most football wins in school history.
Homecoming
Homecoming at Texas State is one of the longest running traditions for the university. Annually, the university plans a week's worth of events for students, staff and alumni returning to campus capped off on Saturday at Bobcat Stadium when the football team plays host to another Southland Conference team.
Victory Star Lighting
From 1913 to 1967, a 50,000 gallon water tower presided over the campus from a perch located behind where the Chemistry Building and Centennial Hall now sit. Beginning in 1936, a star was placed on top of that water tower as a Christmas decoration. When the holidays were over, the star was put away. But in 1942 night watchman Elmer Titsworth started turning the star on to signal a Bobcat athletic victory, and a new tradition was born.
In 1963, a new 500,000 gallon water tower was erected, rendering the original smaller water tower obsolete. When the small water tower was removed from campus four years later in 1967, the Victory Star was moved to the top of 138 foot high Jackson Hall. It was also replaced by a new star, six feet in radius from its center to the tip of each arm. It contained two sets of lights-- an outside white outline and an inner colored set of lights. The white set was to be controlled by a photoelectric cell which could turn the lights on at sundown and off at sun-up. The colored lights were to operate on a manual switch. The student senate was expected to write a set of rules governing the circumstances under which the star would be illuminated.
The new star was built by San Marcos sign-man Ivar Gunnarson, who expected to have it ready in time for the first game against Texas Lutheran on September 16, 1967. In its new location atop Jackson Hall, the Victory Star actually sits about 50 feet higher than its predecessor sat on top of the old water tower.
The five-pointed star atop Jackson Hall on Texas State's highest hill can be seen from miles away and is lighted at night on occasions of all athletic victories, both home and away. This star is, of course, Texas State's symbol, taken from our university seal. It is from the star that the school's newspaper, The University Star (formerly named the Normal Star and the College Star), gets its name.
Jackson Hall, at 12 stories the tallest building on the highest point in Hays County, is a readily identifiable Texas State University campus landmark. Named after one of the university's early librarians, Dr. Ernest B. Jackson, this building opened in 1967.
Kids Fun Run
One of the coolest traditions for the young Bobcats is the "Kids Fun Run" which precedes the run out of the Texas State football team. Kids show up extra early to get a taste of being a Bobcat football player and running out of the tunnel.
