Team Entrance Traditions
From The Gaming Tailgate
LAST UPDATED: 12/7/2011
For each school, key entrance items are listed as well as their general order.
Touch Traditions include the Florida gator head, the Horns in the Texas locker room, Chucky Mullins at Ole Miss, and more.
Walk Out Traditions include Ohio State players locking arms, Iowa with 'The Swarm,' the sledgehammer at Arkansas State & Boise State, and the axe at Rutgers.
Also noted are specific mascot lead-outs, inflatables and/or smoke during the team entrance, and band tunnels.
Other key aspects of the pre-game team entrance are also listed.
| School | Reference | Item/Aspect, Order, Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | Team enters through smoke and inflatable helmet. | |
| Akron | Team enters through smoke and inflatable helmet. | |
| Alabama | 2010 Video, 2011 Video | Players gather in end zone around coach before running through band tunnel ("ALABAMA" on each side) led by cheerleaders and mascot. |
| Arizona | 2010 Video, 2011 Video | Players gather in corner of field before running under "A CLUB BEARDOWN THE TRADITION LIVES" banner. They then run through band tunnel following cheerleaders who carry white "A" logo flag and red flags with white letters spelling out "WILDCATS." Fireworks go off as team reached midfield. |
| Arizona State | 2010 Aerial, 2010 Close-up, 2011 Video | Players enter field through smoke and band/fan tunnel. They are led by fans/cheerleaders carrying flags that spell out "ASU" while fireworks go off. Mascot also leads way carrying trident. |
| Arkansas | 2011 Video | Fans "call the hogs." After entrance video teams runs through smoke and band tunnel in shape of an "A" as fireworks are shot off. They are led by a large white flag with Razorback logo and another large red flag (logo unknown). The team runs through each side of the "A". |
| Arkansas State | 2011 Video | Team takes the field through black inflatable tunnel and smoke. Team led by flags: Black with wolf logo, two red with black "stAte" logos, and black with red "RED WOLVES" and logo. Mascot 'Howl' leads them onto field on a motorcycle through band tunnel. Top defender/ST player leads team carrying sledgehammer. |
| Army | 2009 Video | (NOTE: 2009 Video) Players run through cadet tunnel. They are led by large black flag with Army logo and four smaller black flags with gold "A R M Y" and costumed mascot. First player carries large US flag. |
| Auburn | 2011 Video (aerial video) | Eagle flies around stadium. Team takes the field through smoke while running through band tunnel in shape of AU logo. Team led by flags: Three "AU" logo flags and "A U B U R N." |
| Ball State | ||
| Baylor | 2010 Video ,2011 Video | Team takes field running through the "Baylor Line" - a fan tunnel made up of freshmen wearing gold jerseys with "BAYLOR LINE" on the front and graduation year - 16 in 2012 - and nickname on back. Members of the "Baylor Line" lead the team carrying a large flag with green backdrop and yellow "BU" logo and smaller green flags with gold "B A Y L O R". ("Baylor Line" runs the field before forming fan tunnels.) In 2010, players leading team out carrying US Flag, Texas state flag, and gold flag with green "BU" logo. |
| Boise State | 2011 Video, 2011 Video 2 | Crowd chants "BOI-SE. . .STATE". Boise State Bronco Cowgirl leads team onto field. Team led onto field by large blue Boise State logo flag and smaller orange with blue text "B R O N C O S" flag. As they enter through smoke, they are led by top defender/ST player carrying sledgehammer. |
| Boston College | 2010 Video | (NOTE: 2010 Video) Players touch Eagle statue after leaving locker room and before entering the field. Team gathers in stadium tunnel before running through "BC logo" sign. They run through cheerleader/dance team tunnel. They are led by small flags (unsure of logo/text). |
| Bowling Green | 2010 Video | Team gathers in corner of field, locks arms, and sways before being led onto field by costumed mascot Frieda Falcon who is being driven on a motorcycle. (Unsure if primary mascot Freddie Falcon ever rides on cycle.) |
