The song was composed 95 years ago in 1930 by John Morris "Morey" O'Donnell,[1][2] the freshman class vice president[3] from Granite (between Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint).

[5] A member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, O'Donnell was a talented pianist and had played internationally before college.

[6] The song was the freshman class' winning entry in the university's annual song and stunt fest in May 1930,[3][7][8] and was soon played by the UI pep band at football games at MacLean Field.

For example, in 2002, Norm Maves, Jr. of The Oregonian in Portland described it as "the once and future king of college fight songs, with a fanfare lead-in that could motivate a successful infantry charge."

Go, Vandals, go, Fight on with hearts true and bold, Foes will fall before your Silver and your Gold.