As we prepare for CFB season, its time to take a look into some of the little known traditions at our favorite schools:
1. Auburn and Clemson. In addition to sharing the same nickname, coaches (see John Heisman and Cliff Ellis), the same town -ok, Clemson has a lake..but Auburn has an animal husbandry building-, these two schools continue to uphold the highest standards of athletic probation. From I.P.T.A.Y. (It’s Probation Time Again Ya’ll) to “Keep it down home, cuz”, these groups of Tigers have an unmatched record of achievement. If either of these schools had hired Jackie Sherrill, just imagine how far they could have gone!
2. Spurrier’s Acronyms. Forever ingrained in the lore of college football are these gems, “You can’t spell citrus without UT”, and “Free Shoes University.”
3. Ohio State, dots the “I” and the Razorbacks, run through the “A”, but only Penn State has the “Bearer of the White Socks.” Before every game, one lucky student from the School of Computer Sciences gets the honor of putting the famous white socks onto the bare feet of the great Joe Pa. This brings tears to my eyes and reminds me of the great scene between Jackie Gleason and Tom Hanks in the movie “Nothing in Common.
4. T. Boone Pickens. Never in the history of sport, has so much been given by so few, to achieve so little.
5. The Keeper of the Can. The most valuable member of the University of Colorado football staff he follows Ralphie with the big shovel. Thanks to him, the Buffaloes may play like s***, but they’ll never play in it
6. At Notre Dame, half-time of every home game features the always thrilling and fan favorite game of Find the Baptist. Last season, in the home opener in South Bend, Larry Hill was found late in the third quarter in Section 219. The winner Angelo Caravella, walked around the stadium whistling “Onward Christian Soldiers” and Mr. Hill began singing and gave himself away.
7. We’ve all seen the Cadets at Texas A&M kiss their dates when the Aggies score, but there’s another similar tradition not as widely known. In West Virginia, following every Mountaineer’s score the male students all “Kiss the Kousin” (come to think of it they do it before they score, too).
8. The Berkeley Bonanza. At every Cal home football game since 1969, the 1,000th fan that enters the stadium gets a free wine cooler and tie-dye shirt. This year they hope to finally have a winner.
9. On the Friday night before the last home game of each season, the University of Miami (FL) has George Mira come back and talk to the current players about what it’s like to be the only living, former Hurricane player to have a degree. Last year when he talked about being on stage and wearing his tassel, nine players and two assistant coaches tried to stuff dollar bills in his pants.
1 Comment
July 22, 2008 at 1:57 am
Number 9 is the best……followed closely by number 6. Keep up the good work.