PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University’s Ol’ Crimson flag has been named the first recipient of ESPN College GameDay’s new Hall of Fan honor, recognizing a tradition that has appeared on the program for 338 consecutive broadcasts.
ESPN announced the recognition Saturday as the flag continued a streak that began in 2003.
According to ESPN, the Hall of Fan honor was created to recognize fans and traditions associated with the long-running college football pregame show.
Ol’ Crimson has become a regular presence behind the College GameDay set regardless of where the show is held. The tradition began when WSU alumnus Tom Pounds brought a Washington State flag to a GameDay broadcast in Austin, Texas, in 2003.
“I made a flag, and I just went out in the crowd and waved the flag and thought that was the end of it,” Pounds said in comments provided by the university.
Pounds said another Cougar fan later asked to take the flag to a subsequent GameDay broadcast, helping launch what has become a nationwide effort among Washington State alumni and supporters.
“The streak was 338 this morning in a row,” Pounds said.
Maintaining the streak has required coordination among volunteers across the country. CJ McCoy, the current logistics lead for Ol’ Crimson, said a network of WSU alumni and fans now helps ensure the flag reaches each week’s broadcast location.
“People started calling me saying, ‘Hey, can you ship me the flag?’” Pounds said of the tradition’s growth.
McCoy said many volunteers first became familiar with Ol’ Crimson while watching College GameDay as children and later sought opportunities to carry on the tradition themselves.
Over the years, transporting the flag has produced challenges. McCoy recalled one instance when a shipment was delayed, and ESPN helped provide a replacement flag that had been on display at the company’s Bristol, Connecticut, headquarters.
University leaders also commented on the recognition.
“It’s amazing to see a whole new category created by ESPN for Ol’ Crimson,” WSU President Betsy Cantwell said in a statement.
WSU Athletic Director Jon Haarlow said the award reflects the efforts of the volunteers who have maintained the streak for more than two decades.
For McCoy, the recognition belongs primarily to the fans who have kept the tradition going.
“It’s because of WSU’s fans and the people who care so deeply about Pullman and about being a Washington State Cougar,” McCoy said. “We’re really just grateful that they honored us with that recognition today.”
Pounds said the recognition comes after 24 seasons of appearances on the show.
“I think it makes sense to me,” he said. “We’ve been doing this for 24 seasons.”
©2026 Cox Media Group
