Oskee Wow-Wow

History

"Oskee-Wow-Wow" is an invented phrase similar to other college cheers and yells. The Illinois cheer was used from before the turn of the 20th century.

In the summer of 1910, Hill and Green composed and entered "Oskee-Wow-Wow" and several other songs into a contest for a student-composed opera. The opera was never finished, so the two attempted to sell the musical numbers to a publisher. They managed to sell the song to Charley Graham, the manager of the U. of I. Supply Store (also known as the Co-Op) for $100. Hill and Green attempted to publish "Hail to the Orange" by printing it on the back cover of "Oskee-Wow-Wow," but Graham refused, citing the song's lack of "punch." "Oskee Wow Wow" was copyrighted in 1911. Melrose Bros. Music Co., Inc. of Chicago published it as sheet music in 1928 It became popular as the school's primary fight song primarily because "Illinois Loyalty," the older fight song, was not well suited to rousing large crowds at a game.

Lyrics

The original words of the song are as follows:

{{small|Verse 1

:Old Princeton yells her tiger :Wisconsin her varsity :And they give the same old Rah! Rah! Rah! :At each University :But the yell that always thrills me :And fills my heart with joy :Is the good old Oskee wow-wow :That they yell at Illinois

Chorus :Oskee-wow-wow Illinois :Our eyes are all on you :Oskee-wow-wow Illinois :Wave your Orange and your blue Rah! Rah! :When the team trots out before you :Ev'ry man stand up and yell :Back the team and give [opponent's name] :Oskee-wow-wow Illinois

Verse 2 :Teddy Roosevelt may be famous :and his name you often hear :But it's heroes on the football field :Each college man holds dear :We think with pride of Roberts :Artie Hall and Heavy too :Oskee wow-wow for the wearers :Of the Orange and the Blue

Chorus}}

Media

The music is included in the ″Illini Fantasy″, a medley of Illinois songs and marches arranged for concert band by James Curnow in 1970 as a commission from Director of Bands Harry Begian.

There have long been two versions of the song. Most commonly, it is played "from the hold" at the start of the chorus, when the "O" in "Oskee Wow-Wow" is held out. This version is played after first downs and touchdowns in football and leading into time-outs in basketball. Coincidentally, the buzzers at nearly every arena are in the same chord as the hold. The song was played "from the top" after an extra point was kicked but was replaced in favor of "Fight, Illini."

For many years, the band started playing the song "from the top" toward the end of the warmup period in basketball. When conducted correctly, the "hold" was played just as the buzzer sounded.

The song appears to have been written to be played after a touchdown, as it slows down while being played "from the top" before picking back up after the "hold."

References

References

1. "University Yells". UIHistories.
2. "'Oskee Wow Wow' predates the Chief". [[The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana).
3. . (August 15, 1951). ["'Hail to the Orange' Once Rejected"](https://idnc.library.illinois.edu). *Daily Illini*.
4. Bruninga, Merle. (October 26, 1939). "'Hail to Orange' Once Refused as a Gift". Daily Illini.
5. Burford, Cary Clive (1952) ''We're Loyal to You, Illinois''. Danville, Ill.: The Interstate. p. 174. Copy of the 1911 sale contract between The U. of I. Supply Store and Green and Hill.
6. Green, H.R. and H.V. Hill (1911). Oskee Wow-Wow, A Song of the University of Illinois. [Piano-vocal sheet music]. Chicago: Melrose Bros. Music Co, Inc., 1928.
7. Green and Hill (1911)