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In 1919, a group of male students from the University of Washington formed the Knights of the Hook as a service group. In 1922, along with groups from Montana State University, University of Montana, State College of Washington (WSC, later WSU), University of Idaho, and University of Oregon, they became a national service organization as the Intercollegiate Knights (IKs). The first national convention was held at WSC in 1924. As of 2012 there remain four organizations which make up the IKs: The Intercollegiate Knights, the International Order of the Knights and Nobles, International Guild of Nobles and the Intercollegiate Knights Foundation.

The IK chapter at WSU, the Cougar Guard, existed from 1922 through 1985. The name comes from one of the first duties of the IKs, to guard the cougar mascot and other trophies of the college. Another duty of theirs was to ring the victory bell after each Cougar victory. The victory bell was finally fixed atop College Hall in the 1930s, after being moved to several locations, and rung by the IKs until the 1970s when safety concerns stopped the practice. In 1998 the bell was removed and placed in front of the Alumni Centre, where it is again rung after Cougar victories.