Okay, this is the time of year that is just agonizing for you die-hard College Football fans—the time of year between spring ball and summer practice, and a month before EA Sports’ NCAA ’09 hits stores.
Yes, I am a 32-year-old gamer. Okay, “gamer” may be a little strong, but I’m a big nerdy guy who enjoys sports video games after his wife falls asleep. I’m that guy who goes to the midnight release at his local game store and takes the next day off work to play it.
Somehow, my wife stays married to me.
When you play NCAA, the background menu music includes most of the free world’s college fight songs. If you log enough hours trying to build your dynasty or take your created player to the top of the draft class like I do, then you know almost every important college fight song in the nation. Problem is, you may not know that you know these songs.
I can’t tell you how many games I’ve watched on ESPN on a Thursday night when Louisville is taking on Rutgers or some similar matchup, when all of a sudden I hear said school’s band strike up and I can hum every note. I never even realized I knew Louisville’s fight song!
Honestly though, I probably know more than your average bear when it comes to school fight songs. So in order to kill time until NCAA ’09 comes out, I figured that I would weigh in with a Top 20 list of the best college fight songs in order to create discussion—but more than likely it'll just tick off about 80% of the people who read it.
So to preface the list, keep a few things in mind:
1) I’m not, nor ever was, a student of music. I’m just a guy with a pair of ears that knows what he likes.
2) The songs below are official fight songs, not songs associated with a college, so songs like Alma Maters, Chants, or adopted songs like “Hang On Sloopy” or “Country Roads” would not qualify for this list—but maybe I’ll do another list soon.
3) This is only a countdown of Division I-A (or Bowl Subdivision) schools. So while the Ivy League has some great tradition and HBC’s have the best performers, they don’t qualify. I also left out the service academies because they are all winners in my book.
4) I listened to every single fight song in Division I-A just as a refresher. This is the most time I’ve ever spent researching an article…ever!
5) Lastly, I posted a link for each song underneath its ranking. If the link opens in the same window as this article, just hit “Back” on your browser after the song to get back here. I know you know this—I’m mainly writing this for my Mom, who would be stuck after No. 20.
EDIT: Links may not work. Open a second browser window and cut and paste in address line to listen. Mom, just call me later—I'll go through it step by step.
On a side note, I had no idea my high school fight song, “Go Big Skippers,” was actually “On Wisconsin.” I felt cheated when I got to college and found out that the song, which was a staple on Friday nights and at pep rallies in my high school years, was just some Weird Al version of an already existing song.
Well, I hope you can agree with at least part of the list, or at the minimum understand where I’m coming from. I know you won’t agree with everything, so I’d love to hear your feedback on what you would have done without calling me vulgar names. So warm up your flute and line up your drums because here we go.
First off, it doesn’t feel right doing college rankings and not having a Top 25, so:
Honorable mention
No. 25 Iowa
No. 24 SMU
No. 23 Kentucky
No. 22 East Carolina
No. 21 Arizona
Other receiving votes: Toledo, Wyoming, Tulane, and Minnesota
No. 20 West Virginia
OK, I have to admit that having a male baton twirler in a band may be a bold move. But I’m not going to argue with a bunch of coal miners. Besides, West Virginia is a hard state to draw on paper, yet the band can form it on the field. At least I think they do—I’m not 100% sure how West Virginia is shaped. Either way, that takes talent while playing a catchy fight song.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/bigeast/West_Virginia__Hail_West_Virginia.mp3
No. 19 Mississippi State
The only reason this song makes the list is that it gets stuck in my head. “Hail State” is like the last song you hear on the radio before you go to work or class. It’s infectious, from what the doctor tells me, and it’s hard to clear up. In fact, I have a fever, and the only prescription is “more cowbell.” Saw that coming a mile away, didn’t you?
