100 Things that ARE College Football

College football is full of traditions, rivalries and history. As the 2010 season drew closer, I decided to compile a list of fifty people, places and things that are college football to me. I soon realized that fifty just wouldn’t cover it. So, (in no particular order) I give you 100 traditions, fight songs, mascots, rivalries, legends and memories that ARE college football.

1. A White Out in Happy Valley – When the Penn State students wear all white for a big game, the atmosphere and noise level can intimidate even the best teams.
2. Rocky Top – The adopted fight song of the Tennessee Vols is played after all victories, scores, first downs, tackles, sneezes, etc. “Oh, Rocky Top, you’ll always be home sweet home to meeee! Good ‘Ol Rocky Top! WOOOO! Rocky Top Tennessee!”
3. The Commander and Chief Trophy – Is awarded annually to the winner of the series of games between the Army, Navy and Air Force. Navy has won the trophy the last seven years.
4. Michigan’s Winged Helmets – Introduced first at Michigan State, the unique design is synonymous with Wolverine football. It is also used at Delaware and Princeton.
5. The Civil War – Oregon vs. Oregon State, the seventh-oldest rivalry in college football. It has decided the Pac 10’s Rose Bowl berth the last two seasons.
6. The Bonfire before the Texas game – At Texas A&M, Aggies build a monstrous bonfire the week of the Texas game. A&M fans say it symbolizes every Aggie’s “burning desire to beat the hell outta U.T.”
7. The Apple Cup – Is the trophy awarded to the winner of the Washington-Washington State game.
8. Herschel Walker Running Someone Over – This Georgia RB dominated the SEC. He set an NCAA freshman rushing record in leading the Bulldogs to the 1980 national title. He would win the Heisman Trophy in 1982.
9. The Horseshoe – The home of the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus
10. Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer – The cheer from Alabama fans after a victory. “Hey Gators! Hey Gators! Hey Gators! We just beat the hell outta you! Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer! Give ‘em hell Alabama!”
11. Gold helmets at Notre Dame – The gold helmets of the Irish are emblematic of the Golden Dome on campus. Student managers spray paint them gold prior to each game.
12. Woody Hayes going for two – In 1968, Ohio State led Michigan 42-14. The Bucks scored a late TD to pad the lead. They went for two and made it. When asked after the game why he went for two up by 34, the OSU legend said, “Because the rules won’t let you go for three.” THAT is hatred between rivals.
13. The Backyard Brawl – Pitt vs. West Virginia has been played 102 times. 75 miles separate the schools, giving it a great rivalry nickname.
14. Traveler – The white horse that circles the field when USC scores.
15. Uga – Speaking of mascots, this solid white English bulldog represents the University of Georgia. He travels in an air conditioned dog house and sits on bags of ice during games. Uga V portrayed his father (Uga IV) in the film “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”
16. The Fumblerooskie – This trick play, made famous by Nebraska, is now illegal. The QB takes the snap and immediately places the ball on the ground. He proceeds to roll to his right with the rest of the backfield. The right guard pauses at the snap, steps back, picks up the ball and runs left.
17. Punt Bama Punt – In 1972, #2 Alabama was 10-0 and a 16-point favorite when they faced arch-rival Auburn in Birmingham. Bama led 16-3 in the 4^th quarter when Auburn’s Bill Newton blocked a punt. David Langner scooped it up and ran it in for a TD. A few moments later, Newton blocked a 2^nd Tide punt that Langner ran in for six more. Some old pick-ups in the Yellowhammer State may still have the bumper sticker “Punt Bama Punt,” in blue and orange, of course.
18. The Keg of Nails – Trophy awarded to the winner of the Cincinnati-Louisville game. The winning team is said to be “tough as nails.”
19. Red River Rivalry – Also known as the Red River Shootout, is the name of the annual game between Oklahoma and Texas. It’s played in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas during the State Fair of Texas. It is basically an October bowl game.
20. The Grove at Ole Miss – The 10-acre tailgating area in the center of the University of Mississippi campus. It is shaded by oak, elm and magnolia trees. The Sporting News called it “the Holy Grail of tailgating sites.”
21. Gameday Comin’ to your Cittay – The ESPN Gameday show draws a crowd on any campus. Its theme song “Coming to your City” is done by country group Big and Rich.
22. Miami’s Smoke Entrance – The Miami Hurricanes have emerged from their tunnel through a billow of smoke since the 1950s.
23. Bowl Week – From a few days after Christmas through January 2^nd, there are great intersectional match-ups every day.
24. “Whoa Nellie!” – The signature call of the longtime voice of the game, Keith Jackson
25. Joe Paterno – No coach has ever meant more to one school than JoePa does to Penn State
26. Gator Chomp – The hand gesture done by Florida Gator fans to celebrate and taunt the opposition.
27. Singing “Country Roads” in Morgantown – John Denver helped dedicate Mountaineer Field in West Virginia. The fans there now sing his song “Country Roads” at every home game.
