H/T to Joe F for finding this one!
Yes, the Illinois fight song is none other than "Oskee Wow-Wow"!!
Here's a recent a cappella version:
For decades we've endured the "Big C" / "Sons of Westwood" controversy with UCLA. Now, it appears, we have an Oski / Oskee Wow-Wow controversy with U of Illinois.
From Wikipedia:
UI's "University Yells" site offers one possible explanation (complete with "Berkeley" misspelled [Grrrr....!]):
Apparently, the Illinois historians didn't figure out that when the Cal vs. Illinois track meet was held in June, 1895, the Class of 1899 was still in high school, and probably hadn't yet developed a "class yell".
So much for connecting the dots. These guys can't spell, and they can't count to four. Our track team probably brought it to them.
So, until someone comes up with a more compelling argument, we'll be doing th ORIGINAL Oski Yell at our Tailgate Party before the Redbox Bowl!
Oski Wow Wow!
Whiskey Wee Wee!
Olee! Muckie-eye!
Olee! Berkeley-eye
California! WOW!
A few links for inquiring minds:
Oskee Wow-Wow (U of I)
Oski Yell (Cal)
Yes, the Illinois fight song is none other than "Oskee Wow-Wow"!!
Here's a recent a cappella version:
For decades we've endured the "Big C" / "Sons of Westwood" controversy with UCLA. Now, it appears, we have an Oski / Oskee Wow-Wow controversy with U of Illinois.
From Wikipedia:
Quote:
Oskee Wow-Wow is the official fight song of the University of Illinois.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskee_Wow-Wow#cite_note-1][1][/url] It was composed primarily because the official school song, "Illinois Loyalty," was not well suited to rousing large crowds at a game.
The song was written in 1910 by two Illinois students, Howard Green and Harold Hill.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskee_Wow-Wow#cite_note-2][2][/url] It was intended as an entry in a contest for a student-composed opera or skit. The skit was never finished, and the students sold the song to the U. of I. Supply Store (later called the Co-op) in Champaign where it was copyrighted in 1911.[url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskee_Wow-Wow#cite_note-3][3][/url] Melrose Bros. Music Co., Inc. of Chicago published it as sheet music in 1928 [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskee_Wow-Wow#cite_note-4][4][/url] Oskee Wow-Wow is an invented phrase similar to other college cheers and yells of that period, and the Illinois cheer was used from before the turn of the Twentieth Century.
UI's "University Yells" site offers one possible explanation (complete with "Berkeley" misspelled [Grrrr....!]):
Quote:
In 1895 the track team of the University of California at Berkley visited Illinois as part of its Eastern Tour and defeated Illinois on its visit on June 7. There has been speculation that the Berkley team may have brought back parts of Illinois Os-kee-Wow-Wow to make the popular Berkley yell: [url=http://uihistories.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/cview?SITEID=1&ID=335#_ftn5][5]
[/url]The original Illinois 1899 class yell was: [url=http://uihistories.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/cview?SITEID=1&ID=335#_ftn1][1][/url]
Osky Wow! Wow!
Skilly Wow! Wow!
Ninety-nine! Ninety-nine!
Wow!
By 1916 the yell had become: [url=http://uihistories.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/cview?SITEID=1&ID=335#_ftn3][3][/url]
Os-kee-wow-wow!
Skin-nee-wow-wow!
Illinois, Illinois,
Yea!
Apparently, the Illinois historians didn't figure out that when the Cal vs. Illinois track meet was held in June, 1895, the Class of 1899 was still in high school, and probably hadn't yet developed a "class yell".
So much for connecting the dots. These guys can't spell, and they can't count to four. Our track team probably brought it to them.
So, until someone comes up with a more compelling argument, we'll be doing th ORIGINAL Oski Yell at our Tailgate Party before the Redbox Bowl!
Oski Wow Wow!
Whiskey Wee Wee!
Olee! Muckie-eye!
Olee! Berkeley-eye
California! WOW!
A few links for inquiring minds:
Oskee Wow-Wow (U of I)
Oski Yell (Cal)