Georgetown University Athletics

Hoya Spirit

What's a Hoya?

Many years ago, when all Georgetown students were required to study Greek and Latin, the University's teams were nicknamed "The Stonewalls." It is suggested that a student, using Greek and Latin terms, started the cheer "Hoya Saxa!", which translates into "What Rocks!" The name proved popular and the term "Hoyas" was eventually adopted for all Georgetown teams.

This is Jack the Bulldog. Jack is our mascot. Georgetown has had a number of mascots in its more than 200-year existence. Among the earliest mascots was a terrier named Stubby, whose name is largely unfamiliar today but was perhaps the most famous dog of his generation. The dog served 18 months on the front with his regiment in World War I, saving his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, locating wounded soldiers, and even catching a German spy by the seat of his pants. Such exploits made the front page of newspapers back home, and after Stubby's last battle at Chateau-Thierry, France, he was outfitted with a blanket with the medals and honors awarded him for bravery, with flags of all the Allied Nations of the war.

Following Stubby, a terrier named, appropriately, "Hoya," became a fan favorite. Hoya belonged to Rev. Vincent McDonough, S.J., Moderator of Athletics and namesake of McDonough Gymnasium. This terrier was frequently seen at Georgetown football games in the 1920's and 1930's. A Great Dane named "Butch" became the team's unofficial mascot during the 1940's, but as Georgetown suspended football in 1951, the tradition of live mascots ended. Years later, the name of "Jack" and the breed of English Bulldog was formally adopted in 1962, adding the blue and gray cap once worn by freshmen onto its emblem.

Students maintained pet bulldogs as mascots into the early 1970's. By 1979, Georgetown was one of the first schools to employ a "human mascot," a student in the now familiar blue and gray bulldog suit. "Jack" now appears at major athletic and social events, and is among the most recognizable college mascots in the nation.

Kente Pattern

The kente pattern first appeared on a Georgetown uniform in the mid 1990s. True kente cloth is handwoven slips of silk and cotton which originated in West Africa to show signs of wealth or royalty. The pattern made by the cloth has since become popular for other uses such as graduation stoles and with many of the Hoya teams.

Leading into the 1994-95 season, Head Coach John Thompson Jr. collaborated with Nike to add a kente pattern to Hoya men’s basketball warmups and uniforms. The new design was significant because the kente not only added a stylish flair, but was a meaningful connection with Thompson, the first Black coach to win an NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. In addition, the pattern was a nod to the multiple racial issues the Hoyas have taken on from his coaching tenure through the present day.

What was once just a staple of the Hoya men's basketball program is now part of the entire Athletics Department look as every team has embraced the history and meaning behind the pattern.

Georgetown Fight Song

It's been so long since last we met, 
Lie down forever, lie down; 
Or have you any money to bet, 
Lie down forever, lie down.

There goes old... Georgetown,
Straight for a... touchdown, 
See how they... gain ground,
Lie down forever, lie down, 
Lie down forever, lie down.

Rah! Rah! Rah! 
Hurrah for Georgetown,
Cheer for victory today.
'Ere the sun has sunk to rest,
In the cradle of the West,
In the clouds will proudly float
The Blue and Gray.

We've heard those loyal fellows up at Yale
Brag and boast about their Boola-Boola.
We've heard the Navy yell,
We've listened to Cornell;
We've heard the sons of Harvard tell
How Crimson lines could hold them.
Choo Choo, Rah Rah, dear old Holy Cross;
The proud old Princeton tiger 
Is never at a loss.
But the yell of all the yells,
The yell that wins the day,
Is the "HOYA, HOYA SAXA!" 
For the dear old Blue and Gray.

It's been so long since last we met,
Lie down forever, lie down; 
Or have you any money to bet, 
Lie down forever, lie down.
There goes old Georgetown,
Straight for a (rebound),
See how they gain ground,
Lie down forever, lie down, 
Lie down forever, lie down.

Want to join the pep band? Click here for more information!

Georgetown Cheerleading

Georgetown University is the nation's oldest Catholic and Jesuit University. Its outstanding athletic teams complement its academic excellence, international presence, and ideal setting in Washington, DC. Georgetown cheerleaders embody exemplary sportsmanship, school representation and Hoya pride. Most of all, they are an integral component of athletic contests.

Team Information
Many of the team members possess strong gymnastic abilities and/or strong dance experience, and most of the team cheered in high school.

Commitment
Georgetown cheerleaders incur no out-of-pocket expenses to participate. All uniforms are provided, and cheerleaders receive sneakers, warm-ups, duffel bags and other athletic gear at no cost. Georgetown University arranges and pays for all travel accommodations, including food and hotels, and registration and housing fees for attendance at UCA summer college camp.

Practices are held three times a week and are scheduled so as not to interfere with classes. The cheerleading season begins with summer camp for college cheerleading and new student orientation performances in August, continues through football season, and follows with basketball season and post-season appearances through early April.

Tryout Information
Tryouts are held in mid-April for current students and early September for all interested students. There are 2 mandatory clinics where prospective cheerleaders learn all the material they will be required to perform at tryouts. A short interview is also conducted during clinics. On the day of tryouts, prospective cheerleaders are evaluated on their performance, crowd appeal, strong motion ability, coordination, personality and attitude. No previous experience is necessary.

Contact Information
For more information, please contact:
Coach Samantha Hunter
By email at hoyacheer@gmail.com