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/sec/Mississippi_State__Hail_State.mp3
No. 18 Miami
Thankfully 2 LiveCrew and Vanilla Ice had nothing to do with the U’s fight song. It’s a pretty simple tune, but then again so was “Ice Ice Baby,” except this time there was no sampling a Queen and David Bowie song.
Also, special thanks to Gloria Estefan, Trick Daddy, and DJ Magic Mike for having nothing to do with this song either. Actually, the fact that this song rose out of the same birthplace as all the above artists is a modern miracle.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/acc/Miami_FL__Miami_U_Fight_Song_new.mp3
No. 17 UCLA
I don’t know why, but when I hear the “Sons of Westwood” I think of some Japanese lady on a unicycle balancing plates on a twenty-foot pole (just listen to the song). It’s fine if it doesn’t make sense to you—you probably haven’t been to enough basketball halftime shows.
Of course that makes me think of my favorite basketball halftime show, “Quick Change.” I think watching “Quick Change” while baked would totally blow one’s mind. Despite the visual image, UCLA has a pretty well-known and unique fight song. Time to take my Ritalin. (BTW, sorry Cal fans.)
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/pac10/UCLA__Sons_Of_Westwood.mp3
No. 16 Florida
Being as objective as I can (Me no likey the Gators), I have to say that Florida has a quality fight song. “The Pride of the Sunshine” sure does get on my nerves with that “Get up and Go” chant, but fight song “Orange and Blue” is definitely a keeper. With the success of the program in the last two decades, no doubt you’ve heard it at some point while watching the Gators play.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/sec/Florida__The_Orange_And_The_Blue.mp3
No. 15 Ohio State
“The Best Damn Band in the Land” is famous for dotting the "I” but also for its fight song “Fight the Team Across the Field.” You pretty much have to like a band that sneaks a curse word into their title.
Fight song lyrics tend to be simple and monosyllabic. But the Bucks add the word “reverberating” into the fray. All of a sudden it’s like, whoa, what’s with the hundred dollar words, pal? I was swimming in a sea of “rahs” and “hoorays” and they throw “reverberating” in there. Nicely done.
And just for the record, I like Florida at No. 15 and OSU at No. 16—but haven’t the Buckeyes suffered enough?
http://www.scarletandgray.info/osu/songs/across_the_field.html
No. 14 Wake Forest
Nothing says “fight song” like bass drum exclamations. “Here’s to Wake Forest” has got them in spades. Wake Forest making the list is probably an upset in its own right, but this team knows a lot about that with its rise to prominence in the ACC.
What I didn’t know was that Wake’s original mascot was the “Fighting Baptists,” which kind of sounds funny. I mean, Baptists don’t drink, so how apt were they to get into fights in the first place? But then I thought if someone told me I couldn’t drink ever again, I’d probably punch them in the face, so maybe it works.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/acc/Wake_Forest__Heres_To_Wake_Forest.mp3
No. 13 Ball State
Talk about upsets! Ball State proves with “Fight Team Fight” you don’t need original lyrics for a good fight song. It’s a “Fight Fight…onward now…bring glory...school colors...victory…yada yada yada” kind of song. But the music is great. And when it comes down to it, this kind of song is what this list is all about. It’s always nice to see a mid-major make some noise.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/mac/Ball_State__Fight_Team_Fight_singing.mp3
No. 12 LSU
You may call this a biased pick since I’m an alum, but “Fight for LSU” is an energetic foot tapper that probably doesn’t draw the praise it deserves. Playing fourth fiddle to the spine-tingling, goose bump producer known simply as “Pregame,” the sing along go-to “Hey Fighting Tigers,” and the traditional spelling exercise “Tiger Rag,” “Fight for LSU” is a rousing treat—probably one of the most underrated songs on this list.
