10 of the Coolest Traditions in Men's College Basketball

Men’s college basketball has been afforded a rare chance to showcase itself to round-ball junkies who may have normally been glued to the NBA.

A nice thing I was reminded of during this lockout was that, for the most part, college players play for the name on the front of the jersey rather than the name on the back. They fit into systems and live for their fans, who also happen to be their schoolmates.

This bond between teams and players has created some special traditions and, for that matter, so has the sport of men’s college basketball.

College basketball is more than just team against team and coach against coach. It’s also about traditions. Here are 10 of the coolest.

The Hawk Will Never Die

The St. Joseph's Hawk

St. Joe’s Hawk has been flapping his wings for the Philadelphia school since the mid ‘50s. What makes the Hawk unique is that he flaps his wings during the entirety of every game, home and away, and he is not allowed to stop—or rather, he wouldn’t stop because the slogan at St’ Joe’s is, “The Hawk will never die.”

Being the Hawk has its privileges, as the person wearing the costume gets a full scholarship to school, just so long as he or she keeps those wings flappin’. Not too shabby for the best seat in the house and an insane upper body workout twice a week.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk

Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk!

This famous chant from the Kansas University faithful isn’t the most beautiful or intimidating chant, but it does induce chills.

Derived from Rah Rah and mashing it with chalk rock (of which Kansas has a unique brand), this chant, in only three words, symbolizes school pride and oneness with the program.

Rocky Top

Rocky Top

Anyone who’s ever seen a University of Tennessee game in any sport has heard this ode to the Volunteer State. They sing it throughout their games, and the entire crowd gets into it.

I happened to hear it in person at the Women’s Final Four in Tampa and was taken aback at the enthusiasm and unity expressed by each and every Tennessee fan. They love it, and it’s contagious.

I’m from New Jersey. We don’t have a state song (or at least one that doesn’t suck). You can pick a Sinatra Song or a Springsteen song, but it’s just not the same as having a tradition of your own. Rocky Top makes me jealous of Tennessee.

Silent Night

Silent Night

Taylor University is a private school in Upland, Indiana. In the late ‘80s, the school started a tradition of remaining silent during the game played on the last Friday before final exams. The crowd stays silent until Taylor scored its 10th point, then all hell breaks loose.

The Taylor faithful close out the game each year by singing Silent Night in unison.

I really can’t do it justice. You just have to watch the video.

Big 5 Basketball

Big 5 Basketball

The Big 5 are five Philadelphia universities which have been playing each other in a make-shift city league since the mid ‘50s.

The schools are La Salle, Penn, St. Joe’s, Temple and Villanova.

The Big 5 was founded as a way to showcase Philadelphia basketball, while making the school's money and helping with the upkeep of the Palestra.

Through the years, the Big 5 has joined the cheese steak, the soft pretzel and the Liberty Bell as a symbol of the city of brotherly love. Not that there has been a whole lot of love in Big 5 play. These schools have  a healthy hate for one another and the rivalries have made for some excellent basketball over the years.

Simply put, if you don’t love Big 5 basketball, you don’t love any basketball.

Midnight Madness

Midnight Madness

Midnight Madness marks the start of the college basketball season each year. It is held on October 15, the first day practice is permitted nationally.

Contrary to popular belief, Midnight Madness was not started by ESPN, but by Maryland head coach Lefty Driesell in 1971. Midnight of October 15 was when players could start practicing, so Driesell got them out running that early morning. Thousands of fans were in attendance of this first practice, and a phenomenon was born.

Some schools use this as an actual practice, while others use it as a time to introduce teams to fans and run a little exhibition basketball.

No matter the use, Midnight Madness represents a great time for basketball fans.

Jimmy V Week

Jimmy V Week

I have to admit that I absolutely love Jimmy V Week on ESPN. It’s filled with great games, and I can’t get enough of the replay of Valvano’s famous speech at the ESPYs. There’s just something so magical about the way this man could tell a story, even in the face of his eminent fate. I have seen it hundreds of times, and it never gets old.

Valvano turns us into basketball’s version of hopeless romantics. We hang on his words and understand that they haven’t lost meaning in almost 20 years. The impact of Valvano’s legacy on cancer research is immense. I challenge anyone to watch the speech and not get welled up and I believe that is the true power of its message.

We watch this speech and want so badly for his wishes to come true that he could be there the following year to give the Arthur Ashe Award to the next recipient. But it never happens.

I’m getting misty just thinking about it, so I better move on.

Vanderbilt's Benches

Vanderbilt’s Benches

Vanderbilt University’s gym, Memorial Gymnasium, is set up like a stage—the court is elevated above the gym floor, giving a different perspective of the game depending on where you sit. But that’s not what’s unique.

Before Memorial was opened in 1952, Vanderbilt’s old gym had a very narrow side line out of bounds, which called for the players’ benches to be on the base line as opposed to the side line. This wasn’t that uncommon, but Vanderbilt decided to stick with it through the years and now it is a distinct advantage.

While Vandy players are used to this odd arrangement, it can wreak havoc on visiting teams. Players naturally want to look to the sideline for instructions and the sight lines are just plain awkward.

Memorial Gymnasium is simply one of the coolest buildings on any campus in America.

Photo – VU Athletic Department

One Shining Moment

One Shining Moment

The end of the NCAA Tournament is almost always a sad moment. It signifies the end of basketball but also usually drives home that your team didn’t win the tournament.

The One Shining Moment montage, started after the Keith Smart driven shot against Syracuse propelled Indiana over Syracuse in the 1987 final, was originally supposed to be used by CBS for football, but smarter heads and a little bit of luck placed David Barrett’s ode to basketball in the right place at the right time.

It’s the perfect blend of cheesy ‘80s pop and tourney highlights. It was always a bittersweet moment for me until 2003 when Syracuse finally won and I got to enjoy seeing my team at the end instead of being disappointed with images of down-turned faces.

This is one tradition I hope never changes.

Cameron Crazies

Cameron Crazies

It pains me to write this, but I have to give it to Duke for having the most involved fans in college basketball. 

This isn’t a judgment on other fans; it’s just that consistently, ever since I can remember, Duke’s Cameron Crazies have been a part of every Duke home game. They are just as important as any bench player and can rattle even the most talented of stars.

Duke’s fans have a great sense for the moment of the game and will make noise when need be, be silent when called for and create a sea of Blue and white that bleeds Duke Basketball.