College sports traditions make each team unique. Traditions are a great way for the fans to support and interact with the teams. Partaking in traditions makes you feel like you are a part of something far bigger than yourself! Some traditions have lasted decades & create memories that will last a lifetime.

Mirror Lake Jump

University of Ohio students jump into a lake at midnight, the Tuesday before their annual football game against Michigan State. 

Midnight Yell

Students at Texas A&M practice their yells and chants the night before any home game and are regularly attended by 20,000+ Aggie fans! 

Toast Toss

Students at the University of Pennsylvania throw toast onto the field after the third quarter of every home football game. The tradition was derived from their school song where they say “here's a toast to dear old Penn.” 

Related: What to Do and When: Recruiting and College Applications for Athletes

Miami's Turnover Chain

At the University of Miami when a defensive player forces a touchdown or interception they are awarded the chain. The chain weighs 2.5 kilograms and supports a 6.5'' U from the school's logo. 

Ralphie's Run

At the University of Colorado Boulder their mascot is a live female bison. Before the start of any home game they run Ralphie around the perimeter of the stadium.

Toomer's Corner

At Auburn University, after a big win, You can find trees and power lines covered in toilet paper. The tradition is said to have started when Toomer's Drugs had the only telegraph in the city. Employees from the drug store would throw the tape from the telegraph onto the power lines. 

Howard's Rock

At Clemson University the players rub Howard's Rock before every game as a symbol of goodluck. 

Related: Social Factors You Need to Consider When Picking a College

Osceola & Renegade 

At the start of every Florida State home game, Chief Osceola rides Renegade the horse into battle. The tradition is in honor of the great Seminole Tribe of Florida. 

Fish Throwing 

At the University of New Hampshire, Wildcats ice hockey fans throw a fish in front of the opposing schools goal after UNH's first goal. The concept comes from the saying, “fishing the puck out of the net.”

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits

Rolling The Quad

Wake Forest students will cover the entire quad in toilet paper after ANY football or basketball win! 

The Little Red Flag

Before every Harvard-Yale football game Harvard brings a little red flag that belonged to a die-hard Harvard Crimson fan, Frederick Plummer, who attended 59 Harvard-Yale games. After Plummer passed away the flag was found in his personal belongings and was given to the school as a symbolic lucky symbol. 

Related: 37 Questions to Ask College Coaches Before You Commit

Bearial

Before Stanford's big game against their arch rival, University of California, Berkeley, they hold a funeral for Cal's mascot, Oski the bear. 

Elephant Stomp

The University of Alabama's Million Dollar Band performs the “Elephant Stomp” on the steps of Gorgas library, in an attempt to rile up the fans and show that the other team has no chance in winning the game!

Ringing The Chapel Bell

In the chapel at the University of Georgia after any sports victory individuals will ring the chapel bell letting people know of the win. 

Trumpets Under The Dome

On the Friday before a game weekend, the Notre Dame's trumpet section plays music in hopes of building school spirit for the upcoming games.

Image Credit: Winston-Salem Journal

What's your favorite college sports tradition? Share it with us at [email protected]

* Originally published on November 10, 2022, by Matthew Reichen