Marching bands! Massive entrances! Sing-alongs! 36 of our favourite game-day traditions – ESPN

SEC Community’s Ryan McGee takes us again to the South Carolina vs. Ole Miss matchup in 2009 and explains how this huge upset led to one of the iconic traditions in SEC soccer. (4:07)
There’s nothing fairly just like the vitality, emotion, pageantry and good ol’ normal enjoyable that takes place each fall weekend in school soccer video games.
There are time-honored traditions that date again many a long time. There are century-old marching bands and pulsating techno hits. There are rampaging animals, coated wagons, vintage vehicles and even storied rocks. There are quaint customs and there are controversies — it would not be school soccer with out controversy, proper?
With one other season upon us, we have gathered a group of our school soccer reporters’ favourite game-day traditions. We have been in search of moments followers may depend on and stay up for experiencing each time they go to the stadium, so we did not embody celebrations of a win or rivalry moments that will occur solely as soon as each different 12 months or so.
And certainly not are we rating these traditions or labeling these “higher” than some that we certainly unnoticed. Each faculty has its personal quirks and distinctive options which might be close to and expensive to that workforce and its followers. However here is a sampling of the wild, wacky, great ways in which school soccer strikes a particular chord within the sports activities panorama.
Osceola and Renegade planting the spear, Florida State: Since September 1978, Osceola has led his horse, Renegade, onto the sphere earlier than kickoff of each Florida State dwelling recreation and planted a spear at midfield in what has change into one of many best-known school soccer entrances. Invoice Durham, an FSU graduate, got here up with the concept and acquired approval from the Seminole Tribe of Florida for the apply to start. The Durham household continues to offer the Appaloosa horse that’s used, and Osceola wears regalia that’s genuine to the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Watching Osceola rear Renegade up on his hind legs to plant the flaming spear with 80,000 followers chanting is actually a sight to see. — Andrea Adelson
“Enter Sandman,” Virginia Tech: After putting in the primary videoboard at Lane Stadium in 2000, Virginia Tech determined it wanted a brand new walkout track too. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica received out over “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sirius.” Just a few years later, the custom really took off after a marching band member began leaping up and down in the course of the track as a option to heat up. Now, all the stadium jumps because the opening bars start to play, bursting into raucous approval when the workforce runs out of the tunnel and onto the sphere. A number of occasions over time, a seismograph detected notable exercise throughout “Enter Sandman.” And in a full circle second, Metallica was in live performance at Lane Stadium within the spring of 2025 and performed its iconic track. To nobody’s shock, seismic exercise once more was detected. — Adelson
The Smoke, Miami: Consider it or not, the Hurricanes have come out of their tunnel onto the sphere for all their dwelling video games via “the smoke” for the reason that Nineteen Fifties, when this system was struggling to each win video games and draw fan assist. In line with the college, faculty transportation director Bob Nalette proposed utilizing fireplace extinguishers to supply smoke for gamers to run via as a option to drum up fan curiosity. In his spare time, Nalette welded a pipe collectively to billow stated fireplace extinguisher smoke. The doorway took on iconic standing within the Eighties as this system rose to prominence. — Adelson
Contact the Banner, Michigan: The Wolverines delight themselves on being the winningest program in school soccer historical past, however their well-known pregame custom started with the workforce off to a 1-5 begin in 1962. The M Membership, run by former letterwinners from all of Michigan’s athletic groups, requested coach Bump Elliott if letterwinners may welcome the soccer workforce earlier than dwelling video games. They quickly displayed a large banner that reads “GO BLUE M CLUB SUPPORTS YOU,” which Michigan gamers and coaches leap to the touch as they run out of the tunnel whereas “The Victors” performs. — Adam Rittenberg
