The unique athletic nickname Hoyas, which represents the sports teams of Georgetown University, originates from a famous traditional Greek and Latin multilingual cheer used by students on campus starting in the late nineteenth century: "Hoya Saxa." While "Saxae" is Latin for rocks or stones, "Hoya" is derived from the ancient Greek word meaning such things as what is higher or majestic, creating a combined phrase that loosely translates to "What Rocks!" or "Stony Rocks." Originally adopted when the university's baseball and football teams achieved stellar success, the moniker became the official identity for all varsity athletic programs, proudly chanted by generations of students, alumni, and fans supporting the university.