My friends will give me guff for putting them outside the Top Ten, but once again, I'm trying to be objective as I can. Howard Schnellenberger would probably vote the song No. 87.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/sec/LSU__Fight_For_LSU.mp3
No. 11 Alabama
My LSU brethren will probably scold me for putting this tune on the list—ahead of LSU no less—but I have to try to be as objective as possible. The “Million Dollar Band” (you should see what they pay for their athletes. Bah-zinnngg!!!) produces this little ditty that exudes all that is good about the south. A song that is as traditional as “The Bear” himself, I honestly can’t hear it start without finishing it in my head. God, I feel dirty.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/sec/Alabama__Yea_Alabama.mp3
No. 10 Wisconsin
Quite simply put, “On Wisconsin” is a fight song template that is often copied and never duplicated (I’m looking at you Mandeville High!).
Wait a minute! I just found out that “On Wisconsin” was originally a song composed for a contest at the University of Minnesota, and the song’s composer was convinced to let a man named Carl Beck use it for his school UW. Beck rewrote the lyrics and the name was changed from “Minnesota, Minnesota” to “On Wisconsin.”
What a dirty little secret! Wow, this song is like a hot chick with a shady past. Now I’m really hooked.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/big10/Wisconsin__On_Wisconsin_new.mp3
No. 9 USC
You won’t see me cheering for the Trojans anytime soon, but USC’s band, known as “The Spirit of Troy” is tabbed as “The Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe.” Well, that’s what USC calls them anyway. Hey guys, by the way, modesty is a virtue.
But outside of all the self touting, “Fight On” has got to be a staple in your Fight Song Soundtrack. In addition, the band is the Snoop Dogg of marching bands, appearing in absolutely everything—movies, TV shows, award shows, and the youngest Lowenstein boy’s bar mitzvah. He’s such a good boy that one.
A side note: “The Spirit of Troy” played the Alabama band in “Forrest Gump.” That’s such a shame because this was a totally believable movie before I learned this little piece of info. My world is now shattered.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/pac10/USC__Fight_On.mp3
No. 8 Oklahoma
OK, another dirty little secret: “Boomer Sooner” is actually taken from “Boola Boola,” the Yale fight song. But as we’ve seen so far, how many of these songs are actually original? Plus, I don’t get many Yale games on my TV.
“Boomer Sooner” is a short song with a great ending. No frills, that’s what I like. Also, the song makes me think of the plains, covered wagons, and women in bonnets and ankle-length dresses. And if that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/big12/Oklahoma__Boomer_Sooner.mp3
No. 7 Virginia Tech
“Triumph” has the same militaristic undertones as A&M’s “Aggie War Hymn"—fitting since both schools have military academy history. VT made the trek down to Baton Rouge this past season and were great guests that were fun to party with. Plus, how can you go wrong with lyrics like:
“To see our team plow through the line, boys.
Determined now to win or die:
So give a Hokie, Hokie, Hi,
Rae, Ri, old V.P.I.”
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/acc/Virginia_Tech__Tech_Triumph.mp3
No. 6 Notre Dame
I’m no domer sympathizer, but “The Notre Dame Victory March” is probably the most recognizable fight song in all of college football. With a catchy tune that sounds at home in a football stadium just as much as it does in a victory parade, I couldn’t leave this song off the list. Omitting it would be impossible. This is truly a song for the conquering hero.
Plus, any fight song that appears in the movie “Airplane” is alright with me.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/ind/Notre_Dame__Notre_Dame_Victory_March.mp3
No. 5 Texas A&M
First off, I have to give you my true feelings on TAMU. I think it’s a cult. There, I said it—now let’s move on.
Despite the school’s summer camp vibe, the “Aggie War Hymn” is a great blend of college fight song and militaristic march. What’s disturbing is that the song’s entire lyrics are based on the organ envy of another school. At least I think it’s disturbing—it could make it one of the most telling factors in just how good the A&M-UT (ahem, sorry Aggies, I meant TU) rivalry is.
