Hi, my name is Brett, and I’m an ESPN-aholic.
Coming from this ESPN addiction, I saw ESPN’s “SportsNation” most recent big project, ranking the top 16 college football traditions and then putting them into a bracket, March Madness style, voted upon by the ESPN.com website visitors.
It was a pretty good list overall, including the Ohio State band forming the script Ohio before each home game and the Notre Dame “Play Like a Champion” sign.
But of course, in typical sports writer fashion, I had some differing opinions.
So, I decided to compile my Top Three Traditions in Southeastern Conference Football.
But first, my honorable mention is LSU’s tradition of wearing white at home.
LSU is the only college football team in the nation that does this. Even Oregon doesn’t wear white at home, and they have a wardrobe comparable to Lady Gaga’s.
The only reason this tradition did not make the list is because it was just decided that LSU would wear white by Paul Dietzel, coach of the 1958 national championship team. The lack of an interesting back-story cost the Tigers a spot on this list.
3: Running through the ‘T’
The No. 3 tradition in SEC football has to be the grand entrance of the Tennessee Volunteers, running through the “T”.
If there is anything I’m not, it’s a Tennessee fan. But, seeing the Pride of the Southland marching band form that T on the field and pave the way for the Volunteers to enter the field, greeted by screaming fans in one of the loudest facilities in the nation, Neyland Stadium, it’s definitely worthy of making this list.
2: Uga
The second-best tradition in SEC football, hands down, is Uga, Georgia’s live bulldog mascot. In the words of the Georgia fan base, this is a “damn good dog.”
Uga is hallowed as a dog god amongst the UGA fan base, and the ceremonies for the retirement of Uga, known as the passing of the bone, are remarkable and quite a spectacle “Between the Hedges.”
What got Uga on this list are the strong ties the Georgia fan base have with this fixture of Bulldog football history. There is even a special mausoleum for the remains of Previous Ugas in Sanford Stadium.
Plus, Uga even took a mighty chomp at former Auburn player Robert Baker, cementing Uga’s spot as one of the Georgia community in showing an intense hatred for Auburn. I guess even dogs are smart enough to hate Auburn.
Drumroll, please.
1: Our tradition is built on…
The No. 1 tradition in SEC football is…the tradition video played before every home game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
When I’m standing in the student section watching that video start, seeing all the epic moments in Alabama football history and all the great players that have given Alabama its storied history, it’s an invaluable experience.
It’s not just for the Alabama faithful either.
I still remember when Hawaii came to Tuscaloosa for the season opener in 2006. Walking through Bryant Museum and seeing all the green and black, almost evenly proportional with the crimson, it is clear that fan bases across the nation have an appreciation for the Crimson Tide’s tradition.
I see Kenny Stabler’s run in the mud, George Teague high-stepping into the end zone in the 1992 National Championship rout of Miami, Terrence Cody blocking the kick versus Tennessee and Van Tiffin making his 52-yard field goal to beat Auburn, and I get goose bumps. Chills running down my spine. The whole nine yards.
When it comes right down to it, “I ain’t never been nothin’ but a winner.”