Rubbing Howard’s Rock and operating down The Hill; Gathering on the Paw, Clemson: Clemson has two of essentially the most well-known pregame and postgame traditions in school soccer: Rubbing Howard’s Rock earlier than operating down The Hill to enter the stadium, and permitting followers onto the sphere postgame, win or lose, to satisfy on the midfield paw. Howard’s Rock, initially from Dying Valley, California, was positioned on the prime of The Hill on the east aspect of the stadium in 1966. However after former coach Frank Howard informed the workforce earlier than a recreation in opposition to Wake Forest in 1967 they might rub the rock in the event that they gave “110-percent effort,” the custom of rubbing the rock, then operating down the hill, earlier than each recreation started. Gathering on the Paw additionally started below Howard in 1942 when Memorial Stadium opened, as a approach for followers and gamers to assemble collectively. — Adelson
Hawkeye Wave, Iowa: Not each cherished school soccer custom goes again a long time and a long time. In 2017, these inside Kinnick Stadium — followers, gamers, coaches and officers — started “The Wave,” acknowledging the kid sufferers inside College of Iowa Stead Household Youngsters’s Hospital, which is simply throughout the road. After the primary quarter, everybody turns towards the hospital, the place the sufferers and their households wave from the twelfth ground home windows. The custom started after Krista Younger recommended the concept on a Hawkeye fan Fb web page. A social media surge adopted and The Wave started for the beginning of the 2017 season — Rittenberg
Spirit of Chucky Mullins, Ole Miss: Almost 36 years after his dying, Chucky Mullins stays an endearing determine at Ole Miss. He was paralyzed in a 1989 recreation in opposition to Vanderbilt whereas making a success close to the purpose line on Commodores fullback Brad Gaines and died lower than two years later after struggling a pulmonary embolism. Because the Ole Miss workforce takes the sphere at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium earlier than video games, every participant touches a bust of Mullins that sits halfway between the tunnel and the sphere. On the platform the place the bust sits is Mullins’ mantra: “By no means stop.” — Chris Low
Mr. Two Bits; “Will not Again Down,” Florida: The Gators have two traditions which might be instantly recognizable. Since 1949, each dwelling recreation has began with the “Two Bits” cheer, began and popularized by George Edmondson. He would put on a yellow shirt, blue-and-orange striped tie and whistle, and exhort the group to chant. “Two Bits. 4 Bits. Six Bits. A Greenback. All for the Gators, get up and holler!” Starting in 2013, with Edmondson in his 90s, a star “Mr. Two Bits” started to guide the pregame cheers. Then in 2017, a brand new custom began after Gainesville native Tom Petty died. On the finish of the third quarter, the group sings Petty’s “I Will not Again Down” along with the longstanding “We’re the Boys.” — Adelson
“Soar Round,” Wisconsin: No workforce has developed a wilder midgame custom than Wisconsin’s “Soar Round,” the Home of Ache track of the identical identify, performed between the third and fourth quarters at Camp Randall Stadium. The track made its Badgers debut on the 1998 homecoming recreation in opposition to Purdue. Ryan Sondrup, an injured tight finish for the Badgers who entered the athletics advertising and marketing division, was tasked with discovering songs that would spark the group throughout video games. He got here again with “Soar Round,” which has despatched Camp Randall shaking ever since. — Rittenberg
JUMP AROUND‼️ pic.twitter.com/7TqyN3OXyY
The Bounce Home, UCF. After UCF scored its first landing at its new on-campus stadium on Sept. 17, 2007 — in opposition to Texas, no much less — rollicking membership hit “Kernkraft 400” by Zombie Nation blared from the audio system. Spontaneously, the group began leaping wildly, inflicting the stadium to vibrate and “bounce.” Thus, the delivery of not solely a practice however a stadium nickname. Now the track is performed a number of occasions throughout video games and serves as a option to get everybody fired up, with the group chanting alongside and cheering “U-C-F!” — Adelson

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“Candy Caroline,” Pitt. Again in 2008, former Pitt soccer participant Justin Acierno was working on the faculty and tasked with enhancing the scholar fan expertise throughout video games. What would preserve them ? With the assistance of scholar organizations and athletic division workers, they got here up with a plan: Play Neil Diamond’s 1969 basic “Candy Caroline” on the finish of the third quarter of soccer video games. The plan labored. Acierno made certain a number of the lyrics have been extra Pitt pleasant — subbing in “Let’s Go Pitt” in the course of the refrain. The sing-along first occurred in opposition to Buffalo in Week 2 of the 2008 season, and the remainder is historical past. — Adelson
