School spirit defines what it means to be a fan, both at Northwestern and in the Evanston community.
NU’s spirit squad is led by fan favorite mascot Willie the Wildcat. Willie originated from a reference to the football team as “wildcats” in a 1924 article published in the Chicago Tribune.
While Willie’s costume has evolved stylistically and has been worn by many different students in the past century, the purpose of the mascot has remained consistent. Willie embodies Purple Pride and encourages student-athletes and sports enthusiasts alike to align with the institutional values and team culture at NU, like integrity, respect and excellence.
In covering and working games at Welsh-Ryan Arena, my interactions with Willie have always been memorable. Everyone’s favorite Wildcat energizes crowds in the game’s crucial moments, performs with the cheerleaders and engages directly with athletes and fans alike.
I recall taking photos of a men’s basketball game and noticing Willie celebrating the ’Cats win with a young fan on the sideline. The boy approached Willie to ask for a photo and his father stood beaming with pride as he captured the wholesome courtside moment.
While the true identity of the mascot is unknown, Willie serves as a visual and interactive representation of what it means to be a Wildcat.
Another all-encompassing aspect of school spirit that I have a deep appreciation for is the ’Cats fight song. Across every sport, the common theme of the “Fight for victory” to “spread far the fame of our fair name” encourages our athletes to uphold an institutional and cultural vitality in their athletic prowess.
During Wildcat Welcome in September, my peer adviser group learned the fight song as we were touring campus. In the weeks that followed, I began to recognize the song around campus.
One day, as I was walking home from a workout at Henry Crown Sports Pavilion, the women’s field hockey team had just returned from winning the 2025 NCAA championships. As I passed the field, the sprinklers turned on and I stopped to listen to the musical rendition of the fight song by the school band.
A sea of white filled the field holding up the championship trophy as the team celebrated the win on its home field. For me, this moment truly personified the line, “With our colors flying, we will cheer you all the time.”
The fight song serves a purpose that extends beyond rhythmic lyricism. It fuels our NU sports teams and allows fans to rally around the athletes as they continue to proudly represent their institution.
The Wildcat identity is shaped by school spirit that lies beyond the box score.
Alisande Jaiserrisingh is a Weinberg first-year and author of “Beyond the Box Score.” She can be contacted at [email protected]. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to [email protected]. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.
