Traditions

College football is steeped in traditions.  Here are some of our favorites.

Sing Second.  The finest tradition in college football comes after the Army – Navy Game, when both teams join together and sing the losing team’s alma mater as a symbol of respect.  They two sides then stand in front of the winning team’s student section to sing the winning squad’s alma mater.

Fashioned after the pioneers who settled Indian Territory during the 1889 Land Run, Boomer and Sooner are two matching white ponies who pull a Conestaga wagon – the Sooner Schooner — across the field before Oklahoma games and after each Sooner score.

Between the third and fourth quarters of home games at Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin fans Jump Around to the hip hop song of the same name, bringing 80,000 red-and-white clad Badger fans to their feet.

Since 1967, Clemson players have touched Howard’s Rock — a large piece of white flint retrieved from California’s Death Valley – before running down a hill into the east end zone of Memorial Stadium at Tigers home games.

For more than half a century, Ole Miss fans have gathered in The Grove — a forest of oak, elm and magnolia trees situated on ten acres in the middle of campus – to tailgate and yell the “Hotty Toddy” cheer prior to Rebel football games.

Before Florida State home games at Doak Campbell Stadium, Seminole Chief Osceola charges to midfield on his horse, Renegade, and hurls a flaming spear into the ground in what has been a spine-tingling tradition since 1978.

Since 1936, “The Best Damn Band in the Land” – the 192-member Ohio State Marching Band, has performed Script Ohio during halftime of Buckeye games.  The most prestigious honor is dotting the “i”, which tradition dictates may only be done by a fourth-year sousaphone player.

Auburn University has two cool traditions.  To celebrate big wins, Tiger fans Rolled the Corner by covering two massive old oak trees at Toomer’s Corner at the edge of campus with toilet paper.  Since 1930, Auburn has kept a live golden eagle on campus.  Beginning in 2001, the school has released the untethered bird – the War Eagle — to fly over Jordan-Hare Stadium prior to the start of football games.

In 1922, Texas A & M student E. King Gill came out of the stands and suited up for the injury-depleted Aggies.  Gill’s willingness to serve his team has been passed down generationally and Texas A & M’s student section now stands together during entire Aggie games as a symbol of the 12th Man on the team.

Classic looks never go out of style, and no uniform is more iconic than Penn State’s.  Navy jersey, white pants, black shoes, white helmet with one blue stripe, with nary a decoration to be found.  The beauty is in the simplicity and tradition.

What is your favorite college football tradition?