Like countries or families, sports are filled with traditions unique to their history that define what it means to be a part of a team's legacy. Whether your team is pee wee league, high school, college or pro, you probably have participated in one tradition or another.
Pee wee and little leagues bring memories of different colored socks, rally hats and favorite tee shirts worn under your jersey. High school traditions include wearing your jersey to school before the big game, pep rallies and chants done in locker rooms across the nation.
People love sports traditions because they unite an entire fan base. Traditions transcend individuals and connect the coaches to their players to the fans to the security guards. Traditions are each special in their own way. Whether they started a long time ago or came about by chance, each tradition keeps a special place in sports fans’ hearts and remains an expression of loyalty to their team, or to athletics in general.
College sports’ traditions are a very important part of the sports themselves. However, many sports fans might only be aware of their alma mater’s. But across America there are traditions at schools large and small that many people have never seen, or even heard of.
Florida State University: Sod Cemetery
Playing football at FSU, the Seminoles have made a tradition of taking some sod from home teams' fields after big away victories, then placing it in a cemetery in tallahassee so fans can visit. In 1962, as the Seminoles completed their Thursday practice in preparation to face Georgia at Sanford Stadium, Dean Coyle Moore - a long-time professor and member of FSU's athletic board issued a challenge: "Bring back some sod from between the hedges at Georgia." on Saturday, October 20th, the Seminoles socred an 18-0 victory over the favored Bulldogs.
Team captain Gene Mcdowell pulled a small piece of grass from the field, which was presented to Moore at the next football practice. Moore and FSU coach BIll Peterson had the sod buried on the practice field as a symbol of victory. A monument was placed to commemoreate the triumph, and the tradition of the sod game was born. Since then, before leaving for all road games in which Florida State is the underdog, all road games at the University of Florida, and all ACC Championship and bowl games, Seminole captains gather their teammates to explain the significance of the tradition. Victorious captains return with a piece of the opponents turf to be buried in the sod cemetery outside of the gates of the practice field.
Team captain Gene Mcdowell pulled a small piece of grass from the field, which was presented to Moore at the next football practice. Moore and FSU coach BIll Peterson had the sod buried on the practice field as a symbol of victory. A monument was placed to commemoreate the triumph, and the tradition of the sod game was born. Since then, before leaving for all road games in which Florida State is the underdog, all road games at the University of Florida, and all ACC Championship and bowl games, Seminole captains gather their teammates to explain the significance of the tradition. Victorious captains return with a piece of the opponents turf to be buried in the sod cemetery outside of the gates of the practice field.
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| https://floridastate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=99984 |
University of Florida: Gator Chomp
Gator fans world-wide will extend their arms and clap them together like a gator’s mouth at sporting events, but also upon meeting other fans in airports, in business meetings, pretty much anywhere they see a fellow fan... or enemy.
At the beginning and end of their football games, the Crimson Tide faithful yell “ Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, Give ‘em Hell Alabama!”
And in the south that rhymes enough for them!
There are even traditions that regardless of where it began are picked up and become tradition across the country. The slogan “Play Like a Champion Today” has been linked with the University of Notre Dame since 1800’s but you might see the sign in many locker rooms at many levels. Most often it is a sign that is touched on the way out to battle.
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| http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/college_football_entrances/notre_dame_play_like_a_champion_today.html?state=stop |
The Gatorade bath:
This sports tradition started in the mid-80’s by NFL players. While the tradition may not seem that appealing to the coaches the image of someone tipping the bucket on their coaches’ head can only conjure up memories of euphoria and victory.
And finally, rushing the field, or court. Rushing the field or court is great because it transcends ages and nations. A little league big win, high school conference game or the national championship, rushing the field is just exciting.
Until next time...
Keep moving forward!
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