Ranking the 10 most iconic college football traditions
By Phil Poling
No sport can compete with college football when it comes to tradition. Here is our list of the 10 most iconic college football traditions today.
Is there anything more important than consistency when trying to create a tradition? Many in the world of college football have figured out how to do just that, whether those traditions are songs, a wave to their fans, or simply competing on the same weekend for a long period of time.
There are many copy-cats, too, but imitation is the best form of flattery…or so I’ve heard. But we’ve got 10 college football traditions that make each fan base rather proud (and others infuriated). There are hundreds upon hundreds of traditions, though, so we’ll mention a few that didn’t quite make the list first.
The Sooner Schooner – pulled by horses Boomer and Sooner around Oklahoma Memorial Stadium after scores. Chief Osceola racing down the field on his horse Renegade at Doak Campbell Stadium. The white, English bulldog who attends Georgia games. Hawaii players performing the Haka. And last but not least, Hook ‘Em Horns from Texas fans. Let’s dive into the 10 best traditions, though.
No. 10: Texas A&M, 12th Man
The “Home of the 12th Man,” was birthed in 1922 when a depleted Aggies’ team took on the Centre Colonels. Countless Texas A&M players left the game injured, while one particular squad player – E. King Gill – helped identify players to the media in the press box.
Then-head coach Dana Bible’s Aggies’ continued to fall, nearly clearing his bench of all available players. He remembered Gill’s presence in the press box and signaled for him to join the team on the sidelines; Gill put on injured running back Heine Weir’s uniform and was ready for action.
The Aggies ultimately won the game without Gill ever seeing the field. But he stood on the sidelines ready to help if called upon. The Texas A&M student body has continued the tradition, standing for the entirety of both football and basketball games.