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 large upset led to one of the vital 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, lined 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 might depend on and look ahead to experiencing each time they go to the stadium, so we did not embrace celebrations of a win or rivalry moments which will occur solely as soon as each different 12 months or so.
And under no circumstances are we rating these traditions or labeling these “higher” than some that we certainly overlooked. Each college has its personal quirks and distinctive options which might be close to and expensive to that crew 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 sport 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 thought 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 really 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 music too. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica received out over “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Sirius.” A number of years later, the custom actually took off after a marching band member began leaping up and down through the music as a strategy to heat up. Now, the complete stadium jumps because the opening bars start to play, bursting into raucous approval when the crew runs out of the tunnel and onto the sphere. A number of instances 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 music. 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 by way of “the smoke” for the reason that Nineteen Fifties, when this system was struggling to each win video games and draw fan help. In keeping with the college, college transportation director Bob Nalette proposed utilizing fireplace extinguishers to supply smoke for gamers to run by way of as a strategy 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 satisfaction themselves on being the winningest program in school soccer historical past, however their well-known pregame custom started with the crew 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 might welcome the soccer crew 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 working down The Hill; Gathering on the Paw, Clemson: Clemson has two of probably the most well-known pregame and postgame traditions in school soccer: Rubbing Howard’s Rock earlier than working 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 instructed the crew earlier than a sport in opposition to Wake Forest in 1967 they may rub the rock in the event that they gave “110-percent effort,” the custom of rubbing the rock, then working down the hill, earlier than each sport 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 flooring home windows. The custom started after Krista Younger steered the thought 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 sport in opposition to Vanderbilt whereas making successful 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 crew 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 give up.” — Chris Low
Mr. Two Bits; “Will not Again Down,” Florida: The Gators have two traditions which might be instantly recognizable. Since 1949, each dwelling sport 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, rise up and holler!” Starting in 2013, with Edmondson in his 90s, a star “Mr. Two Bits” started to steer 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
“Leap Round,” Wisconsin: No crew has developed a wilder midgame custom than Wisconsin’s “Leap Round,” the Home of Ache music of the identical identify, performed between the third and fourth quarters at Camp Randall Stadium. The music made its Badgers debut on the 1998 homecoming sport 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 “Leap 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 beginning of not solely a practice however a stadium nickname. Now the music is performed a number of instances throughout video games and serves as a strategy 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 college and tasked with bettering the coed fan expertise throughout video games. What would preserve them ? With the assistance of pupil 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” through 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 actually common to listen to the techno instrumental music “Sandstorm” by Finnish DJ Darude at a sporting occasion, however South Carolina has staked a particular declare to it on the planet of school soccer. The connection could 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 wherever South Carolina of us collect, you’ll be able to anticipate to listen to the anthem, and Darude himself appeared at Willy B to carry out it for a sport in opposition to Kentucky in 2023. — Steve Richards
“Dixieland Delight,” Alabama: The Crimson Tide mark the start of the fourth quarter by enjoying “Dixieland Delight,” by the band Alabama, despite the fact that 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 buddies over in Auburn. (And LSU, and Tennessee too.) It grew to become such a supply of frustration that the college banned the enjoying of the music in 2014, then agreed to revisit it in 2018 with the #DixielandDelightDoneRight marketing campaign, encouraging followers to say “BEAT” Auburn as an alternative 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 sport at Kyle Area is without doubt one of 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 sport than many faculties do on sport day to “apply” the yells they’re going to carry out on sport 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 college’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 considered one of a number of Golden Dome live shows by the band through the lead-up to dwelling video games — the trumpet part additionally holds performances outdoors the Fundamental Constructing at 4:10 on Fridays, and the entire band performs two hours earlier than kickoff on sport 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 crammed 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 become a bar in 1962, and opens at 6 a.m. on sport 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 Sport in opposition to Stanford in 1914. The apply continues at the moment, directed by a rally committee that units up the stunts and kinds playing cards to provide to college students for each dwelling sport. The playing cards drew nationwide consideration, and the ire of coach Justin Wilcox, final season through the sport in opposition to San Diego State, when college students stored throwing them onto the sphere. Officers whistled Cal for 2 15-yard penalties consequently. 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 college’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 crew onto the sphere earlier than each dwelling sport since Sept. 30, 1961. However why? Within the Nineteen Forties and Nineteen Fifties at Georgia Tech, it grew to become a form of “ceremony of passage” to personal a shoddy, beat-up automobile — or “ramblin’ wreck” — stored alive because of the engineering ingenuity of its college students. As a tribute to that spirit, the college seemed for a pre-World Struggle II Ford to function its mechanical mascot and located it in 1960. It took a 12 months for the college 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 Area is adopted by a victory journey from the Sooner Schooner, a scaled-down model of the lined 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 sport days in Norman. — Rittenberg
