RivalryFootball.com’s Top 10 College Football Traditions

Rivalries are the lifeblood of the college football game. Rich traditions are what make the rivalries “the games that matter.” We took an analytical approach to the traditions of the college game to determine what we felt would represent the best of the best. We reviewed the pre-game, during the game, and after the game traditions. We looked at the teams, the stadiums, the tailgating, the bands, the mascots, and the fight songs among other aspects of the total experience of a college football game. Because many of the major programs have several traditions we tried to include them in the list under the one heading of the school name. Following is the list that we hope you will appreciate! If you have any comments or different feelings please leave a comment…

1. The Ohio State University Band: The Ramp Entrance and the incomparable “Script Ohio” performed since 1936 by “The Best Damn Band in the Land” (TBDBITL).

2. Clemson: The BIG Entrance, Rubbin “Howard’s Rock” and then “Running down the Hill.”

3. Cadet March: The drilling of the U.S. Military Academy cadets and the U.S. Naval midshipmen from Annapolis entering a stadium before a game.

4. Texas A & M: 12^th Man (1922) and “Yell” Practice! Kissing your date after a touchdown score is another great tradition at Texas A & M.

5. Penn State: “White-Out” and that Roaring Nittany Lion.

6. Florida State: “Planting the Spear” by Chief Osceola and the “Tomahawk Chomp”; Florida is just behind with its “Gator Chump.”

7. Living Mascots: USC Trojan’s White Stallion “Traveler”; Colorado’s Buffalo “Ralphie”; Texas’s Longhorn “Bevo”; Georgia’s Bulldog UGA; and LSU’s Tiger “Mike” are all four legged mascots, the Best Mascot is the Golden Eagle “Nova” the “War Eagle VII” from Auburn University.

8. Tunnel Walk: Nebraska, Michigan and Ohio State all have a “Tunnel Walk” entrance into their stadium. All are just about equal!

9. Tennessee: Running the “T.” A great stadium entrance and the singing of “Rocky Top” sets the stage for a tough game ahead for the visitors.

10. Ole Miss: Tailgating in the 10 acre Grove. It sets the standard for tailgating and no one else even comes close. White table cloths, coats and ties, fine china, cocktails and women in dresses.

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Rivalryfootball.com’s Top 12 Classic College Football Uniforms

1. University of Michigan (Wolverines) Maize and Blue

The famous winged helmet of the maize and blue is the most recognized logo in all of college football. Maybe this is why they don’t have a mascot. Note, the University of Delaware also has the same winged helmet!

2. Notre Dame (Fighting Irish) Blue and Gold

The “gold helmet” to match the Gold Dome is very symbolic of the school. The helmets look great when they wear the “Green” jersey with historical significance. The U.S. Naval Academy also has the same gold helmet!

3. Oregon (Ducks) Green and Yellow

Oregon has set the new standard for uniform development and makes for a lot of fun for the fans at each and every game.

4. Ohio State (Buckeyes) Scarlet and Gray

Ohio State is the only school with Scarlet and Gray color uniforms. They are classics and with a “Silver” helmet covered with buckeye leaf decals…it just doesn’t get any better.

5. Texas (Longhorns) Burnt Orange and White

The all white uniforms (with player’s names on the back) of Texas look far better than the all white uniforms (without names) of Penn State. Texas also has a nice Longhorn logo on their helmet.

6. University of Hawaii (Rainbows) Green and Black

WOW! What a great job in the re-design done by Under Armour in 2008. They are unique and will change the face of uniforms for years to come.

7. University of Southern California - USC (Trojans) Cardinal and Gold

Their retro uniforms have set a new standard for “going back” and winning ball games. Watch for their continued success in the coming years.

8. Louisiana State University - LSU (Tigers) Purple and Gold

The Tigers have one of the most distinctive uniforms in all of college football.

9. Alabama (Crimson Tide) Crimson and Cream

The Bear Bryant designed helmet still stands out among the SEC teams and still warrants the respect of the “Bear.”

10. Univ. of California at Los Angeles -UCLA (Bruins) Powder Blue and Gold

They just fit with the Hollywood crowd!

11. Boise State (Broncos) Orange and Blue & Touch of Gray

NEW design for 2009 and will get a lot of conversation, good and bad!

12. (Tie) Oklahoma (Sooners) and Nebraska (Cornhuskers)

Oklahoma’s Crimson and Cream vs. Nebraska’s Scarlet and Cream colors are too close together for comfort. The helmets are also just as boring! Not the simple and stylist uniforms as some experts state!

