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What are some superstitious rituals, that college football fans does to root for their teams?
Hello! Thanks for your question about college football rituals. The short version is that people do quite a few weird things in order to support their football teams, and approximately 35% of college football fans consider themselves superstitious. Below you will find a deep dive of my findings.
I personally loved researching this; it was great to read about some of these traditions!
ORGANIZATION
First, I am going to list specific examples of college football rituals by school in alphabetical order. Then I will provide some statistics on superstitious college football fans.
RITUAL EXAMPLES
Auburn University - "For roughly 60 years, Auburn fans have celebrated victories and big football happenings by "rolling" the live oak trees [with toilet paper] at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and College Street."
Mississippi State - "The cowbell has become synonymous with Bulldogs games at Davis Wade Stadium, with nearly every fan wielding a custom bell (complete with welded-on handle) so they can clang the noisemaker throughout the game—but not when the ball is in play."
Ohio State - "At midnight on the Tuesday before their annual football match-up with Michigan, Ohio State University students jump into a on-campus lake and desperately try to swim out of Ohio."
Stanford University - "Before 'The Big Game' every year against arch-rival Cal, Stanford students hold a fake funeral procession for the opposing mascot Oski the Bear, before hanging him in effigy atop of the White Memorial Fountain."
Texas A&M - "For more than a century the Aggies have gathered en masse at Midnight Yell Practice, though originally the occasion was a smaller event and not tied to football games. It also includes the marching band and upwards of 20,000 fans who stay up late on Fridays to yell, sing and cheer inside Kyle Field."
University of Arkansas - "The "Calling of the Hogs" is a fan rally cry used at Arkansas sporting events. The cheer consists of fans yelling "Woo, Pig! Sooie" while waving their hands over their heads."
University of Florida - "Mimicking the chomping of a gator's mouth, the "Gator Chomp" is performed by fans during Florida sporting events by fully extending one's arm over the other and moving them together and back apart."
U Penn - "After the third quarter of football games, fans sing "Drink a Highball", and -- upon hitting the last line, "Here's a toast to dear old Penn” -- they throw toast on the field. Bread that’s then picked up by, no joke, a toast Zamboni."
University of Southern California - "USC students wrap their landmark statue in duct tape the week leading up to the game with UCLA."
University of Wisconsin - "Before the homecoming game, graduating Wisconsin Law students sprint onto the field wearing bowler hats and toss canes through the goalposts."
STATISTICS
According to a Big Ten Network survey, 35% of college football fans consider themselves to be superstitious about at least one aspect of college football. They are most likely to be superstitious about their clothes or missing a game.
SUMMARY
To wrap it up, college football rituals are varied and weird, and about a third of college football fans consider themselves to be superstitious. Thanks for using Wonder! Please let us know if we can help with anything else!