Movember and Other Crazy Sports Traditions

As we all know, sports are full of different traditions that both fans and players take part of.

From chants and songs to crazy outfits, stadiums around the country are typically rocking with supporters who are showing their passion for a team, hoping they can inspire the players to perform on a high level.

And while we typically think of these cheers as the biggest traditions in sports, there are some other ones that are just as crazy—like, Movember—where people take part in for a variety of reasons.

That's why I'm taking a look at some of the crazy traditions that sports have, so see if you've ever taken part in any of these.

Midnight Yell at Texas A&M

While other college kids around the country are partying every Friday night to start their weekend, nearly 50,000 rabid Texas A&M fans make their way to the team's football stadium to do something a bit strange: yell.

That's right, at the stroke of midnight the day before each football game, Aggie fans pile into the seats and cheer as loud as they can, hoping their support and spirit linger around for the upcoming game.

Most things in Texas are bigger, and yells from A&M fans are just one of those things.

Playoff Beards

Rob Carr/Getty Images

It's one of the longest and most well-known traditions in all of sports, so it's probably not too surprising to see the playoff beard on this list.

Hoping to capture some luck by refusing to shave during a postseason run, players on nearly every team refuse to shave their face as long as they keep winning.

Of course, only one team actually wins a title each season, meaning there are a lot of players who go home unhappy—but not unhairy—at the end of the year.

Wisconsin's Jump Around

When I hear the '90s song "Jump Around" by House of Pain, all I can think of is that scene from Happy Gilmore where Happy starts hitting his shots to win the Waterbury Open—yeah, I have a problem.

For fans of the Wisconsin Badgers, though, they think of one thing—literally jumping around.

That's because, between the third and fourth quarters of home football games, Badgers' faithful do just that, with 80,000 strong getting in some cardio to bring new energy to the stadium in hopes of a victory.

Oklahoma City Thunder Fans 1st-Point Stand

It's a good thing that, in recent years, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been known to put up some serious points, otherwise this tradition might have been abandoned a long time ago.

As it stands—no pun intended—OKC fans remain on their feet until the first basket is scored by the Thunder, not sitting down until the home team is on the scoreboard.

It doesn't matter if it's a few seconds or a few minutes, the packed house stand in support of their team.

Fans Jingling Keys

In an effort to make as much noise as humanly possible, several different sports fans at various stadiums are known to take out their keys and show unity by shaking their keys while opposing offenses have the ball.

While one person shaking a couple keys might not be much of a distraction for players on the field, when thousands do it, it can cause a serious headache—and miscommunication while trying to call out assignments or adjustments.

Lambeau Leap

Started by former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler back in 1993 following a fumble recovery touchdown by then-teammate Reggie White, the Lambeau Leap has become the go-to celebration for many Pack players ever since.

In fact, the tradition is so respected that, even after the NFL continues to crack down on excessive celebrations, the Leap was grandfathered into the new rules as being acceptable, meaning that Green Bay players and fans can get up-close and personal as much as they want—which, sometimes, isn't always such a good thing.

West Virginia Couch Burning

While some colleges and other police forces around the country are trying to crack down on the crazy celebrations that occur after sporting events, in Morgantown, West Virginia, almost every game is cause for a riot.

That's because it's the one place where couch burning is part of the action that happens on the court or field, with students flocking to the streets and setting ablaze to everyone's favorite living-room seat.

Some schools may say, "Whether win or lose, we always booze," and at West Virginia, there goes something like this, "Win or lose we don't grouch, we'll just set fire to a couch!"

New Zealand's Haka Dance

It's not that New Zealand sports teams performing their traditional Haka dance is all that strange—well, unless you're an NBA player who has never seen it live—but that it's just so unique.

OK, I just think that it's pretty cool how nearly every team from New Zealand continues to huddle around each other before the start of matches and get one another pumped up by dancing and shouting war-like chants.

It might seem outdated for some in the States, but it's alive and well in New Zealand—and it should be admired.

Octopuses Thrown on Ice

Arguably the most passionate fans in all of hockey, Detroit Red Wings fans started a tradition back in 1952 that still lives on today—throwing octopus onto the ice after a goal.

Founded by Pete and Jerry Cusimano, the brothers thought that throwing the eight-legged creatures was a good idea because, back in those days, it took just eight wins to capture a Stanley Cup title.

And for those who want to take part in this, make sure you follow the proper "Octoquette," which provides unwritten rules on tossing the things onto the ice.

Movember

Aynsley Floyd/Associated Press

Sorry ladies, but the month of November is the time of year in which us gentlemen get to do the one thing you hate so much—grow a mustache.

Spending more time in the bathroom during Movember than other months combined to make sure our upper-lip fur looks just right, we show support for men's health with each digesting whisker.

And want to know what's cool? Our favorite athletes do the exact same thing.

Sure, not every player should attempt going all Magnum P.I., but, like a gift given to a friend or family member, it's the thought that matters.

So here's to all those who have tossed the razor this month—both in sports and in the stands—because it's for a good cause and lets athletes show their funny side a little bit.

Throwing Back an Opponent's Home Run Ball

Just when you thought catching a ball at a baseball game would be the moment of your life, you find yourself snagging one that was hit by an opposing player, putting pressure on you to do one thing—throw it back.

Generally associated with the Chicago Cubs' bleacher creatures, the tradition has spread to a number of different ballparks, with fans treating a ball hit by an opponent like a piece of garbage, tossing it away as if it were worthless.

Roll Call in Yankee Stadium Bleachers

There are a lot of bleacher-creature traditions that occur in a variety of sports, but New York Yankees fans taking roll call during each game has to be one of the strangest.

With some of the most diehard and passionate fans in all of sports, the group of Yanks supporters yell the names of each Bronx Bomber on the field prior to the first pitch of the game—except the pitcher and catcher.

Gathering unique gestures from each player, the creatures have brought yet another tradition for Yankee players to acknowledge, with a few even admitting it's one of the things they miss most about not playing for the Yanks each day.