RivalryFootball.com's Top 20 Largest College Football Stadiums

2. Michigan Stadium - Michigan - 106,201 - Ann Arbor, MI

Stadium Nickname: The Big House

Team Nickname: Wolverines

Mascot: -

Conference: Big 10

Built: 1927

Team Colors: Maize & Blue

3. Neyland Stadium - Tennessee - 104,079 - Knoxville, TN

Stadium Nickname: One-Cheek Stadium

Team Nickname: Volunteers

Mascot: Smokey

Conference: SEC-East

Built: 1921

Team Colors: Orange & White

4. Ohio Stadium - Ohio State - 102,329 - Columbus, OH

Stadium Nickname: The Shoe

Team Nickname: Buckeyes

Mascot: Brutus

Conference: Big 10

Built: 1922

Team Colors: Scarlet & Gray

5. Texas Memorial Stadium - Texas - 94,133 - Austin, TX

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Longhorns

Mascot: Bevo (Hookem)

Conference: Big 12 - South

Built: 1924

Team Colors: Burnt Orange & White

6. LA Memorial Coliseum - USC - 93,607 - Los Angeles, CA

Stadium Nickname: The Grand Old Lady

Team Nickname: Trojans

Mascot: Traveler

Conference: Pac 10

Built: 1923

Team Colors: Cardinal & Gold

7. Sanford Stadium - Georgia - 92,746 - Athens, GA

Stadium Nickname: Between the Hedges

Team Nickname: Bulldogs

Mascot: UGA

Conference: SEC-East

Built: 1929

Team Colors: Red & Black

8. Rose Bowl - UCLA - 92,542 - Pasedena, CA

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Bruins

Mascot: Bruin

Conference: Pac 10

Built: 1922

Team Colors: Blue & Gold

9. Tiger Stadium - LSU - 92,400 - Baton Rouge, LA

Stadium Nickname: Death Valley

Team Nickname: Tigers

Mascot: Mike the Tiger

Conference: SEC-West

Built: 1924

Team Colors: Purple & Gold

10. Bryant-Denny Stadium - Alabama - 92,138 - Tuscaloosa, AL

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Crimson Tide

Mascot: Big Al

Conference: SEC-West

Built: 1929

Team Colors: Crimson & White

11. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - Florida - 88,548 - Gainesville, FL

Stadium Nickname: The Swamp

Team Nickname: Gators

Mascot: Albert E. Gator

Conference: SEC-East

Built: 1929

Team Colors: Orange & Blue

12. Jordan-Hare Stadium - Auburn - 87,451 - Auburn, AL

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Tigers

Mascot: Aubie (War Eagle VI)