28. The Sweater Vest – The signature attire and nickname of Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel.
29. Hook ‘Em Horns – The slogan and hand gesture of the Texas Longhorns.
30. The Sea of Red in Lincoln – Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is home to the Nebraska Cornhuskers and their rabid fans. They’ve sold-out 304 consecutive home games. Since most fans wear red, it has become know as the Sea of Red.
31. Alma-maters after Army-Navy – When the annual Army-Navy game ends, both teams stand side by side as the alma mater of each school is played. First, the losing team’s song is played, followed by the winner.
32. Between the Hedges – Sanford Stadium at the University of Georgia where privet hedges circle the playing field.
33. Checkerboard Endzones – The orange and white checkerboard pattern made famous at the University of Tennessee. You know you’re in Neyland Stadium when you see that unique pattern.
34. Flutie’s Hail Mary – Probably the most famous pass in CFB history. It cemented the Heisman Trophy for Doug Flutie and gave BC an amazing 47-45 win over defending national champion Miami.
35. Big Play Stickers on your Helmet – At Georgia, it’s dog bones. At Florida State, it’s hatchets. At Ohio State, it’s buckeyes. Numerous schools put a decal on your helmet for each good play made during a game.
36. Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside – “Mr. Inside” Doc Blanchard and “Mr. Outside” Glenn Davis each won the Heisman while playing in the same backfield for Army in the 1940s.
37. Marshall’s Offensive Line carrying Byron Leftwich – Marshall QB Byron Leftwich was playing with a broken shin in a 2002 game versus Akron. After completing a long pass, Leftwich was carried down field in the hurry-up offense by two offensive linemen. It was one of the images of the decade in CFB.
38. The Big House – Home of the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor. It is the largest stadium in the country.
39. Iowa’s Pink Locker Room – The visiting teams’ locker room at Iowa is all pink, from the walls to the urinals. It’s designed to give the Hawkeyes an edge before the opposition takes the field by having a calming and passive effect.
40. The Holy War in Utah – The rivalry between Utah and BYU. Utah is a public, state owned institution. BYU is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
41. The Granddaddy of Them All – The Rose Bowl, America’s first bowl game
42. A Night Game in Death Valley – There’s just something about playing LSU at night, down on the bayou. The crowd is extra ready (liquored up) when the lights are on.
43. Wide Right I, II and III – Miami has long been the nemesis of the Florida State Seminoles. In 1991, 1992 and 2000, the Noles lost when a potential winning or tying FG sailed wide right.
44. Tommie Frazier breaking 8 Gator tackles – Late in the 3^rd quarter of the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, Nebraska was pummeling Florida en route to back-to-back national titles. Husker QB Tommie Frazier ran an option to his right, kept the ball and ran through eight exhausted Gators on a 75-yard TD run. It’s one of the most memorable runs of all-time.
45. Bevo – The longhorn steer that is the mascot of Texas University.
46. Calling the Hogs – Arkansas fans will call the hogs by putting their arms up, wiggling their fingers and calling out, “Wooooo, Pig! Sooie!”
47. Lehigh vs. Lafayette – No teams in college football have played more than these two rivals. They are separated by 17 miles. No matter the stakes or the records, the stadium is packed, and the game is intense.
48. War Eagle – The battle cry and fight song of Auburn University.
49. “Oh, the band is out on the field!” – One of the most recognized lines by any announcer, said during the wildest play in CFB history. Cal broadcaster Joe Starkey yelled out these words as Kevin Moen took the 5^th and final lateral en route to a Cal TD.
50. #44 at Syracuse – Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little all wore #44. The number has since been retired, but for years it was an honor to wear #44 for the Orange.
51. Sooner Schooner – The horse (or actually pony) pulled covered wagon that is the official mascot of the University of Oklahoma.
52. Pandemonium in Piscataway – On a Thursday evening in November 2006, Rutgers hosted Louisville in a battle of unbeatens. The Scarlet Knights fought back from a 25-7 deficit to upset the Cardinals on a last second FG. The RU students stormed the field, covering it completely in what seemed like three seconds. It was a program changing win and a great example of an exhilarating reaction to a big win.
53. The Tiger Rag – It’s the fight song of Clemson, LSU and just about any team that is nicknamed Tigers.
54. Rocket Ismail running back a kick– The star WR and kick returner for Notre Dame from 1988-90. There have been great return men in CFB thru the years, but the Rocket’s speed was unmatched.
