Football Traditions
Posted: August 29th, 2019, 11:32 am
SI came out with an article earlier this month with their 10 Best College Football Traditions. Got me thinking as we start this new era of FBS and are now 40+ years into the sport what "tradition(s)" do we really have that are solid, unique, and set in stone? What could become a tradition that gets set in stone? Enlighten me! From my time as a student these were my favorites/the only ones I remember...
1) Roccotown/Gillville - I took this over as a student I think after Roccotown had been in existence for one or two years. It grew from 25 or so students to around 400-500 some nights. Pushed JB and Athletics Marketing along with the Recreation Department to invest in it. Used my own tailgate gear to do a movie every night, play music, got Hydaway to rent out tents, etc. It was BY FAR my favorite tradition and I'd wake up in the mornings, bran breakfast, pack up, and go straight to tailgaiting in the Bookstore Lot. Also cool getting to have the coach swing by in the mornings to just make an appearance if nothing else. These students getting first entry was also awesome. Before I left in 2014 I knew stadium expansion would soon make this tougher, but presented an idea along with sketches and such to JB to use the field across the street from Ice Center and Stadium that is near the Interstate to become a permanent site for this tradition that would not be extinct as campus expands. The whole area would be bricked in (or something similar to enclose and seperate from Interstate) with a nice treeline inside and outside along with an iron entry way. The point being to make it attractive and contribute to the asthetic appeal of campus while also making it safe. I shared in that meeting that Toomer's Corner certainly could've been used for something else, FSU could have used their Sod Cemetary for something practical, and The University of Mississippi could use the 10 acre grove for something else, but they don't to build/keep tradition. It would be a first come first serve thing every home game and would have loads of room for tents, hammocks, tailgate games, etc. to create a Quidditch World Cup feel. Needless to say that didn't come to fruition, but I have hopes it will make its return. It's unique, fun, and would also continually boost gameday spirit from students. I had many other ideas that related to this, but not gonna share all that here.
2) The Team Walk - I love this, but it is pretty standard for programs. Not really anything unique about it that I can remember, nor is there a way to make it very unique.
3) Raising the LU Flag - I had the opportunity to do this as a student and it was awesome, but it also isn't very unique, nor does it really have an it factor.
4) Student Involvement - Not a tradition, but another suggestion I made as a student and RA. We don't have frats and soroities. These are HUGE tailgate contributors at most schools, but guess what...they have money to work with! I proposed that all dorms (RAs) should be given an activity budget every single year. This comes from a small room and board increase per student and of course it must be audited and spending must be accounted for. However, this would allow leadership teams to get with brother/sister dorms and really have awesome tailgates. I spent a ton of my own money as an RA to have quite a good tailgate, but rallying the troops to contribute was sometimes a bit tough. This was a summary of the presentation of this made to JB, "Have $15-$25 added to the student activity fee on Room & Board. This $15-$25 goes directly to each individual dorm. The RDs work with the RAs to budget the Hall Fund correctly. This is something that is already done if RAs initiate it, but students have the option not to pay. This would provide for better tailgates across campus, more painting up and such for all sports, and better dorm activities outside of athletics. Any items bought each year with the Hall Fund that are not perishable will be placed in the annual Liberty Godparent Home end of the year yardsale."
So, let's hear it, what else does LU have in place currently or what would make sense for an addition that isn't a straight copycat tradition?
1) Roccotown/Gillville - I took this over as a student I think after Roccotown had been in existence for one or two years. It grew from 25 or so students to around 400-500 some nights. Pushed JB and Athletics Marketing along with the Recreation Department to invest in it. Used my own tailgate gear to do a movie every night, play music, got Hydaway to rent out tents, etc. It was BY FAR my favorite tradition and I'd wake up in the mornings, bran breakfast, pack up, and go straight to tailgaiting in the Bookstore Lot. Also cool getting to have the coach swing by in the mornings to just make an appearance if nothing else. These students getting first entry was also awesome. Before I left in 2014 I knew stadium expansion would soon make this tougher, but presented an idea along with sketches and such to JB to use the field across the street from Ice Center and Stadium that is near the Interstate to become a permanent site for this tradition that would not be extinct as campus expands. The whole area would be bricked in (or something similar to enclose and seperate from Interstate) with a nice treeline inside and outside along with an iron entry way. The point being to make it attractive and contribute to the asthetic appeal of campus while also making it safe. I shared in that meeting that Toomer's Corner certainly could've been used for something else, FSU could have used their Sod Cemetary for something practical, and The University of Mississippi could use the 10 acre grove for something else, but they don't to build/keep tradition. It would be a first come first serve thing every home game and would have loads of room for tents, hammocks, tailgate games, etc. to create a Quidditch World Cup feel. Needless to say that didn't come to fruition, but I have hopes it will make its return. It's unique, fun, and would also continually boost gameday spirit from students. I had many other ideas that related to this, but not gonna share all that here.
2) The Team Walk - I love this, but it is pretty standard for programs. Not really anything unique about it that I can remember, nor is there a way to make it very unique.
3) Raising the LU Flag - I had the opportunity to do this as a student and it was awesome, but it also isn't very unique, nor does it really have an it factor.
4) Student Involvement - Not a tradition, but another suggestion I made as a student and RA. We don't have frats and soroities. These are HUGE tailgate contributors at most schools, but guess what...they have money to work with! I proposed that all dorms (RAs) should be given an activity budget every single year. This comes from a small room and board increase per student and of course it must be audited and spending must be accounted for. However, this would allow leadership teams to get with brother/sister dorms and really have awesome tailgates. I spent a ton of my own money as an RA to have quite a good tailgate, but rallying the troops to contribute was sometimes a bit tough. This was a summary of the presentation of this made to JB, "Have $15-$25 added to the student activity fee on Room & Board. This $15-$25 goes directly to each individual dorm. The RDs work with the RAs to budget the Hall Fund correctly. This is something that is already done if RAs initiate it, but students have the option not to pay. This would provide for better tailgates across campus, more painting up and such for all sports, and better dorm activities outside of athletics. Any items bought each year with the Hall Fund that are not perishable will be placed in the annual Liberty Godparent Home end of the year yardsale."
So, let's hear it, what else does LU have in place currently or what would make sense for an addition that isn't a straight copycat tradition?
