Utah football is, once again, Thunderstruck - College of Social and Behavioral Science

Bringing Back the Thunder: How the Ute Thunder Cannon Returned to Utah Football

Back in 2003, the Utah MUSS roared for the very first time while a young Army ROTC cadet named Kyle Frazer stood on the sidelines, helping fire the Ute Thunder cannon whenever the Utes crossed the goal line. That tradition went silent in 2018 when the historic weapon broke down, leaving a quiet void on the game-day sidelines that lasted for years.

Restoring a Decades-Old M1904 Field Gun

The original equipment was far from ready for a quick return to Rice-Eccles Stadium. Dating back to the era between the Civil War and World War I, the original M1904 3-inch field gun required extensive mechanical and cosmetic intervention after sitting dormant with a broken firing pin and rotted wagon wheels.

With just weeks until a fast-approaching season, LTC Frazer and Military Science Instructor Mr. Scott Thompson borrowed a ceremonial cannon from the Utah National Guard to handle early game-day duties while putting the cadet crew through rigorous safety and operational drills.

“The original cannon was dilapidated, completely broken down, and I looked at my staff, and I’m like, ‘Five weeks. I want a rehearsal in five weeks. The first game is in six. Let’s go,’” LTC Frazer said, as detailed in the csbs.utah.edu report.

A specialized machinist disassembled the entire historical firearm to repair the broken firing mechanism. Mr. Thompson then powder-coated the frame and fitted the carriage with oversized tires, making the heavy piece much safer and easier to transport across the turf.

Muscle Memory and Modern Game Days

Operating a historic field gun in front of thousands of screaming fans leaves zero room for error. Before stepping onto the field, today’s cadets spend hours pouring over operation manuals and practicing every precise sequence until their movements become pure muscle memory.

When game day arrives, the crew tracks the offense down the field, clears the safety zone the moment a touchdown is scored, and lets off a deafening blast that reverberates through the entire stadium. For the students and veterans alike, that familiar roar bridges decades of campus history, cementing core memories for a brand new generation of cadets.