As the saying goes, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight. Taylor U in Indiana may be a small school with just 2,000 students, but they have plenty of fight. On the Friday before finals, basketball fans stream into the arena, dressed in a variety of costumes, and refusing to say a word until the Trojans score their 10th point. After which they start cheering and just don’t stop.
This special night is like a special costume party just for sports lovers. We can definitely get behind dressing up for no reason. The silence which builds up the suspense and storming the court afterward is epic. All of which builds up to driving opposing fans absolutely mad! Genius!
Auburn University
“War Eagle” is more than just a battle cry for Auburn Tigers fans, it is a representative of their fighting spirit. No one quite knows where this motto comes from, although there are some theories. Even though it is not their school mascot, it is clearly very special to SEC fans.
The best part, according to Auburn fans, is that when they shout out the War Eagle battle cry, it’s like giving their in-state rivals a kick in the shin. Arch-rivalries are part of what make college sports traditions so awesome!
Army vs. Navy
Despite the name, the Army-Navy football game has nothing to do with national security or rescuing hostages. These two rivals have been fighting for victory since 1890. The tradition begins before the kick-off with the Black Knights and the Midshipmen trading students who spent the last semester amongst “the enemy” as a part of the Service Academy Exchange Program.
Leave it to the military to start a celebratory day with a “prisoner exchange”. But it is all in good fun and allows the exchange students to root for their own teams from their side of the field. And honestly, what is more, American than football, serving your country and a long-standing rivalry?
Auburn University
The burnt orange Alabama school is already back with another tradition. Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium is situated smack in the middle of campus, so immediately following a major victory, students and fans immediately head to the famous Toomer’s Corner which is just up the street.
The ensuing operation requires a massive amount of toilet paper. Fans begin “rolling the corner” and don’t stop until they have covered all the trees in the area in a white blizzard of victory. Tigers fans sure know how to honor football and have some fun.
The University of Miami
Gainesville may have its famous gator chomp, but Miami is the home of the U. The Hurricanes are known as one of the boldest and most outspoken teams in college football, and their signature ‘U’ gesture is the perfect embodiment of that. You’re not a real ‘Canes fan if you don’t know how to throw up a ‘U’. It’s not just a sports tradition, it’s a way of life.
Orange and green gloves take the whole thing to the next level. Fans proudly show off their hands right in the face of opposing fans. Thousands of universities can be found across America, but only Miami can proudly hold the title of “The U.”