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History & TraditionsThe Aztec Warrior Sixty-five years ago, Montezuma, the first Aztec Warrior figure associated with the university, initially appeared at a San Diego State athletic event. Art Munzig played the original role in a skit during halftime at the San Diego State- Pomona football game kicking off the 1941 football season. The school's Rally Committee came up with the idea based on the ruler of the Aztec empire in the early 1500s, Montezuma II. The character, affectionately known as “Monty” to generations of SDSU alumni, evolved through the years to become emblematic of San Diego State's athletics teams. For decades the role was filled mostly by students, who inspired enthusiasm and school spirit during football and basketball games. In 1983, however, Director of Athletics Mary Hill directed Montezuma to adopt a more dignified persona. During that football season, Monty sat atop a pyramid among his attendants on the sidelines at Jack Murphy Stadium. That lasted one year. The next season Montezuma resumed his more traditional role of involvement and encouragement of Aztec football fans. Controversy consumed the SDSU mascot for a few years beginning in 2000, this time with some student groups proposing the university alter its Aztec identity. The mascot survived with some costume changes and the modified moniker, “Aztec Warrior.” For all but a very few years from the early 1990s through 2006, Carlos Gutierrez took over the role of mascot, raising the position's profile and expanding public appearances throughout the San Diego community. In April 2006, the SDSU Alumni Association sponsored student auditions for a new Aztec Warrior. School ColorsBefore San Diego State was a university, it was founded as the San Diego Normal School in 1898. At that time, the school colors were white and gold. The Normal School and Junior College, which had colors of blue and gold, merged in 1921 to form San Diego State College. The official colors of the new school became gold, blue and white. In 1922-23 the colors purple and gold were adopted, creating identity confusion as these were also the colors of St. Augustine High School and of rival Whittier College. A movement for change was led by Associated Students president Terrence Geddis and in December 1927 students voted to consider four new color combinations: Green and Gray It came down to Scarlet and Black versus the Purple and Gold. On January 19, 1928 the vote was 346-201 for Scarlet and Black, the university's current colors. The new combination made its athletic debut at the January 28, 1928 basketball game at Pomona College. The Fight SongFrank J. Losey was a junior in San Diego State's music department in 1936 when he was asked by school president Walter R. Hepner to become band director. Losey, who had been organizing "pick-up" bands to play at Aztec football games since 1931, was also asked to compose a new school march. He agreed to do both and for the next two years was the volunteer director of bands. Losey sat down at the dining room table in his parents' home on Sunday, September 18, 1936, and penned the music and lyrics for the original version of the "Aztec Fight Song.” His composition debuted the next night at the Frosh Prom in the Mission Beach ballroom. Its first use at an Aztec football game was October 3, 1936 at the Aztec Bowl dedication. In its original form, the fight song's words were as follows: Fight on, fight on, ye Aztec men The lyrics have evolved through the years into this more recent version: Fight on and on ye Aztec men Fight on and on ye Aztec men Frank Losey was honored in 1937 with a varsity letter by football coach Leo Calland. It was 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 died in 1995. Listen to the SDSU Marching Band perform the fight song.
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