14 Southeastern Conference Traditions to Get You Pumped for College Football Season [INFOGRAPHIC]
What are your favorite SEC college football traditions? Tell us in the comments below!
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College football is a tradition-rich sport full of songs, social events, mascots, and symbols that are unique to each school — especially in the south! Get ready for college football season with these SEC fan favorites.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Big Al and the Elephant: Legend has it that in 1930, excited fans shouted from the stadium, "Hold your horses, the elephants are coming!" Today, a costumed elephant can be seen at every game leading the marching band, cheering on the team, and interacting with fans.
Arkansas Razorbacks
Calling the Hogs: During a game, fans encourage their team, named after the wild razorback hog, with a hog call that goes: "Woooooooo. Pig. Sooie! Woooooooo. Pig. Sooie! Woooooooo. Pig. Sooie! Razorbacks!"
Auburn Tigers
The Tiger Walk: A couple of hours before a home game, students cover the area in front of the stadium to give high fives and support as the team makes their way into the stadium.
Florida Gators
Gator Chomp: Before every kickoff, after big plays, after a win, and when the marching band plays the "Jaws" theme song, fans place their right arm over their left arm and bring them together to do the chomp.
Georgia Bulldogs
Ringing the Chapel Bell: After a win, students, alumni, and fans celebrate by ringing a bell located in the school chapel, which can be heard for hours across the campus.
Kentucky Wildcats
On, On, U of K: Every fan knows the lyrics to the University of Kentucky fight song which is played at various times throughout home games to cheer on their team.
LSU Tigers
Pregame Show: A half hour before each home game, the Tiger Marching Band and Golden Girls dance team performs in the stadium to pep up fans and players.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Cowbell: After a victory, the distinctive sound of ringing cowbells can be heard throughout the stadium. Despite bans and fines aimed at ending the practice, the tradition lives on.
Missouri Tigers
Kiss the 50 Yard Line: During events that allow students on the field, students kiss the 50-yard line on Faurot Field to pay their respects to the team.
Ole Miss Rebels
Tailgating at the Grove: Described by Sporting News as "the Holy Grail of tailgating sites," the Grove’s 10-acre grassy plot in the center of campus is host to one of the largest pre-game social events in college football.
South Carolina Gamecocks
Cockabooses: What do Gamecocks plus cabooses equal? Cockabooses! On college game day, fans tailgate in old train cars that have been converted to privately owned tailgating spaces near the stadium.
Tennessee Volunteers
Running Through The T: At the start of each game, football players run through a "T" formed by the school’s Pride of the Southland Marching band.
Texas A&M Aggies
Midnight Yell: The night before a football game, thousands of fans pile into the stadium to scream at the top of their lungs and boast about how they'll beat their opponents the next day.
Vanderbilt Commodores
Dropping the Anchor: An anchor, a symbol of unity and strength, accompanies the team to all home and away games where a group or individual is selected to "drop the anchor" at midfield to start the game.