“Sandstorm,” South Carolina: It is definitely common to listen to the techno instrumental track “Sandstorm” by Finnish DJ Darude at a sporting occasion, however South Carolina has staked a particular declare to it on this planet of school soccer. The connection will be traced to Sept. 24, 2009, when the Gamecocks have been internet hosting No. 4 Ole Miss. With time winding down and South Carolina main 16-10, and the Rebels dealing with a key third down, the pulsating beat blasted all through Williams-Brice Stadium, whipping the group right into a frenzy. “A rave breaks out in Columbia,” ESPN announcer Chris Fowler stated as followers and gamers jumped and gyrated. The Gamecocks acquired that cease, “Sandstorm” roared once more, Ole Miss failed on fourth down, and the upset — and new custom — have been sealed. Now anyplace South Carolina people collect, you possibly can anticipate to listen to the anthem, and Darude himself appeared at Willy B to carry out it for a recreation in opposition to Kentucky in 2023. — Steve Richards
“Dixieland Delight,” Alabama: The Crimson Tide mark the start of the fourth quarter by taking part in “Dixieland Delight,” by the band Alabama, though it is written a couple of Saturday night time in Tennessee. However that is neither right here nor there. It is a beloved sing-along, the peak of the shape, however enterprising Tide followers additionally managed to insert just a few of their very own lyrics, together with a four-letter greeting to their mates over in Auburn. (And LSU, and Tennessee too.) It turned such a supply of frustration that the college banned the taking part in of the track in 2014, then agreed to revisit it in 2018 with the #DixielandDelightDoneRight marketing campaign, encouraging followers to say “BEAT” Auburn as a substitute of the opposite phrase, with the stadium audio system making an attempt to drown out the ne’er-do-wells. Good luck with all that. — Dave Wilson
Midnight Yell, Texas A&M: The Aggies love their traditions, and the SEC transfer and social media have uncovered them to many new audiences, a lot of whom appear bewildered. However school soccer is about native customs, and watching a recreation at Kyle Subject is among the finest environments within the sport due to the devotion of A&M followers. To wit, the Aggies routinely draw extra followers the night time earlier than a recreation than many colleges do on recreation day to “apply” the yells they’re going to carry out on recreation day, a practice since 1931. — Wilson
Midnight Drummers’ Circle, Notre Dame: At midnight the night time earlier than Notre Dame soccer dwelling video games, followers will flock to the varsity’s Fundamental Constructing (higher often known as the Golden Dome) to witness a efficiency by the drumline of the Band of the Combating Irish that kicks off the game-day expertise. The drummers’ circle is one in every of a number of Golden Dome live shows by the band in the course of the lead-up to dwelling video games — the trumpet part additionally holds performances exterior the Fundamental Constructing at 4:10 on Fridays, and the entire band performs two hours earlier than kickoff on recreation day on the Dome’s steps. — J.J. Put up
Early mornings on the Tip High Lounge, Iowa State: Cyclones followers have at all times confirmed up, even within the lean years earlier than Matt Campbell constructed them right into a constant winner. The parking heaps are stuffed with old-fashioned buses and rowdy followers, a lot of them powered from a pre-sunrise go to to an area watering gap often known as the Tip High Lounge. Initially began as a sandwich store in 1950, it changed into a bar in 1962, and opens at 6 a.m. on recreation days, fueling followers with chili and Fireball pictures, a breakfast of champions in Ames. — Wilson
Card stunts, Cal. Here’s a bit of school soccer trivia. Cal college students invented card stunts, the apply of handing out playing cards to a crowd to create a large design, for The Massive Recreation in opposition to Stanford in 1914. The apply continues immediately, directed by a rally committee that units up the stunts and kinds playing cards to offer to college students for each dwelling recreation. The playing cards drew nationwide consideration, and the ire of coach Justin Wilcox, final season in the course of the recreation in opposition to San Diego State, when college students stored throwing them onto the sphere. Officers whistled Cal for 2 15-yard penalties in consequence. Wilcox then took the mic of the referee and scolded followers, telling them to knock it off. — Adelson
