You Won't Believe How Ol’ Crimson's Wild Journey Changed College GameDay Forever!

Every Saturday morning during the college football season, fans across the country eagerly tune in to ESPN’s College GameDay. For alumni of Washington State University (WSU), there’s an additional game unfolding before the kickoff: the quest to spot the iconic Cougar flag, known as Ol’ Crimson, waving somewhere in the background. This tradition has become a beloved staple of college football, with Ol’ Crimson making an appearance at every College GameDay broadcast since October 18, 2003. Nearly two decades later, this flag remains one of the most recognizable symbols in the sport.

“It’s flag season in our house,” said C.J. McCoy, managing director of the Ol’ Crimson Booster Club. “Not college football season. Flag season.”

A Message Board, a Flag, and a Road Trip

The inception of this cherished tradition dates back to the early 2000s when Washington State’s football program was flourishing. Fans were rallying to bring GameDay to Pullman, but their coordination was primitive by today’s standards—no social media, just a fan message board. It was on this platform that Tom Pounds, a WSU alum, took the initiative to craft a Cougar flag and transport it to Austin, Texas, where GameDay was being broadcast. Amid a sea of burnt orange, he proudly held up Ol’ Crimson.

His bold gesture caught the attention of fans, and just two weeks later, the flag was shipped to another supporter for the next broadcast. Thus, the streak officially began, creating a grassroots effort that would continue for years. McCoy remarked, “It was incredibly grassroots. We’d wait for GameDay to announce the next location, then go online and ask, ‘Is anyone nearby?’ and somehow, someone always was.”

A National Network of Cougs

Over the years, the logistics of the flag’s travel have become more organized but still depend heavily on volunteer alumni. When GameDay announces its next destination, the Ol’ Crimson team coordinates who will wave the flag and how to get it there. Regular participants, like Grag Trinkle from Atlanta, have waved the flag numerous times due to GameDay’s frequent stops in the Southeast. However, the unpredictability of logistics remains. Shipping delays have sent organizers racing to UPS warehouses to track down the flag, with one memorable incident occurring after Ol’ Crimson was honored at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.

Recognized as ESPN’s all-time favorite college football tradition, Ol’ Crimson even had a commemorative flag dedicated to its designer, Randall Johnson. After a shipping hiccup, ESPN intervened, employing express services to ensure the flag appeared on air. “It almost always comes down to shipping,” McCoy explained. “But somehow, we’ve always found a way.”

More than a Flag

For many Cougs, Ol’ Crimson transcends its function as a mere symbol on television. It serves as a point of connection, particularly for alumni who have drifted from Pullman. McCoy regularly hears from graduates whose parents used to search for the flag on Saturday mornings, and now they do the same from different states or time zones. The flag has also been part of more significant moments; for instance, a widow once requested that Ol’ Crimson be flown at her husband’s funeral after he was killed in the line of duty. The club never asked for it back. “We get wedding requests, anniversary surprises, all kinds of things,” McCoy said. “It represents what it means to go to school in Pullman. It represents community.”

A particularly remarkable broadcast occurred on an active Navy vessel, where Ol’ Crimson made its way aboard after organizers received an unexpected email from ESPN host Chris Fowler confirming the plan. “We had to verify it was really him,” McCoy recalled. “But it was.”

Keeping the Streak Alive

What makes this tradition truly exceptional is not just its longevity but its unwavering consistency. Every week relies on volunteers willing to rise before dawn, stand for hours in a crowd, and represent Washington State on a national stage. “It means more to college football than people want to admit,” McCoy emphasized. “Especially with everything WSU has been through in recent years, it’s something that connects us.”

Students and alumni interested in joining this unique tradition can reach out to the Ol’ Crimson team through their website to volunteer to wave the flag at a future show. Donations to support shipping and travel are also welcomed. For McCoy, the mission is straightforward: ensure the flag gets where it needs to go. For Cougs watching from California, North Dakota, or anywhere in between, that flash of crimson in the background is more than school pride; it is a tangible sense of home. “Once you see it,” McCoy stated, “you never stop looking for it.”