Also, fans of the 12th man will be happy to know that the T-sips don’t appear in my Top 25. But don’t worry Horns—take solace in the fact that I cheer for you guys in just about every Lonestar Showdown.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/big12/Texas_AM__Aggie_War_Hymn.mp3
No. 4 Oregon
When you think of a slow yet powerful prodding march, you probably don’t think of Oregon. But “Mighty Oregon” is one of my personal faves. It almost sounds suited to a military academy—instead it represents a Disney character and the worst uniforms in college football. Go figure. The Ducks, however, should stand proud for having one of the best fight songs in the nation.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/pac10/Oregon__Mighty_Oregon.mp3
No. 3 Georgia Tech
If this were a list of most-fun-fight-songs, “Ramblin' Wreck” would be at the top. It’s truly a song that should always be associated with Saturdays in the fall. I do wonder about when this song was written—how many choices of words did they try that rhymed with “Tech” before they settled on “wreck”?
I think after countless hours of debate and coffee and cigarette chasers, they went “OK, ‘wreck’ is a term that’s usually bad, but we’re gonna make it good.” Everyone agreed and called it a night. I think it worked. (Actual history may vary.)
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/acc/Georgia_Tech__Ramblin_Wreck_old.mp3
No. 2 Rice
First off, how could you not love the “Marching Owl Band,” more affectionately known as “The MOB”? With the exception of the “Golden Band from Tigerland,” they are my favorite college band in the universe. They turn their noses up at tradition and mock other schools. If USC thinks sunglasses make you cool, then an entire band dressed like Jake and Elwood Blues is legendary.
They’ve got a great fight song to boot. I once attended a Texas A&M-Rice game in College Station, and the MOB greeted the A&M band with a mock Nazi salute. I’ve loved them ever since.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/conf-usa/Rice__Rice_Fight_Song.mp3
No. 1 Michigan
OK, I know what you’re gonna say. I made it through this whole list to get to Michigan? The obvious choice?! I’m so sorry to disappoint, but when it comes to fight songs, “The Victors” is “Stairway to Heaven,” “Billie Jean,” and “Hound Dog” all rolled into one.
I know the lyrics are a little cocky and pretentious, but isn’t that the point of fight songs? A mission statement of how much better my school is than yours set to music? This is a list of my favorite fight songs, and for me, “Victors” is a little bit better than everyone else's.
http://fightmusic.com/mp3/big10/Michigan__The_Victors.mp
If I made a mistake with any facts, such as one of these songs not technically being the school’s official fight song, I apologize. I tried really hard to hold that line, run up the score, and go onward to victory.
Well, that’s the list—now go, fight, and win!
67 comments Last one added 4 months ago — Leave a Comment
Quenton Mosley about 1 year ago
War Eagle Auburn's fight song is the best in college football.
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Lillian Greene 9 months ago
I'm right there with you on that one! War Damn Eagle!
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Dino about 1 year ago
Texas Fight!
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Sue M. about 1 year ago
I'm glad to see that Ohio State made the list. After all, "The Best Damn Band In the Land" is very impressive. I love seeing them dot the i. Great song!
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Nic Gulas about 1 year ago
Bama outside of the top 10 is highway robbery. Its original and doesnt have the cheesey repeats that you expect from most fight songs. Not to mention its almost 100 years old now.
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Adam Amick about 1 year ago
I second that emotion... ROLL TIDE!
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lawvol gate21.net about 1 year ago
As much as I hate to admit it (just kidding) I actually have to agree. Despite being a Vol (and having played in the Pride of the Southland while in school), my top 5 would be:
1. Alabama
2. UCLA
3. Notre Dame
4. LSU
5. Auburn
Even I have to admit a great song when I hear it. "Yay Alabama!" with the full intro is the best.
Of course most people don't even know what Tennessee's real fight song is -- much less the words ... sigh.
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Dustin Stinson about 1 year ago
Michigan State deserves to be on this list.
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James Doker about 1 year ago
I can't really say I have an informed opinion on the matter, but this list seems legit enough to me. I'm glad the Orange and Blue made it on the list; just listening to it again made my heart all aflutter.
