The University of Alabama

East of Starkville, Mississippi, is Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Tuscaloosa is home to the University of Alabama, home of the Crimson Tide.

Quick Facts

• Established in 1831
• 25,580 students
• Colors: Crimson and White
• Nicknames: Crimson Tide
• Websites: www.ua.edu, www.rolltide.com

If there is one fanbase that expects a great deal from their athletic department, it is the fanbase of the University of Alabama. They do not play around when it comes to their athletics, and the same can be said about facilities. The football team plays in historic Bryant-Denny Stadium (2), a magnificant stadium that seats 92,138 people. The loud roar of Tide fans can be heard all over the city of Tuscaloosa on a Saturday in the fall. Although the team’s success has been overshadowed by the football team, the basketball team also has a nice facility. The men’s and women’s basketball teams play in Coleman Coliseum, a gym that seats 15,043. The highly successful baseball team plays in Sewell-Thomas Stadium, which seats over 6,000.

I honestly cannot give you a real connection between the terms ‘Crimson Tide’ and ‘elephants.’ Like many people, I have always wondered the connection. Why is their nickname the ‘Crimson Tide’ and their mascot an elephant. I have asked multiple Bama fans about the connection before, and I have gotten different answers from each person. Perhaps, nobody will ever truly know.

Bama fans are excited about the Crimson Tide, and their traditional songs and chants make games fun. If you ever talk to a Bama fan, chances are you will hear him or her say ‘Roll Tide.’ After every victory, the band will play Rammer Jammer as the fans will sing (it would be sung like this if they were playing the University of Tennessee): Hey Vols! Hey Vols! Hey Vols! We just beat the hell outta you! Rammer Jammer! Yellow Hammer! Give ‘em hell Alabama! A video of this can be seen here.

The main rivals of the University of Alabama are the Tigers from Auburn University and the Volunteers from The University of Tennessee.

 

Coming Next: Auburn University

Mississippi State University

From Oxford, we stay in the state of Mississippi and travel to Starkville. Starkville, Mississippi is the location of Mississippi State University, home of the Bulldogs.

Quick Facts

• Established in 1878
• 12,630 students
• Colors: Maroon and White
• Nicknames: Bulldogs, Lady Bulldogs
• Websites: www.msstate.edu, www.mstateathletics.com

Mississippi State fans, who definately believe that they are fans of the most superior college in Mississippi (hint: they do NOT like anything associated with Ole Miss), are definately proud of their Bulldogs and their great facilities. The MSU football team plays in Davis Wade Stadium, an absolutely beautiful stadium that seats 55,082 people. The recently successful mens and womens basketball teams have seen many sellouts at their own Humphrey Coliseum, a nice gym with a capacity of 10,500 that is nicknamed ”The Hump.” One of the prides of MSU is their baseball team, so it is fitting that the team plays in one of the biggest and best college baseball venues in the country. The baseball team plays in Dudy Noble Field, which seats approximately 15,000 fans.

Cowbells are a big deal at Bulldog football games. Even though the SEC has banned the use of artificial noise makers at sporting events, Davis Wade Stadium blares with the loud sound of ringing cowbells. It all started in the early 1900s when a cow wandered onto the field during a home football game. The Bulldogs won the game, and cows became a symbol of good luck. Eventually, cowbells were integrated into Bulldog football tradition.

The official mascot of MSU is a live English Bulldog named ‘Bully.’

The main rival of Mississippi State University is the Rebels from the University of Mississippi.

 

Coming Next: The University of Alabama

The University of Mississippi

From Baton Rouge, we head over to the state of Mississippi. In Oxford, Mississippi, we find The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), home of the Rebels.

Quick Facts

• Established in 1848
• 17,323 students
• Colors: Harvard Crimson and Yale Blue
• Nicknames: Rebels, Lady Rebels
• Websites: www.olemiss.edu, www.olemisssports.com

Ole Miss, as most people call it, is like no place else. Full of tradition and southern comfort, you will not even know where you are at. On a Saturday in the fall, there is no better place in the state of Mississippi to be (unless you would rather be in Starkville). Fans pour into the small town of Oxford to watch their Fighting Rebels play in Vaught Hemingway Stadium, an absolutely beautiful stadium that seats 60,850. Tad Smith Coliseum, which seats only 8,700 people, is home to the much improved Rebel and Lady Rebel basketball teams. The Rebel baseball team plays in Swayze Field, capacity 3,500.

Ole Miss is full of tradition. Perhaps one of the greatest traditions in college sports, the Grove is a tailgaters dream. The Grove is a 10-acre area of a shaded forest that is the home to Rebel tailgating. Thousands of Rebel fans pack into the Grove on every Saturday in the fall, and it is sure that you will find lots of great food (and beer) along with some even better Southern hospitality. If you ever visit Oxford for a game, be sure to spend some time at the Grove.

The official school chant of Ole Miss is entitled Hoddy Toddy. The words are as follows: Are you ready? Hell yeah! Damn right! Hoddy Toddy, Gosh Almighty! Who the hell are we? Hey! Flim Flam, Bim Bam! Ole Miss by damn! A video of fans at Vaught Hemingway performing the Hoddy Toddy chant can be viewed here.

