Now that college football is in full swing, it would be remiss of me to not discuss my favorite traditions and rivalries, after previously going over my favorite fight songs and mascots.
College football would not be college football without the rivalries and traditions that are such a huge part of the game. It is a big reason why I prefer the Saturday gridiron over their pro counterparts. It's what makes the whole experience special.
As with the mascots and fight tunes I had previously written about, these are not necessarily the best or most known or beloved school traditions and rivalries, though some of them certainly are.
OK, let me list my favorite traditions of the college game, starting with:
DOTTING THE "I", OHIO STATE
I'm not even a Buckeye fan; I personally prefer Michigan, but the tuba dotting the I in the Ohio State band does bring some chills. When UCLA played the Buckeyes at the Rose Bowl in 2001, just a few days after the 9-11 attacks, I was most disappointed that Ohio State didn't bring their band and deprived me and all of Bruin Nation of seeing the I being dotted. I'm still a bit miffed at them because of it.
RALPHIE RUNNING OUT OF THE TUNNEL, COLORADO
I've always thought that was a cool sight, seeing that buffalo running out onto Folsom Field before Colorado's games. If I was a Buffalo fan or alum, it would certainly get me pumped up.
RENEGADE AND THE FLAMING SPEAR, FLORIDA STATE
In my book, one of the most awe-inspiring, crowd-exciting sights in college football, if not THE most awe-inspiring. I have always loved seeing Chief Seminole on TV rear up on Renegade with his spear blazing and stick it into the ground, ready for battle. Plus, if the Seminole tribe's OK with it, then it must be cool!
TWELFTH MAN, TEXAS A&M
Three levels of about 20 or 30,000 students standing up for the whole game, that's a pretty incredible sight; especially when they sway to their "War Hymn" before their fourth quarter. Plus with kissing their dates after every score and building that huge bonfire before they play Texas, how could I not mention those Aggies?
BATTLE OF THE BANDS, SOUTHERN AND GRAMBLING
A main staple of the black college football experience is the bands; they are considered more important than the football team.
The bands at these two schools are not only seen as among the best in the HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities), but in the country. When I saw those two bands battle it out on TV in 1991, I never looked at marching bands the same way again. It's a pronounced shame that the rest America generally hasn't gotten a chance to see this part of college football until recently; Thank God for the movie "Drumline"!
I know that my choice for favorite tradition will be seen by many as biased, since I am an alum at one of the two schools and know so much about it. But, I honestly see this as my favorite tradition:
THE VICTORY BELL, UCLA-USC
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