Williw the wildcat is the beloved mascot of our school. He is a symbol of strength, agility, and school spirit. Williw has become an integral part of school events and sports games, bringing excitement and energy to the crowd. With his fierce and confident demeanor, Williw embodies the competitive nature of our school's sports teams. Whether it's basketball, football, or soccer, Williw is always at the forefront, cheering on our athletes and motivating them to give their best. His presence alone can ignite a sense of pride and determination among the players and fans, creating an electric atmosphere.
K-State Landmarks
20, 2014, is an 18-foot, limestone and stainless steel sculpture that features the K-S-U letters and two bronze plaques depicting the words of both the K-State Fight Song and K-State s alma mater. The obelisk was made possible through a gift from Dan 71, 75, 87 and Cheryl 72, 79 Yunk, Manhattan, Kansas, and was constructed and installed by Compton Construction Company in Wichita, Kansas, owned by Gib 80 and Brenda 77 Compton.
His presence alone can ignite a sense of pride and determination among the players and fans, creating an electric atmosphere. But Williw is not just limited to sports events. He also attends school rallies, pep rallies, and assemblies, where he dances, performs tricks, and interacts with the students.
Kansas State University
Since its humble beginnings in 1887, Professor Alexander Brown organized fifteen student-musicians into the first band at was then known as Kansas State Agricultural College. The K-State Marching Band, now known to Wildcat fans as the "Pride of the Wildcat Land," has come a great distance in many, many ways.
The K-State Marching Band made its first appearance with an athletic team in 1898 when it escorted the college's baseball team to a game. Having now grown to over 300 members, the K-State band represents our university, the city and community of Manhattan, and the state of Kansas each year at home and across the country at home games, NFL exhibitions, bowl games, parades and festivals, and countless alumni, charity, and community events.
The K-State Band has become an integral part of its community and has a rich history of recognition and support at every level: public school directors and students, the K-State student body, faculty, coaches, Athletic Department, and president, local and state government.
The "Pride" has been invited to many out-of-town venues, appearing before huge audiences, both live and on television. Occasionally the band travels to perform at a Kansas City Chiefs' home game. They have also performed on three occasions at Texas Stadium for Dallas Cowboys home games and twice at Denver Broncos home games. The K-State band performed at the 1974 NFL Pro Bowl and in the 1977 Texas State Fair. In more recent years, the "Pride of Wildcat Land" has accompanied the K-State football team to eleven consecutive bowl appearances. This past year the "Pride" traveled to Arizona with the team for the 2013 Fiesta Bowl!
For decades, a memorable performance each year has been K-State Band Day. Now attracting approximately 2000 high school and middle school students converging each year on Manhattan, the day-long event includes a morning parade through the center of town and a massed band performance at half time of that afternoon's home football game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. On September 15, 1984 the K-State Band Day was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records. In conjunction with that year's Band Day, sixty-seven school bands joined the K-State Band on the field, creating a 3,144 piece marching band, which put them in the book as the world's largest marching band!
The "Pride" has been recognized by many local and national media, including: The Manhattan Mercury, The Kansas State University Collegian, The Topeka Capital Journal, Purple Pride, The Union Tribune, The K-Stater, and The Lawrence Journal Tribune.
Most recently, the Pride was the recipient of the 2015 Sudler Trophy. This is the most prestigious award in college marching band and recognizes excellence and innovation in marching band. The Sudler Trophy is awarded to only one college band every two years.
In 2016 the Wabash Cannonball was recognized by ESPN as the greatest pre-game tradition in the Big 12.
Membership in the "Pride of Wildcat Land" is open to all K-State students, regardless of major, with some members receiving scholarship aid. Band members come from schools throughout the state and from across the nations with diverse educational goals and backgrounds. Students representing every college on campus, and nearly every curriculum, work many hours a week in rehearsal during the marching season.
The Songs of Kansas State University
Wildcat Victory is the official fight song of Kansas State University. It was originally written, verse and chorus, by music department student Harry Erickson in 1927. Over time it became known to K-State fans with the chorus section on its own. The band presents Wildcat Victory in various forms throughout athletic events, from a short excerpt of the introduction to a full version, complete with singing.
The KSU Alma Mater was was officially selected as the result of a campus-wide competition in 1888. The original work, composed by H.W. Jones ('88), was four stanzas long, including the chorus. Following a school name change, the song was altered by removing the letters KSAC (Kansas State Agricultural College), replacing them with KSU. The length of the piece was also shortened to two stanzas.
Wildcat March: In October, 1928, John Philip Sousa was to make an appearance at K-State. A petition, signed by most of the student body, was presented to Sousa on October 10, 1928 requesting that he compose a Kansas State Agricultural College march. The piano arrangement of Kansas Wildcat March arrived at the Music Department in the spring of 1931 and is now an integral part of the pre-game show at every football game. Wildcat March is normally one of the selections you will hear the "Pride" playing in each of the parades they march in every year.
