PULLMAN, Wash. Tom Pounds ’81, of Cougar flag-waving fame, was honored with the Washington State University Alumni Association (WSUAA) Alumni Achievement Award on Nov. 6. Pounds sparked a sensation that would capture the attention of the college football world in 2003 when he waved a Cougar flag on ESPN’s GameDay.
The idea was born on Cougfan.com, where a fan suggested that someone wave the WSU flag at a GameDay broadcast in Austin, Texas. Pounds, an electrical engineer, decided to bring the idea to life. He stayed up until the wee hours to create the original flag, dubbed Ol’ Crimson. Pounds then drove the flag 800 miles from his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico to Austin, Texas and waved it in the background of the GameDay broadcast.
Since then, the symbol of WSU pride has crisscrossed the nation courtesy of Pounds and dedicated members of the Cougar nation. Each week of the college football season, a flag is sent to a volunteer who faithfully waves it in the background of GameDay. The flag has appeared on every show since the beginning of the 2004 season.
Pounds established the Ol’ Crimson Booster Club to ensure the sustainability of the project. Donors have contributed over $10,000 toward volunteers’ travel expenses and other fees, in hopes of continuing the unique tradition.
On Nov. 6, the flag appeared on its hundredth GameDay broadcast. Its legend is a testament to unwavering Cougar pride that is unmatched in sports. The story has attracted attention from USA Today, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN.
The Alumni Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by the WSUAA. Since 1970, Tom is the 492nd recipient of the prestigious award. For more information, please contact Christina Parrish, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement, at 509-335-6907 or parrishc@wsu.edu.