By Rivals.com
1. Yell practice, Texas A&M:
On the eve of games A&M's "Yell Leaders" (there are no cheerleaders at A&M) direct a rehearsal of traditional Aggie yells for the upcoming game. For some games more than 40,000 Aggies attend the practice at Kyle Field, or at a designated site for road games. It's also a great opportunity to pick up a date for the game, which allows participation in another of A&M's favorite in-game traditions – kissing dates after touchdowns. If the opportunity presents itself, Aggies are all in favor of running up the score.
2. Howard's Rock and The Hill, Clemson:
For atmosphere and pageantry, Clemson's pregame ceremony has been called the most exciting 25 seconds in college football. The Tigers touch "Howard's Rock" as a symbolic vow to give total effort and then enter the field by running down a hill in the east end zone to a raucous ovation.
3. The running of Ralphie, Colorado:
Most mascots just stand around on the field. Ralphie, Colorado's 1,300-pound buffalo, runs around it. Minutes prior to kickoff Ralphie and his six handlers take a lap around the Folsom Field playing surface, sometimes forcing players on the visitors' sideline to jump out of the way.
4. The flaming spear, Florida State:
One of the most colorful pregame ceremonies occurs before each home game at Florida State when mascot Chief Osceola (portrayed by a student) rides Renegade, an Appaloosa horse, to midfield and throws a flaming spear into the turf as the masses roar their approval. The Chief then casts an intimidating glare at the opposing sidelines, as if to say, "You're next."
5. The Tiger Walk, Auburn:
Dozens of programs have copied this ceremony, but by all accounts it started with Auburn, so give the Plainsmen credit. Thousands of Tigers fans assemble along Donahue Drive and applaud and encourage the Auburn players as they walk to the stadium two hours before game time.
6. Running through the 'T', Tennessee:
The Tennessee band forms a huge block T for an on-field pregame performance. When the Volunteers enter the field at Neyland Stadium they run through the "Power T" to their sideline.
7. Painting helmets, Notre Dame:
Golden Domer is no misnomer. The Monday night of every game week student volunteers put a fresh coat of paint on the Fighting Irish helmets. The paint contains flakes of gold. The tradition originally was performed on Thursday before games, but was shifted to Monday night to ease any conflicts caused by road games.
8. Tailgating at The Grove, Ole Miss:
OK, fans of every team tailgate - but those at Ole Miss do it with style and flare. The Grove is a 10-acre patch of thick green grass surrounded by oak trees in the middle of the Ole Miss campus. Southern belles in dresses and men in coats and ties congregate for cocktails and food served on fine china.
9. Cadets/Midshipmen March, Army, Navy:
Watching cadets and midshipmen march into the stadium for the Army-Navy game is truly one of college football's most chilling spectacles. It's the same throughout the season when cadets march into Michie Stadium and the Brigade of Midshipmen march into Memorial Stadium.
10. The Tunnel Walk, Nebraska:
In what is a common practice at most major football programs these days, the Cornhuskers were the first to incorporate the use video on the JumboTron to help the team make a grand entrance before each home game. After a video introduction, fans in Memorial Stadium can watch the team getting psyched up in the locker room and then marching through the tunnels under the stadium and onto the playing field.
Log in to comment