The Wabash Cannonball: With a history like no other, and a firm grasp on tradition, the Wabash Cannonball may be known as a second fight song to the K-State contingent. Composed in 1933 as a folk ballad saluting the nation's rail-riding hobos, Wabash Cannonball was first performed for an athletic event at K-State on December 16, 1968. Wabash was the only selection in the band's repertoire that evening for a home basketball game at Ahearn Fieldhouse. Just three nights prior, arsonists had set fire to Nichols Hall, at that time the home of the Music Department, destroying all of the departments assets including the sheet music. The band director at that time, Phil Hewett, the band director at the time, just happened to have taken one copy of Wabash home from the library that night to work on the arrangement; thus making it the only selection to survive the fire. Since then the Wabash Cannonball has come to represent the survival of the underdog in the hearts and minds of all true K-State fans, and has earned a secure place in the KSUMB's history and traditions.
Click below to download piano sheet music for:
The K-State Tradition
Nickname: At the turn of the century, K-Staters were commonly referred to as the "Aggies," which became their favorite label. The nickname "Wildcats" was given to the football team in 1915 by then head coach Chief Bender because of the squads "fighting spirit." The nickname was changed to the "Farmers" in 1916, but head coach Charled Bachman switched it back to the "Wildcats" in 1920.
School Colors: The school color, Royal Purple, was adopted in the fall of 1896 by a committee made up of Miss Minnie L. Copeland, Miss Winnifred Houghton, and Miss Ina Holyrod, of that year's senior class. Although K-State's only official color is purple, white has been used as a complimentary color for many years. Silver is also a common second or third color. The phrase "Purple Pride," which is often used in association with K-State athletics, was given rise during the tenure of football coach Vince Gibson.
School Mascot: Willie the Wildcat, a student bedecked in a large, life-like wildcat head, is Kansas State's number one fan. The mascot is a central part of athletic events, but Willie also attends other functions around the state as an ambassador of K-State and Manhattan. Students audition yearly for the honor of representing K-State as Willie the Wildcat. Traditionally, the identity of the student portraying Willie is kept secret. A grayish bobcat (wildcat), named Touchdown XI donated by the Clifford Roy family of Smith Center, resides in Manhattan's Sunset Zoo. The tradition of Touchdown began in 1922 when head coach Charles Bachman helped introduce the first mascot to the campus. Once a regular at Wildcat contests, Touchdown mascots no longer attend the games.
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- Updated: 9/11/23
Wilma the Wildcat appeared on March 1, 1986. She and Wilbur were married November 21, 1986 before a University of Arizona versus Arizona State University game.
His playful nature and entertaining antics never fail to leave a lasting impression on everyone who encounters him. Williw's ability to connect with people and uplift their spirits is truly remarkable. Moreover, Williw plays a significant role in fostering school pride and unity. When he walks through the hallways, students instantly light up, excited to see their favorite mascot. This sense of camaraderie extends beyond the confines of the school building, as Williw often participates in community events and parades, representing our school and spreading goodwill. Not only is Williw a source of inspiration and joy, but he also serves as a symbol of our school's values. As a wildcat, he showcases the qualities of determination, perseverance, and teamwork. His presence reminds us of the importance of challenging ourselves and working together towards a common goal. In conclusion, Williw the wildcat mascot is much more than just a character in a costume. He embodies the spirit and essence of our school, bringing joy, excitement, and unity to our community. His impact on students, athletes, and fans alike is immeasurable, making him an indispensable part of our school's identity..
Reviews for "Willie the Wildcat: The Symbol of School Pride"
1. Jane - 1/5 stars - I was highly disappointed with the performance of Williw the wildcat mascot at the recent football game. The costume looked worn-out and dirty, and it made the character look more like a neglected stray cat than a fierce wildcat. The mascot's movements were clumsy and lacked energy, which failed to generate any excitement or enthusiasm among the crowd. Overall, it was a poor representation of our school spirit, and I hope they make some major improvements before the next game.
2. John - 2/5 stars - I have to say, the choice of Williw as our school's wildcat mascot was a bit baffling. The costume design is unimpressive, with colors that do not truly mimic the fierce nature of a wildcat. Not to mention, the performer inside the costume lacked enthusiasm and failed to engage with the crowd. It felt more like a person aimlessly walking around rather than a dedicated mascot rallying support. I hope the school reconsiders their choice and invests in a better mascot for future events.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - The performance by Williw the wildcat mascot left much to be desired. Not only did the costume look tired and outdated, but the person inside it seemed disinterested in their role. Their movements were slow and lacked energy, failing to ignite any sense of school spirit. Additionally, the lack of interaction with the crowd was disappointing. A good mascot should be engaging and prompt cheers from the audience, but Williw fell short on all accounts. It's time for our school to reevaluate the selection and bring in a new mascot that can truly embody our team's spirit.
4. Michael - 1/5 stars - I found the performance of Williw the wildcat mascot to be subpar at best. The costume itself looked cheap and unprofessional, clearly lacking the attention to detail that a mascot should have. The person inside the costume seemed unenthusiastic and barely made any effort to engage with the audience. It felt like the mascot was just going through the motions rather than actively supporting our team. Overall, the experience was underwhelming and failed to generate any school spirit. It's time for a change and a mascot that truly represents the energy and passion of our school.