Blue and Gray, Ocior Euro and the Pennon

In 1876, the newly formed Georgetown University Boat Club chose blue and gray as their team colors. These later became the colors of the university as a whole. The Georgetown College Journal, published 1876, reports:

In a meeting of the boat club on Monday, May 15th, a Committee on colors was appointed, consisting of the chairman, Thomas Kernan, Clement Manly, John Agar, Eugene McCarthy, and Columbus O'Donnell. These gentlemen have decided on Blue and Gray as appropriate colors for the Club and expressive of the feeling of unity that exists between the Northern and Southern boys of the College.

A story found in a subsequent entry in the College Journal relates that the "girls" of the Convent of the Visitation presented a boat flag as a gift to the Crew with a letter that read in part:

Please accept this slight testimonial of our esteem and gratitude. May this little flag ever wave over true and noble hearts! May success ever attend you, and while old Potomac echoes back the shout of merry voices, may it carry your bark -- 'swifter than the wind' -- down its rippling waters. With regards, THE YOUNG LADIES OF THE ACADEMY.

The Journal account goes on to describe the gift:

The flag is really very handsome. It is a silken pennon, the upper half blue, the lower gray. Above is painted the inscription “Ocior Euro” [Swifter than the wind]. Below, the letters G.U.B.C., Georgetown University Boat Club. The pole is of walnut, surmounted by an eagle.

The boat flag eventually found a permanent home with the University president where it decorated his office for many years. Sadly, there is no record of what became of this flag. On September, 20, 2008, a replica of the flag was presented by current team members to President DeGioia.

As the ladies of the Academy wrote so long ago, may it ever wave over true and noble hearts. Ocior Euro.

"Never Row"

When legendary coach Don Cadle came to Georgetown from Oxford in 1960, he brought a host of traditions with him. Simultaneously coaching the Georgetown crew and serving as an official at NASA, Cadle had rowed at Balliol College, Oxford. One of the traditions he brought from Balliol was the motto, “Never Row.”

The motto, confusing at first, is a warning to those considering trying the sport, and an exhortation to those currently pursuing rowing. Unless you are prepared to be hooked for life, and more importantly, unless you are willing and eager to cross that line and commit yourself completely to the pursuit of going fast and winning races, then Never Row.

The motto embodies the spirit of the Georgetown crew, and of the sport of rowing in general.

The phrase is still used as salutation in all correspondence among current and former Georgetown rowers, and gave the name to the recent weekend-long celebration of the modern era of rowing at Georgetown, the Never Row Weekend in September, 2008.

J. Gregory Carroll Award

Each year Hoyas Unlimited recognizes one individual who has served the organization as a volunteer in such an outstanding way as to merit special recognition. This award has been dedicated to the memory of J. Gregory Carroll, Director of Hoyas Unlimited from 1985 to 1989, when he was suddenly taken from us. As a member of Georgetown's championship heavyweight crews from 1968 to 1971 and later a volunteer coach serving the Hoya crews from 1978 to 1983, Greg gave definition to the words dedication, commitment, loyalty, and selfless service.

Greg brought these qualities, his abiding love of Georgetown, and his passion for the competition of sport to his position as Director of Hoyas Unlimited. Greg knew well the value and importance of the organization for all sports at Georgetown and he persevered cheerfully in advancing the goals of athletics through Hoyas Unlimited.

Recent honorees from the rowing community include former coxswain and Hoyas Unlimited President David Don F’93, L’96 and  GRA President Drew Schreiber ’86.

Georgetown Crew Songs

The Georgetown Boat Song, June 1876

Dedicated to the G.U.B.C. Colors: Blue and Gray

Above the smooth and limpid wave,

Come, speed our boat along,

And as she dashes to the goal

We'll time her with a song

Give way, give way, no man shall say

We're laggards at the oar;

No dame shall flush, nor maiden blush

For Georgetown's honest fame.

Hurrah! then, boys, hurrah! hurrah!

The Blue and Gray forever.

We give to thee, Potomac fair,

Thou river all our own,

As trim a bark, as blithe a crew

As e'er thy waves have known

Give way, give way, no man shall say

We're laggards at the oar;

No dame shall flush, nor maiden blush

For Georgetown's honest fame.

Hurrah! then, boys, hurrah! hurrah!

The Blue and Gray forever.

Speed, speed her on with stalwart arms,

Cleave, faster cleave the wave!

These storied shores should look alone

Upon the dauntless brave.

Give way, give way, no man shall say

We're laggards at the oar;

No dame shall flush, nor maiden blush

For Georgetown's honest fame.

Hurrah! then, boys, hurrah! hurrah!

The Blue and Gray forever.

She flies: the oars, with rhythmic beat,

Divide the sparkling spray:

She leaps like some gay thing of life,

All eager for the fray.

Give way, give way, no man shall say

We're laggards at the oar;

No dame shall flush, nor maiden blush

For Georgetown's honest fame.

Hurrah! then, boys, hurrah! hurrah!

The Blue and Gray forever.

Still on! The Blue our pennon bears,

To triumph leads the way:

Or, if we fail we still shall hold

To honor with the Gray.

Give way, give way, no man shall say

We're laggards at the oar;

No dame shall flush, nor maiden blush

For Georgetown's honest fame.

Hurrah! then, boys, hurrah! hurrah!

The Blue and Gray forever.

Swift Potomac's Lovely Daughter

by Robert J. Collier, College Class of 1894

Sons of Georgetown, Alma Mater!

Swift Potomac's lovely daughter,

Ever watching by the water,

Smiles on us today.

Now her children gather round her,

Lo, with garlands they have crowned her,

Rev'rent hands and fond en-wound her,

With the Blue and Gray.

Wave her colors ever!

Furl her standard never!

Raise it high, And proudly cry,

We’re Georgetown’s sons forever!

Where Potomac's tide is streaming,

From her spires and steeples beaming,

Sees the grand old banner gleaming,

Georgetown's Blue and Gray!

Throned on hills beside the river,

Georgetown sees it flow forever,

Sees the ripples shine and shiver,

Watching night and day.

And each tender breeze upspringing,

Rarest woodland perfumes bringing,

All its folds to fullness flinging,

Flaunts the Blue and Gray!