Gus knows Washington College Athletics has some traditions and terms you may be unfamiliar with.  As a public service, he curates this glossary of words and phrases so even the novice Washington College fan can be a proud member of Goose Nation!

Submit YOUR suggestion for a new term or example sentence for Gus's Glossary.  If he likes it, he may add it to the glossary and give you credit! Suggestions should be very broad Washington College-related terms (like "WAC" or "Goose Nation") or directly related to athletics.

Atheyville: Coined by Assistant Sports Information Director Jason Bryden, "Atheyville" refers to the area between the outfield fence of Athey Park, home of the Washington College baseball team, and the "Western Shore" dorms that sit just outside the facility. The term was quickly adapted by both the team, which now sells "Atheyville" t-shirts, and the student body. Students bring couches, chairs, barbecues - you name it - to Atheyville and enjoy the games. Athey Park is named after Washington College Hall of Fame coach and athletic director, Edward L. Athey '47.    

Cain Crazies: The student section for Washington College home men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball games inside Cain Athletic Center.  

Chea' WAC: (Submitted by Bill Griffin on 2/11/15) Pronounced with a hard CH as in Chair or Church...CH-Yeah wack. A rally cry by the men's lax teams from the early/mid 90's. 

C-Town: (Submitted by Dan Maleski on 11/28/11) Slang term for Chestertown, MD, where Washington College is located, used when talking with locals or Washington College students.
"I'm going back to C-Town for the War on the Shore!"  

Dueling Banjos: The traditional "entrance" song and unofficial theme song of the Washington College men's lacrosse team, a slightly tongue-in-cheek nod to the College's rural location.

"Flock Out": A sometimes annual event sponsored by the College's Student Events Board (SEB) held on a spring Saturday when most or all of the College's spring varsity sports are competing at home. SEB offers free food at the athletic venues and holds other student events in conjunction with the day.

Flying Pentagon: The 1921-22 men's basketball team had this nickname bestowed upon it by local media after wining five road games in five days. The name stuck for decades and can still refer to any Shoremen basketball team. The highest level of giving in the Sho'men Club is named "Flying Pentagon."

"Goose Nation"/Geese in general: The phrase "Goose Nation" refers to all of the Washington College community - students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends, and fans.  If you've ever visited Chestertown, it's hard to imagine an animal more iconic to the area than a goose. On Twitter? Use the hash tag #goosenation.

Gus: That's me! With my unique maroon and black coloring, I am the official spokesgoose of Washington College and a direct descendant of a goose who befriended George Washington. 

Homecoming: An annual event sponsored by the College's Student Government Association (SGA) held on a fall Saturday when most or all of the College's fall varsity sports are competing at home. A pep rally is held the night before and a dance is held the night of. 

The JFC: An abbreviation for Johnson Fitness Center, home to the College's weight room and field house. Indoor home men's tennis and women's tennis matches are held inside the field house.

The Kib: A slang term referring to Kibler Field at Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium.

Maroon & Black: The official colors of Washington College.

"Ring the Bell": Washington College athletic teams celebrate victories by ringing the victory bell outside Cain Athletic Center.

Sho'men Club: The Sho'men Club is the College's athletics booster club. 

Shoremen/Shorewomen: The nicknames of the College's men's and women's athletic teams, respectively. The names are not necessarily intended as references to longshoremen but rather as simple nods to residents of the area and the area itself.

Shoreswag: (Submitted via Twitter by the women's lacrosse team, @WAC_WLAX, on 11/28/11) Used by some Washington College student-athletes to express confidence and pride and the hard work placed into a season.

Sho'Troupe: Sho'Troupe is the College's dance team which performs at halftime of various home athletic events.

Student-Athlete Mentors/SAMs: The counterpart of most schools' Student Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC), Washington College's Student-Athlete Mentors (SAMs) are chosen by their teams "to create a safer and more positive environment that reduces the social hazards for student-athletes." The program was established in 1993.

WAC: (Pronounced like "wack.") A shortened reference to Washington College with unclear origins.  Some contend that it derives from "Washington, College at Chester." The varsity sailing team has had "WAC" on its sails for years as that is the assigned three-letter abbreviation for Washington College by the Intercollegiate Sailing Association.

War on the Shore/Charles B Clark Cup: The "War on the Shore" refers to the annual rivalry game between the two Eastern Shore NCAA Division III men's lacrosse teams, Washington College and Salisbury University. The game typically draws between 2,000 and 3,000 fans with a number of students from the visiting school making the 80-mile trek to the host campus. While traditionally held at one of the two schools, the 2006 game was played at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium. The 2011 game was the first to be broadcast on television, airing on Baltimore's ABC 2 with a simulcast on ESPN3.com. Since 2004, the winner of the game has been awarded the Charles B. Clark Cup, named after an alumnus of Washington College who led both schools to national prominence as head coach. 

WACappella: WACapella is the College's co-ed student a cappella group which sings the national anthem at some home athletic events.