Ramblin’ Wreck, Georgia Tech. Described on the varsity’s web site as a “one-of-a-kind mechanical mascot,” the 1930 Ford Mannequin A Sport Coupe painted gold and white has led the Georgia Tech soccer workforce onto the sphere earlier than each dwelling recreation since Sept. 30, 1961. However why? Within the Nineteen Forties and Nineteen Fifties at Georgia Tech, it turned a form of “ceremony of passage” to personal a shoddy, beat-up automotive — or “ramblin’ wreck” — stored alive due to the engineering ingenuity of its college students. As a tribute to that spirit, the varsity regarded for a pre-World Conflict II Ford to function its mechanical mascot and located it in 1960. It took a 12 months for the varsity to persuade the house owners to promote it, and the Wreck debuted that season in opposition to Rice. — Adelson
Sooner Schooner, Oklahoma: Each Oklahoma rating at Owen Subject is adopted by a victory journey from the Sooner Schooner, a scaled-down model of the coated wagons utilized by pioneers to settle the land often known as Oklahoma in 1889. The Schooner debuted in 1964 and have become OU’s official mascot in 1980. Spirit squad members from the RUF/NEKS and RUF/NEK Lil’ Sis drive the Schooner, which is led by ponies appropriately named “Boomer” and “Sooner.” Whereas there have been some notable crashes, its voyage across the subject stays an integral a part of recreation days in Norman. — Rittenberg
Vol Navy, Tennessee: It is essentially the most well-known navy in school soccer. Every fall Saturday when Tennessee performs a house soccer recreation, boats of all sizes set sail for Neyland Stadium, which is positioned on the banks of the Tennessee River. As you wind your approach down Neyland Drive en path to the video games, the orange Tennessee flags waving from the procession of boats flap within the wind, on each the warmest and coldest of days. The boats, many decked out in orange, dock at marinas on the river’s banks, making for a straightforward stroll to the stadium. Typically the events on the boats are as entertaining because the video games themselves, definitely the postgame events when the Vols win. — Chris Low
Script Ohio, dotting the i, Ohio State: Ohio State followers are very into their state. Chants of O-H! have to be adopted by I-O! The “I” in Ohio carries additional that means, as some Buckeyes followers have proven even after death. Ohio State’s band has its personal memorable spin on the state identify, spelling out Ohio in script type at dwelling video games, after which inviting a senior sousaphone participant to high-step and dot the i, earlier than bowing to all 4 sides of Ohio Stadium. The Ohio State Marching Band, or The Finest Rattling Band within the Land, started doing script Ohio and dotting the i in the course of the 1938 season, and it stays one of the electrical moments throughout Buckeyes dwelling video games. — Rittenberg
Stanford Band halftime present, Stanford: Only a few issues are off limits for the Stanford Band, recognized for its irreverent and generally controversial halftime performances. The shift away from a standard band started in 1963, after its longtime director was dismissed. The band went on strike for the primary two video games of the soccer season. The brand new director leaned into the tradition of the period, permitting college students to play rock ‘n’ roll songs, “scatter” to get into place versus conventional marching, and script humorous formations that always served as punchlines, social commentary or poked enjoyable at opponents. The Stanford Band has drawn ire and/or been disciplined for, amongst different issues, ridiculing UCLA, Catholicism (Notre Dame), Mormonism (BYU) and the noticed owl (Oregon). — Adelson
The MOB, Rice: The Stanford Band has a kindred spirit in Rice’s MOB (the Marching Owl Band), which is a small however mighty and scrappy group that, like Stanford, makes use of brainpower to take intention at opponents. In 1973, the MOB mocked two Texas A&M establishments: the Aggie Band’s army fashion (the MOB goose-stepped in imitation) and beloved mascot Reveille (forming a hearth hydrant whereas taking part in “Oh The place, Oh The place, Has My Little Canine Gone?”). Band members have been cornered in a provide closet by indignant Aggies and needed to be rescued by a field truck backed as much as its doorways. In 2007, they have been reprimanded by Convention USA for a halftime skit referred to as “Todd Graham’s Inferno,” whereupon band members searched via the circles of hell for the coach who had simply left Rice for Tulsa after one profitable season. Wherever sacred cows are discovered, the MOB will look to make floor beef. — Wilson
