Fight on, fight on ‘Til you have won

Hail Victory!

Braves on the Warpath!

Fight for old D.C.!

Fight on, fight on ‘Til you have won

Sons of Wash-ing-ton. Rah!, Rah!, Rah!

From Touchdown Jesus, (the “Word of Life” mural on the Hesburgh Library grounds at Notre Dame, with the depiction of Jesus with upraised arms, which resembles a referee signaling a touchdown), to addictively catchy anthems – the pageantry of football is unparalleled.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the prodigious pigskin traditions:

The Lambeau Leap: is a touchdown celebration where Green Bay Packers players jump into the stands at Lambeau Field. The tradition began on December 26, 1993, when player LeRoy Butler scored a touchdown against the Los Angeles Raiders. After scoring, Butler spontaneously pointed to the fans and jumped into the crowd, a moment that has become one of the NFL’s most iconic celebrations.

The Dawg Pound (Cleveland Browns): A famous section of Cleveland’s stadium is reserved for the team’s most passionate fans, who bark enthusiastically to celebrate big plays. From its creation by Hanford Dixon and Frank Minnifield during 1985 at training camp to its evolution into the one of the most recognized fan sections of the NFL, The Dawg Pound enjoys a 40-year history.

Bills Mafia (Buffalo Bills): Members of the “Bills Mafia” are known for their legendary tailgating and rowdy pre-game rituals. It started in 2011 as a term coined by diehard Buffalo Bills. It began as an inside joke and a hashtag used by fans to rally around their team and connect with each other after wide receiver Stevie Johnson’s viral tweet in late 2010. The term was adopted by players and the broader fanbase, evolving into a symbol of the community’s passion and support for the Bills. 

The Terrible Towel (Pittsburgh Steelers): The “Terrible Towel” is the enduring symbol of Steelers fandom since its creation in 1975 by broadcaster Myron Cope. Fans twirl the yellow towel at home and away games to show support. 

“Dotting the ‘i'” refers to a signature moment in the Ohio State University Marching Band’s performance of “Script Ohio”, where a sousaphone player stands in the formation to dot the “i” in “Ohio,” creating a powerful and iconic tradition for the Buckeyes. The role is a prestigious honor, usually reserved for senior sousaphone players within the band, though famous individuals have also been invited to perform the duty.

Wisconsin’s “Jump Around” tradition involves fans and players jumping in unison to House of Pain’s song “Jump Around” between the third and fourth quarters of every home football game at Camp Randall Stadium, creating a lively atmosphere that stirs up the crowd and has become an iconic part of Badger football. The tradition began in 1998 when a tight end and marketing intern, Ryan Sondrup (or Kevin Kliunder), sought to energize fans during a scoring drought.

Texas A&M’s “12th Man” tradition symbolizes the loyalty and unity of the entire student body, who are considered the twelfth player on the football team. The tradition began on January 2, 1922, when a student, E. King Gill, left the stands to join the injury-plagued Aggie team and be ready to play. Today, this means the students, also known as “Aggies,” stand throughout the entire football game, prepared to serve if needed and demonstrating their selfless service and support.

Howard’s Rock is a quartzite rock from Death Valley, California, displayed at Clemson University’s Memorial Stadium, famous for the football tradition where players rub it for good luck before running down “The Hill” into the stadium. The tradition began in 1967 when then-coach Frank Howard told his players they had to give 110% to earn the privilege of rubbing the rock, which was placed on a pedestal by a Clemson booster after being gifted to Howard by an alum.

These are just a few of the sublime spectacles sports submits. 

So, whether you roll with the tide, have your own “Play Like A Champion Today” sign, don a cheesehead every Sunday, or yell “Who Dat, Who Dat” at the television screen hardly matters. What counts is you continuously cheer on your team – you bleed their colors; you shed tears with each of their heartbreaks; you triumphantly roar when they reach the promised land; and you always keep the faith. 

Hail! to the victors valiant

Hail! to the conqu’ring heroes

Hail! Hail! 

Did You Know? The first recognized football mascot was Yale’s Handsome Dan, a bulldog introduced in 1892. While other live animal mascots existed, such as a bear cub at a Harvard-Yale game in 1894, Handsome Dan is widely considered the first officially recognized mascot in American sports history.