The official fight song of Ole Miss is Dixie. It is the same song that was the official song of the Confederate States of America. It is not played as often as it was in the past because of criticism, but it is still played at least once during each football game and at the Grove. The song can be heard here.

The main rivals of Ole Miss are the Bulldogs from Mississippi State University, and the Tigers from Louisiana State University.

 

Coming next: Mississippi State University

Louisiana State University

From Fayetteville, we go down to Cajun country. Louisiana State University, home of the Tigers, is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Quick Facts

• Established in 1860
• 33,587 students
• Colors: Purple and Gold
• Nicknames: Fighting Tigers, Lady Tigers
• Website: www.lsu.edu, www.lsusports.net

Louisiana State University is known for their crazy fans, large crowds, and huge tailgating scene (and of course, lots of drunk people). On game day, the streets of Baton Rouge are full of purple and gold. The football team plays in Tiger Stadium, also known as Death Valley. Tiger Stadium, a huge stadium that seats 92,400, is one of the loudest in the country. With the blaring of Tiger Rag and the roaring of fans, it is not the place to be if you are the visiting team. In 1988, the fans actually caused a seismograph on campus to record a minor earthquake. The men’s and women’s basketball teams play in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, a 13,472 seat arena that is host to many exciting SEC match ups. The LSU baseball team plays in the Alex Box Stadium, a very nice (and historic) stadium that seats 7,760. The passionate Tiger fans are sure to come out and watch their Tigers, especially if they are playing a rival. No matter what, expect the noise level to be VERY high.

One of the more tradition-rich schools in the SEC, LSU has many traditions that they can be proud of:

If you come across an LSU fan, you are bound to hear the term: “Geaux Tigers.” I know that you are probably thinking that I have poor grammar and that i cannot spell “go,” but if you speak with an LSUfan, he will tell you that you are actually the one who is wrong. To keep along with the French Cajun lifestyle of those in South Louisiana, “Geaux Tigers” is the official battlecry of LSU sports. They even have a chant to go along with it. A video of this chant at Tiger Stadium can be heard here.

Mike the Tiger, LSU’s official mascot, is a Bengal tiger. The university is now using its 6th tiger as the school’s mascot. On game days, Mike’s portable cage is wheeled to the entrance of the visiting locker rooms so that the visiting team must pass by him. Also, before every home football game, Mike gets wheeled around Tiger Stadium for all of his faithful to see.

LSU’s main rivals include the Razorbacks from The University of Arkansas, the Rebels from The University of Mississippi, and the Tigers from Auburn University.

 

Coming Next: The University of Mississippi

The University of Arkansas

I have decided to begin with the Southeastern Conference. I will begin in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the University of Arkansas: Home of the Razorbacks!

 Quick Facts

• Established in 1871
• 18,647 students
• Colors: Cardinal Red and White
• Nicknames: Razorbacks and Ladybacks
• Website: www.uark.edu, www.hogwired.com

 

 The University of Arkansas is known for its passionate and rabid fans. This tradition rich university can be a crazy place to be if the hogs are playing in town. The Hogs can be proud of their teams, but they can be even more proud of their facilities. Arkansas has some of the nicest facilities in the entire nation. Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (2), which can seat up to 76,000 crazy hog fans for a football game, is one of the most intimidating places for visiting teams in the country. The men’s and women’s basketball teams play in Bud Walton Arena, which seats 19,200 fans, is one of the largest in the nation. The baseball team, one of the most successful teams in Razorback sports plays in the beautiful Baum Stadium, which seats 10,737 fans. No matter the sport or the venue, it is always guaranteed that hog fans will come out in droves to support their team.

The University of Arkansas is also host to many traditions:

If you attend a Razorback sporting event, it is almost certain that you will hear the fans call the hogs. The hog call was started in the 1920s by fans who wanted to cheer up the players who were being beaten. It has transformed to what we hear today, which is three “Woo Pig Sooie”s followed by a “Razorbacks.” You may view a video of the famous hog call here.

The Arkansas Fight Song is also a huge tradition at the University of Arkansas. It is sung by the student body after every home game. The lyrics are as follows: Hit that line, Hit that line, Keep on going. Run that ball right down the field. Give a cheer: Rah! Rah! Never fear: Rah! Rah! Arkansas will never yield. On your toes, Razorbacks, to the finish. Carry on with all your might. For it’s A-A-A-R-K-A-N-S-A-S for Arkansas! Fight! Fight! Fight! The song can be heard here.

Running through the A is a must see at an Arkansas Razorbacks game. Before every home football game, the marching band forms an a which the Razorback football teams runs through. The fans give a loud roar as their team enters the field, many of whom are wearing a lid, a hat with a running razorback on top of it.

Although Fayetteville is the official home of Razorback Football, at least one game is held each year at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The stadium, which has a capacity of 53,727, used to be the home of the Razorbacks, and many fans, most of whom live in Little Rock, like to see games played there.

The main rivals of the Razorbacks are the Tigers from Louisiana State University and the Longhorns from Texas University.

 

Coming Next: Louisiana State University