Yes! When WCU was WCC (Western Carolina College), freshmen were given beanies to wear. According to A Mountain Heritage: An Illustrated History of Western Carolina University, this ritual started in “1957 to strengthen school spirit, though freshmen must have wondered at the psychology behind the idea.” Evidence suggests that this “tradition” ended sometime in the late 60s or early 70s.
Looks like freshmen wore them everywhere! Page 8 of the 1966 Catamount Yearbook (link below)