Marching 100, Florida A&M: If you make a journey to the “highest of seven hills” for a soccer recreation, you possibly can anticipate a spectacular efficiency by the world-renowned Marching 100. Halftime performances begin with their signature “Sluggish One,” as every band member holds one leg up at a 90-degree angle and slowly switches legs. The 100 then quickens the tempo, adopted by the band filling the sphere because the present begins. The band was based in 1892 by Dr. William P. Foster and has grown to be one of many world’s most recognizable marching bands. From Paris Trend Week to a number of Tremendous Bowls to 2 presidential inauguration parades, the 100 has been seen far and broad, however the final expertise occurs at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee. — Erika Leflouria
Sonic Growth of the South, Jackson State: As quickly as you step foot inside Mississippi Veterans Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi, you possibly can’t assist however discover the rumbling from the bass drums, adopted by the funky rhythm of The Temptations’ “Get Prepared” from the Jackson State marching band to get followers’ pom-poms going. Followers arrive on the stadium forward of time to witness the Sonic Growth participate in a Zero Quarter battle of the bands in opposition to the visiting unit, an HBCU pregame staple. Following the presentation of the colours, the band rocks the stadium with its trademark tune “We Got here To Play” by Tower of Energy. The Sonic Growth’s halftime performances are the principle attraction, nevertheless, wowing followers with their signature “Tiger Run-On” and “JSU Rocks the Home” fanfare. — Kalan Hooks
Ralphie’s Run, Colorado: Stay animal mascots aren’t as frequent as they was in school soccer, however Colorado’s Ralphie stays an iconic presence earlier than video games at Folsom Subject. Colorado chosen Ralphie as its official mascot in 1966 and the subsequent 12 months, she started operating across the subject to guide the Buffaloes out of their tunnel. A gaggle of Ralphie handlers make the U-shaped run with the bison, who results in a trailer close to the guests locker room. There have been six Ralphies, at all times feminine bison, which dwell on a ranch in an undisclosed location. — Rittenberg
Right here Comes Bullet, Oklahoma State: Since 1988, Bullet, a black horse, has galloped onto the sphere following each Cowboys landing, carrying a spirit rider waving an Oklahoma State flag. The primary of 4 horses who’ve since served as Bullet acquired loads of work. In 1988, Barry Sanders received the Heisman Trophy whereas scoring an NCAA-record 44 touchdowns. — Jake Trotter
Flight of the Eagle, Auburn: In a practice that goes again to the beginning of the 2000 season, an eagle with a 6½-foot wingspan majestically circles Jordan-Hare Stadium because the followers chant “Warrrrrrrrr” till it lands at midfield, then they end with “Eagle!” There have been a number of eagles over time performing the flight, and proper now, there are two sharing the duties. And no, Conflict Eagle just isn’t the Auburn mascot. It is the varsity’s battle cry that dates again to a Civil Conflict veteran. — Low
Blaster the Burro, Colorado College of Mines: Because the Nineteen Nineties, the Orediggers have introduced out a dwell donkey to have fun after each landing by the house workforce at Marv Kay Stadium. A member of the college’s Blue Key Honor Society will run alongside Blaster the Burro to the 50-yard line to have fun the workforce’s rating. Spoiler: There are two donkeys that carry the responsibility of Blaster; Winkie is the runner burro that you’re going to see on recreation days, whereas Pepsi is the burro used for particular college occasions. — Leflouria
The Cannon, Toledo. Earlier than every dwelling recreation, on the finish of every half and after each Toledo rating, a Civil Conflict-era mannequin cannon is fired off. The custom started in 1966, when a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity noticed a cannon fired at a Texas recreation and determined to take the concept to Toledo. In line with the varsity, one other member of the fraternity “bartered his cannon for fraternity dues.” That cannon was in use till it was changed in 2010. To at the present time, members of Pi Kappa Phi are answerable for working the cannon throughout video games. — Adelson
