Alabama’s Rammer Jammer Cheer
Lyrics:
Hey Auburn!
Hey Auburn!
Hey Auburn!
We’re gonna beat the hell out of you!
Rammer Jammer, Yellowhammer, give ’em hell, Alabama! (Pre-game)
In the post-game version “We’re gonna beat…” is changed to “We just beat…”
I used Auburn in the example above because they are Alabama’s biggest rival, but the Crimson Tide uses this cheer with every opponent they face. The cheer was adapted from the “Hoddy Toddy” chant at Ole Miss when an Ole Miss marching band director was appointed director of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band. The words “Rammer Jammer” were originally associated with a humor and literary magazine that was produced by Alabama students from the 1920s until the 1950s, and the yellowhammer is the state bird of Alabama. Because of its taunting nature, the chant is very controversial.
Running through the ‘A’ at Arkansas
At the end of every pre-game performance in Fayetteville, the Arkansas marching band forms an ‘A’ on the field. The team runs through the ‘A’ as they run onto the field before taking on their opponent.
Auburn’s War Eagle
There are a lot of jokes about how Auburn can’t seem to settle on one mascot, but the War Eagle is one of the university’s oldest traditions. Legend has it that in the Civil War a confederate soldier from Alabama found a wounded eagle on the battlefield. He nursed the bird back to health, and became a faculty member at Auburn many years later. When Auburn played in their first football game against Georgia, the eagle escaped from its master and circled the field. The university has had many eagles since then, and today, at every home game, an Eagle circles the field before kickoff.
The Number 18 Jersey at LSU
This is a fairly new tradition, but it means a lot to the LSU Tigers. The number 18 jersey is handed down from player to player to someone who is supposed to have the highest character and leadership qualities. The tradition started when Matt Mauck, who was quarterback when LSU won the national championship in the 2003 season, handed his jersey down to Jacob Hester. Mauck wanted the number to go to someone who was a great athlete and a good person and thought Hester was the right individual.
The Grove at Ole Miss
The Grove is one of the most popular tailgating spots in college football. Fans usually dress up for this huge social event and prepare amazing dishes. The joke among fans is that even if they can’t win a game they will never lose the tailgate. There is a brick pathway that runs through the Grove, and before every kickoff the team walks down it on their way to the stadium.
The Cowbell at Mississippi State
The exact origin of the cowbell tradition is unclear. According to one popular legend a cow wandered onto the field during a home game against Ole Miss, and ever since then the cow had been considered a good luck charm. This led to the fans bringing cow bells to the home games. The sound of the cowbells are a huge distraction, and therefore, have been banned from many events. But the tradition is still holding strong in Starksville.
The 12th Man at Texas A&M
In January of 1922, Texas A&M was playing Centre College in a postseason game. Many A&M players were hurt, so E. King Gill, a player who had left the football team, was called from the stands. Gill put on a uniform, and even though he didn’t actually play in the game, students will stand throughout the entire game to symbolize the support of the Texas A&M fan base.
