15 Best College Football (and Other Sports) Traditions – 2024
August 13, 2024
The true beauty of college sports lies in the passion of the fans, and nowhere is that passion more evident than in a school’s unique traditions. While every school boasts cherished traditions, some stand out above the rest. You most likely hold your team’s rituals closest to your heart, but certain traditions have a special place in the broader landscape of college sports. Below is a list of some of the most iconic of these traditions, spanning from football and basketball to baseball and volleyball. We’ll start at the place that most likely conjures images in the minds of college fans, with the best college football traditions.
College Football Traditions
1) Clemson Tigers: Howard’s Rock
The Howard’s Rock tradition is one of the most iconic in college football. Named after former head coach Frank Howard, the rock (which was originally found in Death Valley) sat unnoticed in Howard’s office until he decided to use it to inspire his players.
Today, the rock sits atop a pedestal at the top of the hill overlooking Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Before every home game, Clemson players touch Howard’s Rock for good luck before running down the steep hill onto the field. The moment has been described as “the most exciting 25 seconds in college football.”
The power of Howard’s Rock even inspired a rogue fan to chip a chunk off the sacred stone back in 2013!
Best College Football Traditions (Continued)
2) Ohio State Buckeyes – Dotting the “i”
This tradition is more about the Ohio State University Marching Band than it is about the football team.
Dating back to 1936, the tradition involves the band spelling out the word “Ohio” across the field before a home game. The highlight of this performance comes when the sousaphone player (or occasionally a special guest) takes center stage to ceremoniously dot the “i’” in “Ohio.”
At that precise moment, the crowd goes wild – fueling the Buckeyes with the energy they need to dominate another opponent!
Best College Football Traditions (Continued)
3) Penn State Nittany Lions: White Out
This tradition is so good it helped inspire a “home field advantage” setting on the new EA College Football video game!
For only one home game each year, the 107,000 fans at Beaver Stadium are told to wear white. The effect is one of the most electrifying spectacles in college football.
Introduced in 2004, the White Out game is typically reserved for one of the most significant home games on the schedule. This season in 2024, the Nittany Lions will hold their White Out game on Nov. 9 against the University of Washington Huskies.
College Football Tailgating
Every school has a tailgate culture – and every fan thinks their school is the best! But tailgating is such a big part of the college football experience, it deserves its own category.
Typically, larger schools (and southern schools!) seem to have more of a unique tailgate culture than others. Check out the top three college football tailgates below…
4) Louisiana State University Tailgate
Game days in Baton Rouge just hit differently! Maybe it’s the 100,000 fans who pack into Death Valley and literally scream so loud they register on the Richter scale?
In any case, the Tigers’ tailgate culture is considered one of the best in college football. The aroma of Cajun cooking fills the air and the sounds of live music echo through the streets. Tailgating is an all-day event where the passion for football blends with the state’s rich culture, epitomizing college football in the Deep South.
Best College Football Traditions (Continued)
5) University of Mississippi: Tailgate at The Grove
Pull out your seersucker suits, bow ties, and cocktail dresses because the tailgate culture at Ole Miss is so important you literally need to wear your Sunday best.
What really makes the tailgate scene in Oxford so legendary is the setting… Located in the heart of the Ole Miss campus, the Grove is a 10-acre plot of land shaded by oak trees that are hundreds of years old.
The tailgate is marked by lavish spreads of food, elegant setups that include chandeliers, and frequent yells of the Hotty Toddy Cheer!
Best College Football Traditions (Continued)
6) University of Tennessee: The Vol Navy
Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium is one of the few college football stadiums accessible by water. As such, many UT fans arrive by boat on the Tennessee River. This tradition has been affectionately known as the “Vol Navy”. It is truly one of the most unique tailgating traditions in college football.
Hundreds of boats of all shapes and sizes – from yachts to fishing boats – all anchor together in a floating tailgate party. Fans walk from boat to boat sharing food, drinks, and UT pride.
College Basketball Traditions
Football isn’t the only college sport with iconic traditions. Matter of fact, some of the most well known are found on the basketball court. See the list below for some of the best college basketball traditions.
7) Duke University: Krzyzewskiville and Cameron Crazies
The Cameron Crazies have become so synonymous with college basketball fandom that it’s hard to know where to begin!
From intimidating gameday atmospheres to the week-long tent city that is Krzyzewskiville (or K-Ville), Duke students know what it means to passionately support a team.