Conference: SEC-West

Built: 1939

Team Colors: Orange & Navy

13. Memorial Stadium - Nebraska - 85,197 - Lincoln, NE

Stadium Nickname: Sea of Red

Team Nickname: Cornhuskers

Mascot: Herbie Husker

Conference: Big 12 - North

Built: 1942

Team Colors: Scarlet & Cream

14. Kyle Field - Texas A & M - 83,002 - College Station, TX

Stadium Nickname: The 12th Man

Team Nickname: Aggies

Mascot: Reveille

Conference: Big 12 - South

Built: 1925

Team Colors: Maroon & White

15. Doak Campbell Stadium - Florida State - 82,300 - Tallahassee, FL

Stadium Nickname: The Doak

Team Nickname: Seminoles

Mascot: Chief Osceola

Conference: ACC

Built: 1950

Team Colors: Garnet & Gold

16. Gaylord-Oklahoma Stadium - Oklahoma - 82,122 - Norman, OK

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Sooners

Mascot: Sooner Schooner

Conference: Big 12 - South

Built: 1924

Team Colors: Crimson & Cream

17. Notre Dame Stadium - Notre Dame - 80,795 - Notre Dame, IN

Stadium Nickname: The House Rockne Built

Team Nickname: Fighting Irish

Mascot: The Leprechaun

Conference: Independent

Built: 1930

Team Colors: Gold & Blue

18. Camp Randall Stadium - Wisconsin - 80,321 - Madison, WI

Stadium Nickname: The Camp

Team Nickname: Badgers

Mascot: Bucky Badger

Conference: Big 10

Built: 1917

Team Colors: Cardinal & White

19. Memorial Stadium - Clemson - 80,301 - Clemson, SC

Stadium Nickname: Death Valley

Team Nickname: Tigers

Mascot: Tiger

Conference: ACC

Built: 1942

Team Colors: Orange & Purple

20. Williams-Brice Stadium - South Carolina - 80,250 - Columbia, SC

Stadium Nickname: -

Team Nickname: Gamecocks

Mascot: Cocky

Conference: SEC-East

Built: 1934

Team Colors: Garnet & Black

Top Ten College Football Winningest Programs through 2008
Team	Nickname	Conference	Years	Won	Lost	Tied*	Pct.	Total Games
Michigan	Wolverines	Big Ten	129	872	295	36	0.74	1,203
Yale	Bulldogs	Ivy League	134	854	332	55	0.71	1,241
Texas	Longhorns	Big 12	116	832	316	33	0.718	1,181
Notre Dame	Fighting Irish	Independent	120	831	284	42	0.736	1,157
Nebraska	Cornhuskers	Big 12	119	817	337	40	0.701	1,194
Ohio State	Buckeyes	Big Ten	119	808	307	53	0.714	1,168
Penn State	Nittany Lions	Big Ten	122	800	349	41	0.689	1,190
Harvard	Crimson	Ivy League	133	798	374	50	0.673	1,222
U of Penn	Quakers	Ivy League	130	792	462	42	0.627	1,296
Oklahoma	Sooners	Big 12	114	791	297	53	0.716	1,141
*Tie games are calculated as half won and half lost. The tiebreaker rule became effective at the start of the 1996 season. Data from 2008 NCAA Division I Football Records Book. Tables include bowl and playoff games. Data for Ivy League from College Football Data Warehouse.

The College Football Hall of Fame has a new display setup that features the big time rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan.  This rivalry was voted on ESPN as the greatest rivalry in all of sports! It features memorabilia, an all-time team for each university, Heisman Trophy items from each school, and plays a video featuring HBO's "The Rivalry" that received rave reviews. These special displays are normally up for 9 months to a year.

The College Football Hall of Fame is located at 111 S. St. Joseph Street in South Bend, around a mile south of Notre Dame’s campus. It is open seven days a week. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and students and $5 for children.

An interesting article from ESPN this morning covering the alleged violations happening up in Ann Arbor Michigan. The Ohio State captains and Head Coach Jim Tressel came out yesterday and defended their rival Michigan! Pretty classy considering these teams play in one the most storied and bitter rivalries in all of sports! You can read the article here.

Michigan transfer Justin Boren who transferred to the unthinkable Ohio State University is ready to take the field as a Buckeye after sitting out a year for transferring.  Boren's transfer will only fuel one of the biggest rivalries in not just college football, but in all of sports! The Cleveland Plain Dealer has an article about Boren and his controversial transfer.

The New York Times releases their BCS Bowl Projections yesterday with no real big surprises.

 

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Jan. 7, 2010 in Pasadena, Calif.

Texas (Big 12) vs Florida (SEC)

ROSE BOWL

Jan. 1, 2010 in Pasadena, Calif.

Ohio State (Big Ten) vs. Southern California (Pac-10)

SUGAR BOWL

Jan. 1, 2010 in New Orleans

Alabama (at large) vs. California (at large)

FIESTA BOWL

Jan. 4, 2010 in Glendale, Ariz.

Texas Christian (at large) vs. Oklahoma (at large)

ORANGE BOWL

Jan. 5, 2010 in Miami

Virginia Tech (A.C.C.) vs. Cincinnati (Big East)

To read the full article click here.

RivalryFootball.com's

2009 College Football Book of the Year

More than a Coach, by David Lee Morgan, Jr. has been selected by the website group RivalryFootball.com as the Best College Football Book of the Year for 2009.

What it means to play for coach, mentor and friend Jim Tressel; the Head Football Coach at Ohio State, is a powerful and inspiring book. Former players and people who know Coach Tressel well, have offered never-before- told-stories of his unique coaching philosophy and the effect it has had on impacting their lives. David Morgan has used more than 50 interviews to write this dynamic book on Coach Jim Tressel.

Any student of the game of college football game and/or current or future football coach this book should be required reading. Any young high school football player evaluating where he might play in college should read this book first before making a life changing decision.

Coach Jim Tressel knows his goal is to win football games, but what he has decided is that his purpose as a head coach is to help prepare men to live meaningful lives well beyond football. Click the image below to learn more about or purchase this fantastic book!

More than a Coach

Author: David Lee Morgan, Jr.

Publisher: Triumph Books

ISBN: 978-1-60078-238-1

$24.95

According to TicketCity the Ohio State vs USC game retained it's #1 spot as the hottest ticket in collge football for a second week. To see the current list of hottest tickets and average ticket prices by game click here.  If your looking for college football tickets RivalryFootball.com uses StubHub for all of our ticketing needs! Thanks for your support!