As a lifelong Gator it pains me to say this, but I would rank Rocky Top as one of the best fight songs in the country. I'm guessing, though, that it's not the official Tennessee fight song and thus didn't make the list. I'm sure there are similar songs from other teams, too. Similarly, "We are the Boys" is maybe more of a classic here at UF, but not the official fight song.
And alma maters are of course even more difficult to classify, since each one has a special meaning for its school, but not much sway for anyone else.
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
You're on the nose with "Rocky Top", not the official fight song.
However if you like the song I suggest you go to a Vols game where you will hear it 117 times. (I'm not kidding).
But I do love the song.
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Lisa Horne about 1 year ago
Nicely done....I hate to tell you this, but Cal was the originator of UCLA's fight song. It was written in 1913, and UCLA stole it and changed the words to "Sons of Westwood." It actually went to court, but Cal hadn't copyrighted the song's tune, so they lost.
It was originally called the "Big C", and refers to the Bears as "sons of California". Some other UC schools use it as their fight song as well. You may get some irate Cal fans over this...they are sensitive to their fight song. They were first with it...and it is a great song.
Loved your list, and for some reason, Miami's fight song just sticks in my head...glad you mentioned it..it doesn't get a lot of press! :)
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
Thanks. I actually didn't know that about the UCLA fight song and almost didn't include it on the list had it not been so well known and unique.
As you can see with the Wisconsin-Minnesota fight song there is some great history behind some of these songs.
Thanks for the comment.
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Andrew Kapec about 1 year ago
Interesting list. According to your intro it seems that this is just an opinionated list of your favorite. I can in no way invade your opinion with mine. But with the reasons you gave under each song, it seems that tradition and meaning of the song was a part of your reasoning. As a music major and marching band member...I can tell you that you could have several lists of best college fight songs depending on reasoning. With tradition and meaning a major factor (negating Ivy Leagues), the talent of the band producing the fight song should also be kept in mind. The top 5 marching bands also have (in my opinion) some of the best fight songs (in no order)- Michigan, Texas, Ohio State, Florida State, and LSU. As I know you did quite a bit of research, I know you could make a better, more objective list. Some of the lamest fight songs are on your list (not many)...along with cheesy bands and zero tradition compared to the rest of college fight songs...esp Miami.
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
Thanks for commenting. It's great to hear a band member's point of view. (Pssssst, also thanks for including LSU on your short list). There's no doubt there's probably some cheesy ones on the list. It lends to the fact that I'm just a fan trying to entertain and not trying to put forth any kind of actual musical chops in my judgements.
I know that UT and FSU have excellent bands, I'm just not a fan of their actual fight songs. They are great bands though.
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Michael Collins about 1 year ago
The Notre Dame Victory March edges Hail to the Victors.
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Don Bradner about 1 year ago
Being an avid Buckeye fan I must say that I am very disappointed. Boo Michigan, they haven't been too good at being victors of late now have they...
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
yeah, notice how i use the buckeyes for my pic in a countdown that lists UM as #1. I'm trying to play politician i guess.
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Joshua Charles about 1 year ago
No argument here. Michigan State has a good fight song too. As does TOSU, Boomer Sooner, and Texas. I do have an SEC question, what is the fight song for Tennessee? Is it Rocky Top?
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
I can't remember what the official song is without looking it up but i think it's either "Down the field" or "Fight Vols Fight"
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Lisa Horne about 1 year ago
Justin.....I forgot to mention, Stanford is one of the bands in the country, when they're not on probation. lol! I agree with all your selections, and again, glad to see some lesser-known schools' songs make this list. You really did your homework and were unbiased.
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Ryan about 1 year ago
A little fun fact for the uninformed: Michigan's band did the spelling of the state name before Ohio State ever did. So the "Best Damn Band in the Land" didn't get where they are without peaking over some shoulders.
Hail to the Victors!
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Don Bradner about 1 year ago
I am not one of the uninformed you speak of and yes you did do it first. But what do I care, TBDBITL is far superior in all aspects and plays for a team that has owned yours for a while now.