The Cameron Crazies are known for their coordinated chants and relentless gameday energy, which creates a formidable home-court advantage. The rise of the Crazies is closely linked to the success of Duke’s basketball program under former head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Since the 1980s, this tradition has become one of the most iconic in all of college sports.
8) The “Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk!” Chant
The University of Kansas’ “Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk” chant is one of the longest-lasting traditions in all of college sports. The chant was originated by a professor in the late 1800s for a science club, and it’s believed the words are a play on the chalk rock limestone on Mount Oread near the Lawrence campus.
The chant’s haunting, rhythmic cadence is often heard reverberating through Allen Fieldhouse during Kansas basketball games, creating an atmosphere that is both intimidating and electrifying.
Best College Football Traditions (and other sports) – Continued
9) University of North Carolina’s Franklin Street
UNC’s Franklin Street is the epicenter of celebration for Carolina fans. Whenever the Tar Heels win a significant game – especially over archrival Duke – expect a party on Franklin Street in the heart of Chapel Hill.
The tradition gained widespread recognition after UNC’s victory in the 1982 NCAA Championship. After the win, thousands of students and fans poured onto Franklin Street to celebrate. Since then, rushing Franklin Street has become an iconic part of UNC culture.
10) Taylor University’s “Silent Night” Game
This little-known tradition is incredibly unique. Taylor University is a small, NAIA basketball program located in central Indiana. The “Silent Night” Game is held annually on the Friday before final exams. Students dress up in all sorts of crazy outfits and arrive at the game hours before tipoff.
The entire crowd remains eerily silent from tip-off until the team scores its 10th point. As soon as that 10th point is scored, the gym erupts into a frenzied celebration, with students storming the court (the videos online are truly amazing!).
This celebration is not only a unifying force for the fanbase, it also helps the team win! Taylor boasts an impressive record of 25-1 during their annual “Silent Night” game tradition.
College Baseball Traditions
The traditions in smaller sports are just as strong, albeit less well-known. Let’s start on the diamond…
11) Texas A&M’s “Ball 5” Chant
Although you’ve probably never heard of it, the “Ball 5” chant has been called the best tradition in all of college baseball.
Aggies fans chant “Ball 5”’ after an opposing pitcher throws four straight balls, continuing with “Ball 6,” “Ball 7,” and so on. The chant, which likely began in the late ‘80s or early ‘90s, creates a highly intimidating atmosphere for visiting pitchers and makes A&M’s Blue Bell Park a pretty difficult place to play.
Best College Football Traditions (and other sports) – Continued
12) The Left Field Lounge at Mississippi State
Mississippi State’s Dudy Noble Field is arguably the best venue in all of college baseball. The Bulldogs hold the record for the largest attendance at an on-campus baseball game with 15,586 fans. If you ever get to attend an MSU game, you’ll see why.
Aside from the electric atmosphere, the Left Field Lounge is a section of the ballpark that has become famous. It’s an area beyond the outfield fence with 96 separate areas where fans can barbecue and tailgate while watching a game.
This tradition is a key part of what makes attending a game at Mississippi State a memorable experience.
Other Sports Traditions
13) Nebraska’s Love of Volleyball
The University of Nebraska loves its volleyball team. In fact, Cornhusker fans sell out nearly all home matches at the Devaney Center.
In 2023, Nebraska set an all-time attendance world record for a women’s sporting event. They drew 92,003 fans for a volleyball match at Memorial Stadium against the University of Omaha.
The five-time NCAA champion Cornhuskers also beat Omaha 3-0 on a day that was dubbed “Volleyball Day in Nebraska.”
14) University of New Hampshire’s Throwing the Fish
New Hampshire has long had a successful hockey program, so it’s no surprise the team has garnered some lasting traditions.
One such tradition occurs when UNH scores its first goal. Fans shift their attention to the opposing team’s net to witness a fish being thrown onto the ice, working the crowd into a frenzy.
This tradition began in the early ‘70s and has endured for decades.
15) University of Oregon’s Tracktown USA
The Oregon Ducks have a great football program, but they are undoubtedly the epicenter of American track and field.
With a rich history of producing Olympic athletes and hosting prestigious events, including the U.S. Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships, it has earned a reputation as the nation’s premier destination for the sport.
Hayward Field, Oregon’s iconic track and field stadium, stands as a symbol of this legacy.
College Football Traditions/College Sports Traditions – Additional Resources