55. A Houndstooth Hat – The trademark of one of the greatest coaches in sports history, Paul “Bear” Bryant.
56. Paul Bunyon’s Axe – The trophy awarded to the winner of the Wisconsin-Minnesota game. When a team “reclaims” the axe, players will rush to the opposing team’s sideline, grab the axe, run to the nearest goalpost and mock chopping it down.
57. Penn State’s plain white uniforms – The road unis of the Nittany Lions are as bland as can be. White pants, white jersey, blue #’s on the front, back and sleeves and a blue stripe down the center of a white helmet. No flash. All tradition.
58. The Ramblin’ Wreck – Is a 1930 Ford Model A Sport coupe that leads the Yellow Jackets onto the field at Bobby Dodd Stadium since 1961.
59. Chief Osceola – The Seminole mascot of Florida State rides onto the field on an appaloosa horse named Renegade and slams a flaming spear into the ground at midfield. As I understand the tradition, this act (done between the coin toss and opening kick off) is a declaration of war.
60. Midnight Yell Practice – A pep rally held at midnight at Texas A&M. It is done two nights before all games.
61. The 4 Horsemen – The backfield of the 1924 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley and Elmer Layden. The famous backfield lost only two games in their three years in South Bend.
62. Nebraska’s Tunnel Walk – From the time the Huskers leave the locker room, until they run out onto the field, fans in Memorial Stadium watch on the in-stadium video screen. As the Alan Parson Project’s “Sirius” plays, the team walks down a corridor, onto a red carpet, past screaming fans under the stands and thru the gates.
63. “Run, Lindsay! Run!” – In 1980, Florida led Georgia 21-20 with the Bulldogs facing a 3^rd and long on their own 8 yard line late in the game. QB Buck Belue connected with Lindsay Scott. Scott’s run after the catch took Georgia all the way to a national title. It was radio announcer Larry Munson’s call that gave this play its name, “Complete to the 25. To the 30, Lindsay Scott 35, 40. Lindsay Scott 45, 50, 45, 40… Run Lindsay, 25, 20, 15, 10, Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott! Lindsay Scott!”
64. The Victors – The fight song of the University of Michigan. Are there cooler lyrics to belt out after you’ve won a big game than these? “Hail to the victors valiant! Hail to the conquering heroes! Hail, hail to Michigan… the champions of the west!”
65. World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party – The nickname given to the annual game between Florida and Georgia. It has been played in Jacksonville, FL since 1933.
66. “and the Heisman Memorial Trophy goes to…” – One of the most anticipated moments of the year in college football is the presentation of the most famous individual trophy in all of sports.
67. Boise’s blue turf – The Boise State Broncos play on a unique style of field turf. Theirs is blue instead of green and is referred to nationally as the smurf turf.
68. Little Brown Jug – There are many rivalry trophies in college football, but the oldest is this piece of crockery given to the winner of the Michigan-Minnesota game since 1903.
69. Lee Corso in a mascot head – The most anticipated moment in each week’s edition of College Gameday on ESPN is when former coach turned analyst Lee Corso makes the final prediction of the show. The show is normally done at the site of one of the biggest games of the week. Corso unveils his pick by donning the mascot head of one of those two teams.
70. Bobby Bowden saying “dadgummit” – The longtime head coach of the Florida State Seminoles was a southern gentleman. When he was upset, he was more likely to say dadgummit than anything you couldn’t say on TV.
71. Ringing Cowbells in Starkville – Mississippi State University has a tradition of ringing cowbells after victories. They rang them during games for decades, until the SEC passed a rule banning them.
72. Play Like a Champion Today – These words hang on a sign that all Notre Dame players touch as they head from the locker room to the field before a game.
73. The Old Oaken Bucket – This trophy has been awarded to the winner of the Indiana-Purdue game since 1925.
74. Florida State’s Sod Graveyard – When Florida State wins a road game as an underdog, beats Florida in Gainesville, wins an ACC Championship Game or a bowl game, a Noles captain takes a piece of turf home with them. They bury it outside the gates of the practice field with a plaque noting the opponent, date and final score.
75. The Swamp – The nickname given to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida.
76. Virginia Tech’s Lunch Pail – A black metal workman’s lunch pail is given to the Hokie defender that works the hardest. He carries it with him to and from each practice. It is also on the sideline for all games. In Blacksburg, it is an honor to carry the lunch pail.
77. Brent Musberger – Love him or hate him, Brent’s voice is synonymous with college football. The bigger the game, the more likely the broadcast will begin with his signature line, “You are looking live…”
78. Desmond Howard striking the pose – The Michigan WR seemed to have the Heisman Trophy in his back pocket entering the final game. Early in the contest, Ohio State punted to Howard who returned the kick 91 yards for a score. With America watching, Howard celebrated his TD by mimicking the player atop the trophy he would soon receive.
