The Rise of UVU — and Its Fight Song

Utahns know Utah Valley University. But many probably don’t know that UVU didn’t become an official university until 2008. From its origins as a small technical college founded in 1941 to its current standing as a comprehensive public university, this school has experienced remarkable growth, with most of this growth taking place over just the past few decades. 

As UVU has expanded, so has its athletic programs and fanbase. UVU’s fight song — whose roots stretch back to the early 1980s — is not just a reflection of the school’s athletic milestones, but a testament to its dynamic transformation. Some UVU students may not even know that this fight song exists, but as UVU’s athletic and academic influence continues to grow, we can expect not only to hear it more often, but to actually learn the words, too. 

Origins: A Growing Institution Finds Its Voice

Over the decades, UVU’s name has evolved from Central Utah Vocational School to Utah Valley Community College (UVCC), to Utah Valley State College, and finally to Utah Valley University. In the 1980s, as the school’s athletic programs began gaining momentum, university administrators started to recognize the need for a unifying symbol that could rally both students and the broader community around UVU’s teams. 

Composed in 1982 by Clyde D. Sandgren (who also composed BYU’s fight song), UVU’s fight song has gone through a few lyrical changes since it was first written, but its tune has remained constant.

With pretty generic lyrics and with no official name, UVU’s fight song presents an interesting opportunity for the Wolverine community: they find themselves in the unique position of being able to actively shape their fight song for future generations. If the lyrics were to change and become more distinct now that UVU has grown to its current status, what UVU-specific values do students, faculty, and alumni want emphasized in the school’s fight song? What do they want UVU’s athletic and academic reputation to stand for?

UVU will continue to grow. Since 2008, it has already undergone not only a significant name change, but the expansion of its academic programs, its campus infrastructure, and its student enrollment. We are now witnessing a pivotal era for this university, and its influence is beginning to have a bigger impact on the state of Utah than ever before. 

The Rise of UVU School Spirit 

Similar to UVU’s growing academic prominence, UVU fans are now gathering in larger numbers than ever before to support their teams. And more than previous generations of alumni, they’re also defining the tenor of this university’s school spirit. Wolverines are proud to be Wolverines. They’re repping their own school in bigger numbers, rather than supporting BYU or UofU, and they’re proud of their successes across basketball, wrestling, and soccer. UVU’s dance and cheer teams are also nationally recognized, further fueling this burgeoning sense of school pride.

As the university continues to expand its programs and dominate in competition, the Wolverines’ rise in the sports world will continue. Fans will eagerly cheer on the sidelines, ready to show their full support, singing Be green through and through, might Wolverines of UVU with a clear sense of pride.