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For The Purple and Gold?
In 1898, San Diego Normal School colors were white and
gold while the junior college colors were blue and gold. In 1921, the
Normal School and Junior College merged to form San Diego State College
and thus, white, gold and blue became the official school colors. Purple
and gold were adopted for the 1922-23 term but this became a problem
 because the colors were the same as St. Augustine High School. It didn't
go over very well when one couldn't tell the difference between an Aztec
letterman's sweater and a high school sweater. Also, purple and gold
were the colors of Whittier College, a fierce conference rival at the
time. Not to mention the fact that manufacturers of Aztec merchandise in
that era refused to guarantee the color fastness of San Diego State's
purple hues.
Associated Students president Terrence Geddis led the movement for a
change and, after pushing for reconsideration of school colors, students
finally got a chance to vote on the matter in December of 1927. Under
consideration were:
Green and Gray
Orange and Grey
Scarlet and Black
Black and Gold
That was followed by two days of voting the following month where
students were to decide between Scarlet and Black and the previous
colors, Purple and Gold. On January 19, 1928 the tally was 346-201 in
favor of Scarlet and Black and it has remained that ever since. The new
colors made their athletic debut at the January 28, 1928 basketball game
at Pomona College.
Night Time Football
The first night football game of any kind in San Diego took place on
September 25, 1930, when the Aztecs smashed the San Diego Marine's
second team 39-0 before 5,000 fans at what is best remembered as Lane
Field. On that night, San Diego State fans were treated to a fireworks
show as part of the inaugural night event. Since then, nearly 75% of all
Aztec games, home or away have been played under the lights.
Basic Black
One of San Diego State's most honored traditions is the all-black
uniform the Aztecs wear when playing at home. The "look" has become as
much a part of Aztec football as the forward pass. In fact, the concept
was the brainchild of the man who brought the modern passing game not
only to San Diego State, but to college football - Don Coryell.
Coryell became head coach at San Diego State in 1961. At the time, the
Aztecs sported a black jersey with silver numerals, silver pants and a
silver helmet - a la the Oakland Raiders. Coryell had first seen a
one-color uniform while coaching Wenatchee Junior College in Washington.
He felt the all-black uniform, at night, would be not only unique, but
would convey a threatening, ominous image to the opposition and boost
his players' psyche as well. The Aztecs first took the field in
all-black uniforms on October 12, 1963. The team faced Long Beach State
that night and before a sellout crowd in Aztec Bowl, won the game 33-8.
The uniform has been a tradition ever since with rare exception. In
1980, the SDSU team began the season in red jerseys, a black helmet and
white pants. After struggling to a 1-8 start, the squad returned to its
all-black attire winning its last three games, the final two coming at
home. In 1983, San Diego State switched from its traditional nighttime
home football games to a daytime schedule in San Diego Stadium. In
deference to the daytime heat, the Aztecs switched to white pants,
although the jerseys remained black. However, SDSU won only one home
game that season. The following year, the team returned to nighttime
football and all black uniforms.
Montezuma
It has been six decades since Montezuma, the hallowed symbol of the
Aztec athletic tradition, made his first appearance at a San Diego State
athletic event. The original "Monty" was Art Munzig, who played the role
in a half-time skit during the San Diego State- Pomona game that opened
the 1941 football season. It was an idea spawned by the school's Rally
Committee and historically based upon Montezuma II, the ruler of the
Aztec empire in the early 1500's. Munzig was the first of a long series
of "Monty's" to serve as the focal point of fan support of San Diego
State's football and basketball teams.
In 1983, Director of Athletics, Mary Hill felt that Montezuma needed a
more regal presence and during that football season, Monty's role was to
sit atop a pyramid among his attendants on the sidelines at Jack Murphy
Stadium. However, following that year, it was decided to return
Montezuma to his more traditional role of involvement and encouragement
of Aztec fans at the event.
The Fight Song
In 1936, University President Walter R. Hepner approached Frank J. Losey,
a junior in the music department at San Diego State, to become band
director and also, to compose a new school march. Since 1931, Losey had
been pulling together "pick-up" bands to play at the Aztec football
games. He accepted the offer and for the next two years, was the
volunteer director of bands.
On a Sunday, September 18, 1936, Losey sat down at the dining room table
in his parents' home and penned the music and lyrics for the original
version of the "Aztec Fight Song". The composition made its debut at the
Frosh Prom the following evening at the Mission Beach ballroom. Its
first use at an Aztec football game occurred at the dedication of Aztec
Bowl on October 3, 1936.
In its initial form, the words to the fight song were as follows:
Fight on, fight on, ye Aztec men
Sons of Montezuma
We must win again
Never bow a knee
Keep your spirit high
Smashing, crashing,
Always smashing thru that line
Fight, fight, fight on and on
Down that field,
Red and Black must never yield
Then we can take
Our trophies honors to
Our home in San Diego town.
Over the years, the lyrics have evolved into the following verse which
the Aztec football team sings in its locker room following every
victory:
Fight on and on ye Aztec men
Sons of Montezuma
We will win again
Keep your spirits high
Never bow a knee
We will fight till victory
Fight on and on ye Aztec men
Proudly raise your banners high
For it's the Red and Black
Hail to our team
San Diego Aztecs fight!
In 1937, Frank Losey was honored by football coach Leo Calland with a
varsity letter, the first ever given to a non-athlete. Losey went on to
serve in the Navy during World War II and practiced dentistry in San
Mateo, California for more than 40 years. He returned to SDSU for the
homecoming game in 1987 when he directed the Marching Band in the
playing of his fight song. Losey passed away in 1995.
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