Purple Haze, East Carolina: It does not get the pub of a number of the different grand entrances in school soccer, however being there dwell to see East Carolina’s gamers racing onto the sphere at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium via a large pirate cranium amid clouds of purple smoke with Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” blaring on the jumbotron and a video of pirate ships waving ECU cranium and crossbones flags and taking pictures off cannons on the excessive seas is about as cool because it will get. Jimi Hendrix and school soccer blended collectively? That is pure nirvana. — Low
Crimson balloons, Nebraska: Because the Sixties, Husker followers would launch crimson balloons after Nebraska’s first landing, turning the Lincoln sky right into a sea of crimson. On account of a helium scarcity, the varsity discontinued the custom in 2022. However final season, Nebraska introduced the balloon launch again for its recreation in opposition to Colorado. Going ahead, amid criticism for the affect the balloons have on the setting, Nebraska plans to carry the balloon launch for choose video games solely. — Trotter
Hand indicators for Texas faculties: At Texas, they Hook ‘Em with the index and pinky fingers. At Texas A&M, they Gig ‘Em with the thumb. SMU has two fingers up, the V for victory, which later turned pony ears. Houston provides a center finger to Texas’ signal to make a cougar paw — “unofficially, it signifies the scholars’ angle towards UT,” Texas Month-to-month as soon as wrote. At Texas Tech, they lengthen the thumb and index finger for Weapons Up. TCU raises the primary two fingers then bends the information down, allegedly to appear like the horns of the Horned Frog. Baylor followers make a bear claw to Sic ‘Em. Of the 9 former Southwest Convention faculties solely Rice and Arkansas did not have hand indicators. However the one all of them had in frequent was turning Texas’ horns the other way up. R.I.P. to the SWC. — Wilson
The State Truthful of Texas and a Fletcher’s Corny Canine, Texas-Oklahoma: Texas and Oklahoma followers do not share a lot affinity for one another, however they each agree that their annual rivalry recreation boasts the perfect setting in school soccer — the middle of the State Truthful of Texas. There is a mutual respect for one another on the Halfway that is not shared contained in the stadium — followers in Baker Mayfield jerseys using the 212-foot-tall Texas Star Ferris wheel with these in Colt McCoy’s threads. And it isn’t recreation day with no Fletcher’s Corny Canine, who originated the battered and fried scorching canine on a stick in 1942 and now promote greater than half 1,000,000 of them annually in the course of the truthful’s 24-day run. — Wilson
Tortilla toss, Texas Tech: No one appears to know for certain how and when it began, however since a minimum of the late Eighties, Texas Tech college students have been throwing tortillas onto the sphere after the opening kickoff. The college does not endorse this custom. However that hasn’t stopped the Crimson Raider devoted from slinging tortillas throughout Jones Stadium. — Trotter
White Out, Penn State: Probably the greatest scenes in school soccer, for the largest dwelling night time recreation of the season, is a White Out at Completely happy Valley. For the previous 20 years, Penn State followers gown in all white, making a sea of white — and bedlam — all through 106,572-seat Beaver Stadium. It is an intimidating setting for the opposition and a type of experiences in school soccer that no one can duplicate. Penn State has dubbed its White Out because the “best present in school sports activities.” This season’s is Sept. 27 in opposition to Oregon. — Low
Saturday night time at Tiger Stadium, LSU: The place do you begin in terms of taking in an LSU soccer recreation? The tailgating, particularly the delicious meals (jambalaya, gumbo and shrimp po’boys, all out of this world). And, sure, there are at all times beverage choices accessible. The wardrobes and Mardi Gras beads are not like anything you may discover in school soccer, and no journey to LSU is full with out visiting Mike the Tiger in his sprawling digs. After which there’s the Golden Band From Tigerland and people first 4 notes earlier than breaking full bore into “Maintain That Tiger.” All of it provides as much as school soccer pageantry at its best. — Low

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