Mustang Maniacs

The Mustang Maniacs is a student run spirit group at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, which is made up entirely of student volunteers who are hired as interns by Cal Poly Athletics. There are two sections to the Mustang Maniacs: the general and the board. Anyone who becomes a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo becomes a Mustang Maniac, usually made official by the recitation of the Mustang Maniac Oath during the opening of Cal Poly’s Week Of Welcome (2). The board members are a select group who find themselves drawn to supporting Cal Poly athletics and seek to better the atmosphere on the entire Cal Poly campus, game day or not. These board members help organize events to assist the student population in promoting student green and gold pride while also boosting the energy levels of the fans before and during sporting events. Upon the completion of the application and the hiring of the individual by athletics, the board members are responsible for Musty the Mustang (Cal Poly’s mascot), various spirit equipment used throughout the year (such as flags, t-shirt guns, and signs), the Golden Horseshoe(3), the Golden Goblet, pre-game BBQs, designing and distributing Mustang Maniac shirts, and more. The Maniacs wish to see the positive growth of all elements of Cal Poly spirit, such as supporting the Cal Poly Mustang Band. The Maniacs are allotted money during the fall, which is then used throughout the year on different events.

The Mustang Maniacs are also in charge of the Cal Poly P (4), a landmark that has been accepted to the National Register of Historic Places. During football season, the Maniacs light the P the Friday night before a home game, and then again Saturday night after the game, adding a V for victory next to the P if the Mustangs win the game. Additionally, the Maniacs take on the responsibility of repainting the P annually before open house and anytime the color scheme is altered from its traditional white. During special events, the Mustang Maniacs assist groups who have requested to alter the P in a way that is non-harmful to the structure, such as spelling out “HOPE” during Relay For Life.

Presidents

2001-2003: Travis Ervin (Club Called Running Thunder)
2003-2004: Ken Witham (Club restructed to Mustang Maniacs)
2004-2005: Mike Jurewicz
2005 : Colin Bartolome
2005-2007: Scott Kirkish
2007-2008: Kristen Spencer
2008-2009: Wesley Jung (Fall), Kyle Rosso and Alison Davis (Winter, Spring)
2009-2010: Kyle Rosso

The Mustang Maniac Oath

I, state your name, am a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
I promise to play hard, to cheer hard, and to support my team with good sportsmanship.
I am a Mustang Maniac.

Fight Songs

Ride High, You Mustangs
Listen
Ride High, You Mustangs,
Kick the frost out, burn the breeze,
Ride High, You Mustangs,
Those bow wows we'll knock to their knees
Hi! Ki! Yi!
Ride High, You Mustangs
Chin the moon and do it right
Ride High and cut a rusty
Fight! Fight! Fight!

- Harold P. Davidson

Yea Poly
Listen
On Pacific shores, 'neath Bishop Peak
Along the serene San Luis Creek
Lies our alma mater, grand as can be!
Many a foe will stalk her ground
But we, mighty Mustangs, won't be found
But valiantly marching to victory!
Strike up the band for all to hear!
For our alma mater, sing and cheer!
Ride high and she'll never fail!
Banners of green and gold will raise
And so will the echoes of her praise
For Cal Poly will prevail!
YEA POLY!

-Music by John Higgins, Lyrics by Joshua B. Parker

References

1. http://www.gopoly.com/
2. http://studentlife.calpoly.edu/ori/wow/
3. http://www.aggiepack.com/pages/football/goldenhorseshoe.htm
4. http://lib.calpoly.edu/universityarchives/history/poly_p/

External Links