There is a devoted following among Auriazules supporters before the kickoff of their home games at CU. The club’s identity and mystique are deeply tied to the university that bears its name: many fans study there, others once did, and still others are drawn by long-standing loyalty even if they did not attend. It has become common for the team and its fans to gather in unison before the match, standing with arms raised at head height, a gesture that has become part of the ritual surrounding each game.
To learn more about the history, the people behind it, and the full hymn, readers are invited to explore the story that follows.
HISTORY
Rituals and ceremonies have long been part of sports culture, and the tradition extends to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), especially in student-led or amateur sports like American football. The origins of the team trace back to a pivotal period when Ernesto Agapito Navas played a key role. He captained the squad in 1935 and later served as Head Coach from 1939 onward. As the program grew, Navas felt that the team needed a stronger identity, and he cultivated a circle of friends who would help shape it. The early foundation of the club began to take shape in earnest in the 1960s, marking the debut of the Cougars CU in several high-profile confrontations with American opponents.
AUTHORS
In 1940 a group of university students, led by Navas and including Luis Perez Rubio, Alfonso De Garay, Gloria Vicens, Angel Vidal, and Fernando Guadarrama, united with the musical talents of Ismael Tio Valdez. They crafted both the music and the lyrics, and the hymn was first performed in the courtyards of the National Preparatory School of San Idelfonso. Since then, the team that represents the maximum house of studies sings the anthem together before every game. The piece was recorded in 1978, with arrangements by Fernando Guadarrama Velázquez and Alfonso Navarrete as a soloist. The UNAM Philharmonic Orchestra performed under the baton of Hector Quintanar for the performance.
LETTER
O University Listen with the enthusiasm of your students as they sing this hymn in your honor. By offering victory we pay tribute to your laurels and preserve your history. What is tradition? United we will overcome and we will win. Fight hard for you, University. University students, let us always fly with pride the victorious banner of the University. For its blue and gold we will fight without ceasing, so that glory surrounds the immortal name of Mexico, Cougars, University.
WHY IS YOUR HAND RAISED?
The raised hand is a symbol of respect for the college. Some observers, including coaches, have interpreted it in different ways, with divergent opinions on its meaning. After the arrival of Hugo Sánchez in the 2000s and following the 1999 strike, the gesture gained popularity in a manner reminiscent of the way American players lift their helmets. It is also common for the visiting team to acknowledge the crowd at the end of the ninety minutes.
Note: The content reflects historical accounts and fan practices associated with the team and its supporters.