The green and white colors of Ohio University date back to 1896. Before that time, the University’s unofficial colors were blue and white. However, it soon became apparent that these colors would be unacceptable for the new football team to wear. Ohio’s newly hired football coach, Samuel McMillen, suggested that Ohio adopt as its colors olive green and white, which were worn at McMillen’s alma mater, Dartmouth College. The proposal was put before the student body for a vote, and green and white became the colors of the school’s uniforms in the fall of 1896. Down through the years, the olive green has evolved into a lighter “Hunter” green color. As a side note, McMillen never coached a game for Ohio University, as personal problems kept him from arriving in Athens in the fall of 1896.

The historical information for this page was collected from the Ohio University Student Handbook from the Office of the Dean of Students