79. Mike the Tiger – The live Bengal tiger is the mascot of LSU. He lives in a 15,000 square foot habitat that includes lush plantings, a waterfall, a wading pond and rocky plateaus.
80. Jump Around at Camp Randall – At the University of Wisconsin, when the 3^rd quarter ends, the song “Jump Around” by House of Pain is played over the public address system, and the entire stadium bounces.
81. Howard’s Rock – Before running down the hill at the east end of the stadium, Clemson players rub Howard’s Rock. It is a stone given to former coach Frank Howard by a friend (and Clemson grad) that picked it up in Death Valley, CA. Howard was quoted as telling his team, “Give me 110% or keep your filthy hands off my rock.”
82. The Visor – Former Heisman Trophy winner turned head coach Steve Spurrier is known to wear a visor while walking the sideline.
83. Ralphie leading the Buffs out – The live mascot of the University of Colorado. It takes five handlers to run with Ralphie as she leads the team onto the field. Yes, she is female.
84. Dotting the i – No Ohio State game is complete without the band’s performance of Script Ohio. Upon finishing a cursive Ohio, a 4^th or 5^th year sousaphone player has the honor of dotting the i.
85. The Iron Bowl – Is the common name given to the annual rivalry game between Alabama and Auburn.
86. The Wishbone – An offense that was considered one of the most productive offenses of the 1970s and 1980s. It was basically a triple option with a lead blocker run from what is today considered a full house backfield.
87. “Enter Sandman” in Blacksburg – Mariano Rivera has not cornered the market on cool entrances to this Metallica tune. Virginia Tech fans roar as the Hokies take the field to “Enter Sandman” before each home game.
88. Tearing down the Goal post – It has occurred after a big win at a professional game, but tearing down the goal post after a victory is a college tradition. So now is tearing down the posts in an empty stadium when your team pulls out a big road win.
89. Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 – In 1968, Harvard and Yale were both unbeaten. Yale was heavily favored and jumped out to a 22-0 lead. The Elis led 29-13 with two minutes remaining. Miraculously, Harvard scored two TDs and two 2-point conversions to salvage a tie. The student newspaper in Cambridge, “The Harvard Crimson,” declared victory with the headline, “Harvard Beats Yale 29-29!”
90. Wake Up the Echoes – The Notre Dame Victory March is one of the most recognized fight songs in college athletics. The first line, “Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame” may sound like any other college tune, but it’s hard to beat the lyrics that follow, “Wake up the echoes cheering her name. Send a volley cheer on high. Shake down the thunder from the sky!”
91. Tebow’s promise – Following a 31-30 home loss to Ole Miss in 2008, Florida QB Tim Tebow vowed no one would outwork him or his team the rest of the season and that he would push his team harder than anyone else. The Gators never lost again en route to a national championship.
92. The Vol Navy – Former Tennessee broadcaster George Mooney decided to boat to and from Neyland Stadium for games to avoid traffic. Today, around 200 boats follow his tradition, docking on the Tennessee River to tailgate.
93. The 12^th Man at A&M – In 1922, Texas A&M was playing a hard fought game against the nation’s top team, Centre College. With a limited bench, then head coach Dana X. Bible called for a former player (now a basketball player) who was in the press box. The young man suited up and stood on the sideline in case he was needed. Aggie students (and many fans) now stand for the entire game waiting to be called upon.
94. USC Song Girls – Other schools have cheerleaders. USC has Song Girls. ESPN analyst Beano Cook is quoted saying, “It’s unfair that the USC Song Girls only appear at USC games. They are a national treasure. They should visit other teams across the country.”
95. The Egg Bowl – The Golden Egg trophy is awarded to the winner of the annual game between Mississippi and Mississippi State. The old style football that was part of the trophy resembled an egg, hence the title given to this rivalry game.
96. Tiger/Vol/Spratan Walk – At places like Auburn, Tennessee and Michigan State, the team walks to the stadium together. They do it through crowded streets, filled with fans cheering and singing their fight song. This is college football. Can you imagine the Eagles walking to Lincoln Financial Field through the tailgates?
97. 2001 Space Odyssey in South Carolina – The South Carolina Gamecocks take the field a rather unique way. They run out to “Also Sprach Zarathustra, Opus 30,” also known as the theme to the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
98. Peyton Manning Directing the Band – When Tennessee QB Peyton Manning played his final home game at Neyland Stadium, he clinched a division title and a spot in the SEC Championship Game. To celebrate, he climbed the ladder in front of the “Pride of the Southland Marching Band” and directed them in one last version of “Rocky Top.”
99. A Lou Holtz pep talk – As corny as the current ones are on ESPN Gameday, no one can question the motivational skills of this one time coach. The man who led Notre Dame to its last national championship knows how to wake up the echoes wherever he goes.
100. The Crystal Football - The jewel that sits atop the BCS Championship trophy.