All in good fun. : )
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Ryan about 1 year ago
While true, we're on the up swing. Hope the vested one is ready for his battles with the Snake-Oil salesman. :)
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Will S about 1 year ago
You cannot say that Texas has a great fight song!
Why?
Because its a direct rip off of "I've been working on the railroad."
LAME!!
Great list.
Most of these songs will give an alumnus chills to hear them.
Kudos JG!
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Gabe Le Bleu about 1 year ago
Great article, but you should have had the Mighty Banana Slugs' of UC Santa Cruz's fight song somewhere on your list.
You know the one I'm talking about...it goes like....na NA na NA NA NA nananana Bum Bum BUM nana nana nana nanaaaaaaa--bum naaaaah-naaaaaaaaaaa.
Yeah, that song is bad a$$.
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Lisa Horne about 1 year ago
Justin...congrats on making the FOXSports.com CFB page! You are the lead newser! Sweet! :)
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Adam Amick about 1 year ago
Wow... Kickass... Way to go Justin, and thanks Lisa for pointing that out.
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Lisa Horne about 1 year ago
Here's the link for all you BleacherReporters to check it out:
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8237972/The-top-20-college-football-fight-songs
Way to go!
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
sweet. thanks!!!
compared to fsn, the comments on here were pretty tame.
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xzbdzf sgdgasdbg about 1 year ago
About the Oregon "worst unifroms in college football thing", there are alot of high school seniors who would strongly disagree with that statement.
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
i'm not sure i get what you're saying. if you're saying the kids today like the look then that may be true. i'm 32, i'm out of touch.
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Susan Kuehlthau about 1 year ago
I totally agree that Oregon's uniforms are horrible. Looks like they came from the mud and yuck of Oregon. They look like they were born in the mud. Not attractive at all!
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Raj Kamruddin about 1 year ago
You put in some serious research for this one. You get an "E"for effort, though you must have been tired when you mistakenly placed The Notre Dame Victory March at #6. The nations first marching band not in the top 5? Thats ok, we all make mistakes. :)
Onward to Victory.
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
raj,
thanks for the comment, we all make mistakes i guess.
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bmaster cream about 1 year ago
by worst uniforms you must mean best, right? Kinda like bad means good.
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
i liked oregon's uni's back in the 90's before they got "nike-fied".
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Carey Montz about 1 year ago
Great article Justin. The rankings were perfect. Umm....well except #20. I would have them at least #18. And #7 should be ranked lower....like #9. Oh, and you should flip flop Michigan with anyone, simply based on the fact that they lost to App St.
But seriously, awesome job, yet again!
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Trevor Bentley about 1 year ago
nebraska....way better
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Gabe LeBleu about 1 year ago
Justin, congrats on making foxsports.com . Can you please send me an autographed headshot of yourself so I can give it to my dad for Father's Day? Thanks, you're a peach!
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David Wunderlich about 1 year ago
Good call on Oregon. I had never heard their fight song until I was at the 2007 Elite Eight and heard it there. Very catchy.
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JJ Stankevitz about 1 year ago
I'm still partial to Rocky Top, but putting the A&M War Hymn up there was a good call.
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Victor Anderson about 1 year ago
I gotta say Rocky Top has to be #1. Hell' I knew the words to that way before I knew the words to my alma matter. Go figure
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David Wunderlich about 1 year ago
Rocky Top isn't Tennessee's official fight song, catchy though it may be. That's why it's not on the list.
I have to disagree with Miami's inclusion on the list. Unique, yes; good, no.
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
well i already used the "stuck in my head" thing with state. but miami's does the same thing.
rocky top has gotten alot of love on here and on fox but like you said it doesn't qualify.
i loved it until i went to the LSU-Tenn game in '01 in knox-vegas and heard it played about 120 times.
i never heard the band play anything else. of course my seats were in the last row and had i been suicidal i could've made the tenn river my final resting place.