Vol Navy, Tennessee: It is probably the most well-known navy in school soccer. Every fall Saturday when Tennessee performs a house soccer sport, boats of all sizes set sail for Neyland Stadium, which is situated 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, actually 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 further 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 kind 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 Greatest Rattling Band within the Land, started doing script Ohio and dotting the i through the 1938 season, and it stays one of the vital 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 conventional 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 usually 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 model (the MOB goose-stepped in imitation) and beloved mascot Reveille (forming a fireplace hydrant whereas enjoying “Oh The place, Oh The place, Has My Little Canine Gone?”). Band members have been cornered in a provide closet by offended 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 known as “Todd Graham’s Inferno,” whereupon band members searched by way of 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: Once you make a journey to the “highest of seven hills” for a soccer sport, you’ll be able to anticipate a spectacular efficiency by the world-renowned Marching 100. Halftime performances begin with their signature “Gradual 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 Style 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’ll be able to’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: Dwell animal mascots aren’t as widespread as they was in school soccer, however Colorado’s Ralphie stays an iconic presence earlier than video games at Folsom Area. Colorado chosen Ralphie as its official mascot in 1966 and the subsequent 12 months, she started working across the subject to steer the Buffaloes out of their tunnel. A gaggle of Ralphie handlers make the U-shaped run with the bison, who leads to a trailer close to the guests locker room. There have been six Ralphies, at all times feminine bison, which reside 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, Struggle Eagle just isn’t the Auburn mascot. It is the college’s battle cry that dates again to a Civil Struggle veteran. — Low
Blaster the Burro, Colorado Faculty of Mines: For the reason that Nineteen Nineties, the Orediggers have introduced out a reside donkey to have a good time after each landing by the house crew 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 a good time the crew’s rating. Spoiler: There are two donkeys that carry the responsibility of Blaster; Winkie is the runner burro that you will see on sport days, whereas Pepsi is the burro used for particular college occasions. — Leflouria
The Cannon, Toledo. Earlier than every dwelling sport, on the finish of every half and after each Toledo rating, a Civil Struggle-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 sport and determined to take the thought to Toledo. In keeping with the college, one other member of the fraternity “bartered his cannon for fraternity dues.” That cannon was in use till it was changed in 2010. To today, members of Pi Kappa Phi are liable 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 reside to see East Carolina’s gamers racing onto the sphere at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium by way of 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 capturing 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
Purple balloons, Nebraska: For the reason that Sixties, Husker followers would launch purple balloons after Nebraska’s first landing, turning the Lincoln sky right into a sea of purple. Because of a helium scarcity, the college discontinued the custom in 2022. However final season, Nebraska introduced the balloon launch again for its sport 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 colleges: 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 grew to become pony ears. Houston provides a center finger to Texas’ signal to make a cougar paw — “unofficially, it signifies the scholars’ perspective towards UT,” Texas Month-to-month as soon as wrote. At Texas Tech, they prolong the thumb and index finger for Weapons Up. TCU raises the primary two fingers then bends the guidelines 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 colleges solely Rice and Arkansas did not have hand indicators. However the one all of them had in widespread was turning Texas’ horns the other way up. R.I.P. to the SWC. — Wilson
The State Honest 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 sport boasts one of the best setting in school soccer — the middle of the State Honest 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 sport day and not using a 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 every year through the truthful’s 24-day run. — Wilson
Tortilla toss, Texas Tech: No person appears to know for certain how and when it began, however since no less than 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 Purple Raider devoted from slinging tortillas throughout Jones Stadium. — Trotter
White Out, Penn State: Among the best scenes in school soccer, for the largest dwelling night time sport of the season, is a White Out at Blissful 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 person can duplicate. Penn State has dubbed its White Out because the “biggest 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 relation to taking in an LSU soccer sport? 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 obtainable. The wardrobes and Mardi Gras beads are not like anything you will 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 most interesting. — Low

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