College sports are full of unique traditions that unite fans and teams, creating unforgettable game day moments. These rituals showcase the spirit and pride of each university. Here are some of the most fascinating college sports traditions that continue to energize players and fans alike.
Tossing toast at Penn
At the University of Pennsylvania, fans celebrate football games with a quirky tradition: tossing toast onto the field after the third quarter during the fight song “Drink a Highball,” which ends with the line, “Here’s a toast to dear old Penn.” The ritual dates back to Prohibition, when students swapped cocktail toasts for literal toast slices. Another origin links it to a 1977 student inspired by audience antics at The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Over the years, fans have gotten creative, throwing not just toast, but bagels, donuts, and even baguettes, making it one of college football’s most unusual and beloved traditions.
Texas A&M’s Midnight Yell
At Texas A&M, Midnight Yell is a cherished pregame tradition held every Friday night before football games. More than 25,000 fans gather at Kyle Field to practice yells led by the Yell Leaders, sing the “Aggie War Hymn,” and hear humorous stories predicting victory. The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and Parsons Mounted Cavalry enhance the experience, complete with cannon fire. Midnight Yell isn’t just for home games, it travels with the team to away locations. The event is also livestreamed, allowing fans everywhere to join in one of college football’s most spirited and storied traditions.
Taylor University’s “Silent Night”
Taylor University, which runs a small National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics program in Indiana, hosts a unique basketball tradition known as the “Silent Night” game each year before final exams. Students arrive hours early dressed in wild costumes, and the entire crowd stays completely silent from tip-off until the team scores its 10th point. Once that milestone is reached, the gym explodes into a wild celebration, with fans rushing the court in excitement. This unusual tradition not only unites the student body but also seems to bring good luck. Taylor has an impressive
26-1 record during these “Silent
Night” games.
Mississippi State’s Cowbell Yell
At Mississippi State University, the unmistakable sound of clanging cowbells echoes through football stadiums as a bold display of school pride. The tradition’s roots trace back nearly a century to a local legend: a stray Jersey cow wandered onto the field during a game and the Bulldogs won. The cow became a good luck charm, and fans soon brought cowbells to games. Though banned in 1974, they returned in 2010 and remain a cherished tradition.
UNH’s “Throwing out the Fish”
The University of New Hampshire (UNH) hockey program has a unique tradition known as “throwing out the fish.” After UNH scores its first goal, fans eagerly toss a fish onto the ice near the opposing team’s net, and the crowd goes wild. This quirky custom began in the early 1970s during a game against a Division II team, where fans threw a small fish to mock the less competitive opponent. Popularized by a local fraternity, the fish symbolizes the visiting team having to “fish” the puck out of
the net.
Syracuse’s “Burning of the Shoe”
At Syracuse University, the football team begins each season by literally setting the past ablaze. Known as “The Burning of the Shoe,” this tradition dates back to the 1980s under Coach Dick MacPherson, symbolizing the team’s commitment to move forward and leave past failures behind. Revived by Coach Doug Marrone in the late 2000s and continued today by Coach Fran Brown, the ritual honors Orange football’s legacy while inspiring a clean slate for the season ahead.
