SEC Football: Power Ranking the 20 Best School Traditions

Whether it is Notre Dame's golden helmets or the Army-Navy game or Michigan's "Go Blue" banner, college football's appeal is traditions.

Now, when you look at the game's best conference, which is steeped in southern traditions, the SEC has some of the games best traditions.

Before we go any further, here are some great SEC traditions that did not make the Top 20.

Running through the "T" at Tennessee

Tailgating at LSU

South Carolina's "If it Ain't Swayin', Then We Ain't Playin'"

Argue all you want, but the next 20 SEC traditions are some of the best in the nation, much less in the conference.

Keep reading for 20 of the best SEC traditions.

20. Cockaboose Railroad

Not every South Carolina fan gets a chance to tailgate at Cockaboose Railroad, but it remains one of the more unique opportunities on any campus.

There are 22 cabooses, which can be renovated by the owner, lining a railroad track outside of Williams-Brice Stadium. However, the cars are stationary.

Cockaboose Railroad opened for serious South Carolina tailgaters in 1990. The cabooses have running water, cable or satellite TV and air conditioning and heating to name just a few of the amenities.

Some Cockaboose owners use them to throw parties and watch away games as well.

19. Hotty Toddy

The origins of Hotty Toddy remain a mystery, but the Ole Miss fans love to chant:

Are you ready? Hell yes! Damn Right!
Hotty Toddy, Gosh almighty
Who in the hell are we — Hey
Flim Flam, Bim Bam
Ole Miss By Damn!

There you have it.

18. "We Are the Boys of Old Florida"

OK, it's another song by the crowd.

Florida fans sing this after the third quarter of games in The Swamp.

This moment of fan unity usually includes arms around your neighbor and some swaying back and forth.

Let's check out the lyrics:

We are the boys from old Florida
F-L-O-R-I-D-A
Where the girls are the fairest,
The boys are the squarest
Of any old state down our way

We are all strong for old Florida
Down where the old Gators play
In all kinds of weather
We'll all stick together
for F-L-O-R-I-D-A

17. 2001—A Space Odyssey

South Carolina's pregame was once called the most exciting entry in college football.

As the game clock inches closer to opening kickoff, the Gamecocks gather in the tunnel in the southwest corner of Williams Brice Stadium.

With the crowd getting whipped into a frenzy, the them song from 2001-A Space Odyssey is blasted over the stadium sound system. At the perfect moment and in coordination with the music, South Carolina steps onto the field and the fans go ballistic.

16. Smokey the Dog

Smokey is one of the state's most beloved figures as it leads the Tennessee football team onto the field through a giant "T" that is created by the band for each home game.

There have been nine blue tick coonhounds to represent the Volunteers dating back to 1953. Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity cares for the hound.

Smokey VIII (1995-2003) is the winningest mascot to date with two SEC titles and the 1998 national championship.

UT students chose Smokey as the mascot through a student poll in 1953.

15. 18 MPH

Staying under the speed limit on the Ole Miss campus can't be easy.

The speed limit around the university is 18 MPH in honor of former quarterback Archie Manning, who wore jersey No. 18.

Have you ever wondered how many people have received a speeding ticket for going 25 MPH?

14. "Rammer Jammer, Yellow Hammer"

The origins of this tradition are a bit strange.

The lyrics come from the student newspaper (The Rammer-Jammer) in the 1920s, and the Alabama state bird (yellowhammer).

Alabama fans love the cheer, especially win a victory is inevitable. Once again, the lyrics:

Hey Vols!
Hey Vols!
Hey Vols!
We just beat the hell out of you!
Rammer Jammer, Yellowhammer, give 'em hell, Alabama!

Of course, the fans insert the appropriate nickname, but they love taunting the Tennessee Volunteers even more.

13. "Woo Pig Sooie"

Arkansas' famous cheer, "Woo Pig Sooie," has been around since at least the 1920s. However, how it came about is not clear.

The lyrics for Calling the Hogs is simple:

Woooooooooo, Pig ! Sooie!
Woooooooooo, Pig ! Sooie!
Woooooooooo, Pig ! Sooie!
Razorbacks!

Go ahead, give a shot.

12. Iron Bowl

Ohio State vs. Michigan is considered by many to be the biggest rivalry in all sports.

In the south though, Alabama vs. Auburn definitely rivals The Game.

If you live in Alabama, you are either a Bama fan or Auburn fan. You can't be both.

The first Iron Bowl was played on Feb. 22, 1893, at Lakeview Baseball Park in Birmingham, Ala.

Since 2000, Auburn is 8-3, but Alabama leads the overall series 40-34-1.

11. Checkerboard Endzones

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 20: Brandon James #25 of the Florida Gators scores a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 20, 2008 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Turn on your TV in the fall and if you see the orange-and-white checkerboard end zone you know immediately you are watching Tennessee playing in the Neyland Stadium.