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David Wunderlich about 1 year ago
Same thing for me with that blasted song after attending a game there in 2004.
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Adam La Marca about 1 year ago
How do you not include Penn State on that list... seriously
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Chris S about 1 year ago
Just a issue or two. The Rice band is fun to watch, but the fightsong is a bit lame for the top 25. And at number 2, LOL, you've got to be kidding. Oregon's fight song is alright, but I'd place it closer to 24 or 25. LSU has a decent fitht song, but your bias is showing. It's a "typical" song that sounds like any other and worthy of honorable mention, but nothing more. UCLA's fight song was "borrowed" from Cal and shouldn't be on the list. Mississippi State has an aweful fight song, it sounds suspiciously like a tamed version of LSU's. Go figure you'd include it. The rest of the list is fine, but I have to ask where is Texas Fight and Arkansas Fight on your list? Texas fight may have roots in another piece of music, but once you hear it at a game, you can't get it out of your head. Arkansas Fight is rousing, up beat, and even though it's nearly a century old, it sounds fresh. Move Notre Dame's fight song up to 2nd place, place Arkansas Fight in Notre Dames's spot. Move Alabama's fight song into oregon's spot and put Texas in a tie with Oklahoma (LOL).
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
chris,
no problem, you have some great suggestions. that's what these lists are for: debate.
my bias for the rice band probably put them higher than they should have been but that was my shock value selection. i actually made two lists originally. on the one i didn't publish, texas, auburn, penn st and mich state made the list. wanted to leave off some notable schools for some debate. i have nothing against those songs i just consider them average.
like you said, i put miss st on the list because it actually gets stuck in my head.
oh, and on my other list i had ga tech #1.
i did have an LSU band member tell me that technically speaking "victors" is a simple, repetitive song.
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fasaf safdsfa about 1 year ago
MICHEGON OWNS OSU
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James McPhate about 1 year ago
I've been to every SEC stadium, a few Big 12 stadiums, some WAC games, a few C-USA and multiple SWAC games. I've heard a ton of bands play, but nothing can send chills up my spine the way the LSU band starts the 4th quarter. LOVE IT! And I'm as big of an Arkansas fan as they come. I wish they would move the Arkansas LSU game from early afternoon to a 7 p.m. kickoff so I get to haul in another Saturday night in Death Valley.
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
LSU fan are all for moving the ark game to a night game. even if it's still on a friday. having thanksgiing the day before and having to get ready to tailgate so early when most people were traveling the day before is hard on alot of families. the atmosphere of the game suffers a bit because of it. of course they could move it to saturday night too and that would be ok.
but thanks for props to LSU.
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Tiger Histalmos about 1 year ago
I will say I rather hear LSU's fight song than that of the Crimson Tide. A little bias yes, but I can live with it. Though I will say the last six Iron Bowls I hadn't heard much of it. I like the top five though, especially Michigan. That song will stick with you a long long time. A suggestion for your next article should be the most annoying college fight songs, and Tennessee should be in the top five somewhere.
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Jimson Cuenta about 1 year ago
Even though I am a Kansas fan... I have to agree that the Michigan fight song "Hail To the Victors" is the OBVIOUS choice for the #1 Fight Song :)
Heck, they even made a parity version of "Hail To the Victors"... right after Michigan LOST to Appalachian State and Oregon. The parity version goes like this:
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Appalachian State and Oregon
The leaders and best!
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Appalachian State and Oregon
The champions of division 1-AA and the Pac-10!
Oh, by the way Justin, you have reached another new milestone. With this comment, you now have TWO CONSECUTIVE articles of AT LEAST 50 comments!!! Congratulations to you, Justin :)
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
thanks, jimson for being the 50th comment!
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Curly Morris about 1 year ago
No Nebraska? Please, get real!
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Jimson Cuenta about 1 year ago
Well, there's NO Kansas either... but I'm NOT really upset about it :)
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James Andersen about 1 year ago
Even though i go to michigan state, i'm still a die-hard michigan fan, so I'd have to agree that "The Victors" is tops, if only for the fact it's arguably the most well-known fight song in college football. My only qualm about it, is that I don't think students or anyone sings the whole thing which goes on for a while. All the same it's a great song. USC's is awesome too, especially when played with the spirit of troy lead in and Notre Dame's has always been a classic.
I've noticed that part of Oregon's fight song and MSU's sound kind of similar. It might be a bit of a stretch but to me the beginnings of the two songs sound familar.
having played NCAA football's dynasty mode with Kansas, I know their fight song well too. Columbia's is good too, with the drum into; at least I think it's columbia.
great article
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Bob about 1 year ago
Boomer Sooner is alright. That's rough coming from a Husker fan, I thought I would never say that.
It is, as a fact, the most annoying song ever only because the Sooner band overplays it. I wouldn't be surprised if they played it for their own fumble or their own quarterback getting sacked.
That takes a lot away from it.
But where is "There Is No Place Like Nebraska".
It's original, well-wrote, and a pretty dynamite song.
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
sorry ryne, i left it off.
i have a lot of respect for nebraska fans though. they seem to be friendly with LSU fans because of our frequent trips to omaha for the CWS and their two sugar wins over us in the 80's. because of those two games, i grew up with a dislike for nebraska. after meeting a couple of their fans on different occaisions and doing a little bit of growing up, the huskers are alright with me.
i hope you get a chance to meet some great LSU fans in omaha this weekend. the majority of, i would think, hang out at barrett's.
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Alan Bass about 1 year ago
great article justin...i think usc is the best one though, i love it
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Jimson Cuenta about 1 year ago
I agree with you, Alan... This is definitely a great article!!! In my opinion, I believe that Justin is TRULY ONE OF THE BEST (if not, THE BEST) sports writers... I have ever encountered :)
By the way, with this comment... Justin has accomplished a VERY RARE feat. This is the 60th comment on this message thread - Justin's 2nd CONSECUTIVE article with AT LEAST 60 comments :)
Congratulations to you, Justin, on accomplishing this feat!!! I TRULY UNDERSTAND the hard work and determination you put in... just to accomplish this feat. I really hope that you can keep up this good work, Justin :)
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Lanie Destefano about 1 year ago
Seriously, ND at #6???
It may have been neck and neck with Michigan but I would bet good money that you were to go up to anyone on the street and play both songs, ND is going to get recognized more often.
But what really surprises me is that you left off Indiana. Guess its just a better song in Assembly Hall.
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Gregg Strouse 11 months ago
Instead of apologizing to Cal fans, why don't you just correctly attribute the song to us. Big C is sweet, with all sorts of fun arm gestures which are still easy to do even if you're rip-roaring drunk. Not to mention the "grrrrrrrrrrrrrrah-grrrrrrrrrrrrrah" in the middle. It's bad enough that UCLA kicks ass on the court and the field (although not on the field this year), you're gonna give them props on OUR fight song as well? Not cool, not cool.
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Joe Luther 11 months ago
Fight team fight for Ball State will be heard a lot come November when they are 12-0 and BCS bowl bound.
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Evan Wiley 9 months ago
Your number 3 pick has a confusing lyric
"I drink my whiskey clear"....maybe it's my color blindness kicking in but isn't whiskey brown?
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Justin Goar 9 months ago
maybe it's the color of the glass, as in i drink until i see the color clear.
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Bobby Foxworthy 4 months ago
Go Blue! Everytime I hear that fight song I get goose bumps, and watching the Wolverines charge out and tap the banner just gives me 2 times the goosebumps and the outrageous urge to go to Michigan. I know I am biased, but what can I say, my grandpa went to the Blue, my dad went to the Blue, and I went to the Blue! Hail to the Victors and GOOOOOOO BLUE!!!!
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