Just like the photo above, it doesn't matter if you see a Tennessee player or a Florida player scoring, you recognize the end zone immediately.

The checkerboard look was added in the mid-1960s but removed in 1968 when artificial turf was added. They were reinstated in 1989.

Former UT coach and athletic director Doug Dickey came up with the idea, and it remains a point of pride for Tennessee fans.

10. Mike the Tiger

LSU's tiger may be in a cage, but when the opposing team enters the stadium by Mike, he definitely strikes some fear into the players.

In 1934, some LSU leaders decided they needed a live Tiger. After raising $750 they did just that.

Since then Mike the Tiger has embodied LSU football (and athletics).

How much do LSU fans love this Tiger? There's a Tiger Cam in case you want to watch him in his new habitat.

9. Volunteer Navy

If you get the chance to go to a Tennessee game at Neyland Stadium this fall, you are likely to see about 200 boats (some big and some small) on the Tennessee River.

It makes for one of the largest, floating tailgates in the world. The folks on the river are known as the Volunteer Navy.

The tradition began almost 50 years ago when former UT broadcaster George Mooney decided it would be quicker to take a boat down the river instead of navigating the gridlocked Knoxville traffic.

Partying on the river before heading into the game seems like a perfect fit.

8. Gator Chomp

The Gator Chomp has become synonymous with Florida football (even more so than Tim Tebow).

However, the Chomp didn't start until 1981 when two members of the band responded to the Mississippi State band playing the theme to Jaws.

A few weeks later, the tuba and trombone section played Gator Jaws. The rest of the band and crowd began doing what would eventually become the Gator Chomp.

It has been around ever since and remains one of the best traditions in the SEC.

7. Rocky Top

Tennessee fans love to hear Rocky Top played over and over again during football games.

The opposition, well, they grow weary of hearing,

Rocky Top you'll always be home sweet home to me
Good ol' Rocky Top
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee

What makes this tradition even better is the song isn't an official school song, much less the alma mater.

6. Uga the Bulldog

Uga is like royalty.

Georgia's mascot is a lineage of English bulldogs owned by Frank. W. Seiler since 1956.

There have been a total of just eight bulldogs to have the name Uga.

For different factors, substitute or interim bulldogs have filled in at times to make sure a dog was on the sidelines.

Uga's jersey is made from the same material as the players, and he is even issued a student ID card.

5. Cowbells

The ringing of the cowbell has become synonymous with Mississippi State football.

According to Mississippi State literature, the origin of the cowbell at football games is unclear. However, it does appear the tradition began in the late 1930s or early 1940s.

Different factions within the SEC have tried to put an end to this noisy tradition, but every year, the Bulldogs come out on top.

Similar to Alabama fans who have images of Bear Bryant, Gene Stallings and Nick Saban on the walls of their homes and offices, cowbells adorn the homes and businesses of Mississippi State alumni.

4. The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party

Officials from Florida and Georgia would prefer you call this match up the Florida vs. Georgia Football Classic, but anyone who has been around long enough knows this annual SEC game by one name—The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

The two schools don't agree when this rivalry began, but one thing is for certain. The first game in Jacksonville, Fla., was played in 1915. Every game since 1933 has been in Jacksonville except for a few (1943 when Florida sat out because of World War II and 1995-96 when the stadium was being renovated).

The Bulldogs lead the series 47-40-2 (Georgia records) or 46-40-2 (Florida records), but the Gators have won eight of the past 10 meetings.

This rivalry always seems to have these lopsided swings.

3. Tailgating in the Grove

Every SEC university can boast to be one of the best in the nation, but even within the conference, nothing compares to the experience one can have in The Grove at Ole Miss.

You could argue the tailgate experience at The Grove is more important than the game.

There's the typical tailgate fare...lots of food, lots of legal beverages and lots of fun.

But in good southern charm, the tailgaters arrive dressed like they are going to a wedding.

Since we're talking about Ole Miss, maybe we should call it a funeral.

2. War Eagle

Auburn's War Eagle is actually a battle cry and not a mascot, but it still involves the flying of a live eagle before games.

With close to 90,000 fans crammed into Jordan-Hare Stadium, the place just ignites when the eagle soars over the field and the band is playing War Eagle.

The origins of this tradition are not clear, but one thing we can all agree on—this is one of the best traditions in college football.

1. Night Games at Death Valley

Night games at LSU's Tiger Stadium (aka Death Valley). Just say it, you know what it means.

SEC opponents certainly understand the intimidating and hostile crowd that packs the stadium for a night game.

Of course, LSU has lost a night game or two, but it always seems the Tigers win.

Those night games equal one key advantage: louder than normal crowds.

All of that Cajun food and tailgating fun for a few extra hours really pays off when the lights come on in Death Valley.