| Buffalo | ||
| BYU | Team is led out by large "B Y U" flags, two smaller "Y" logo flags, and mascot carries "RISE UP Y" flag. They run through band tunnel and numerous "RISE UP" flag banners. | |
| Cal | 2010 Video | Team takes the field running through smoke and band tunnel. Led by blue flag with gold "C" logo and four smaller dark blue with gold "Cal" logo flags. |
| Central Michigan | ||
| Cincinnati | Team enters field through an inflatable (paw?) running through a fan tunnel as fireworks go off. They are led by team flags: small black flags with red " C I N C I N N A T I" | |
| Clemson | 2011 Video | Players touch Howard's Rock and then run down the hill to take the field as the front sections release orange balloons. |
| Colorado | Ralphie leads the team onto the field. | |
| Colorado State | ||
| Connecticut | Team takes field running through smoke and pyros. | |
| Duke | ||
| ECU (East Carolina) | 2010 video | Team enters field though purple inflatable tunnel and immediately following an inflatable pirate skull. Purple smoke engulfs. Players then gather in endzone, locking arms and swaying before storming the field. |
| Eastern Michigan | ||
| Florida | 2011 Video, 2, 3 | Gator fans do the "Two Bits" chant. In the locker room, players touch a gator head. They gather in the tunnel before taking the field following cheerleaders carrying blue and orange flags, as well as "GATORS" flags running between band tunnel which spells out "U F". |
| Florida Atlantic | ||
| FIU (Florida International) | ||
| Florida State | Chief Osceola rides Renegade onto the field and plants flaming spear at midfield. | |
| Fresno State | 2010 Video | Team exits inflatable and runs through smoke & pros and then through band tunnel. They are led by large red flag with Bulldog logo and red flags with blue text spelling out "B U L L D O G S". |
| Georgia | ||
| Georgia Tech | Players are led onto the field by the 'Ramblin' Wreck' | |
| Hawai'i | 2009 Video | (NOTE: 2009 Video) While the band (?) plays the theme from 'Hawaii 5-0,' players enter the field through an inflatable team helmet and smoke. First player out carries Hawai'i state flag, another carries US flag. |
| Houston | ||
| Idaho | Players run through smoke with one player carrying US Flag. | |
| Illinois | Illinois drumline will lead team through tunnel. (Old tradition returning in 2011.) | |
| Indiana | As players take the field, they run by/touch 'The Rock' while fireworks are shot off. | |
| Iowa | 2010 Video | 'The Swarm': As players take the field, they form lines holding hands. They then run onto the field still in lines and holding hands. |
| Iowa State | 2011 Video | Players take the field through a red inflatable tunnel and smoke. They run through band tunnel and are led by "I S U" flags. |
| Kansas | Players touch Jayhawk statue as they leave the locker room and before taking the field. (2) | |
| Kansas State | 2010 Video | Team exits Vanier Complex (locker room) and walks down short hill/slope and gathers in end zone. They then take the field running through band tunnel. |
| Kent State | ||
| Kentucky | Players take the field through smoke and then "'Til the Battle is Won" banner touch. (As of 2009, they entered through an inflatable helmet. Not seen in 2010 video.) | |
| Louisiana Tech | ||
| Louisville | 2011 Video, 2 | Players run out of inflatable entrance through smoke. Fireworks shoot from building behind entrance. Players led by mascot. |
| LSU | 2011 Video | Team gathers in endzone before running through band tunnel led by team flags: Purple flag with Tiger Eye logo, yellow flags with purple "L S U T I G E R S". Players carry several US flags. |
| Marshall | ||
| Maryland | 2011 Video | Before/as players take the field, they touch a turtle statue. They are led by large state flag and black flag with mascot logo. Players lead team with US flag and state flag as team exits red inflatable tunnel through smoke as fireworks go off. |
| Memphis | 2011 Video | Players led by flags, running through inflatable tiger head & smoke with fireworks and pyros in backdrop. |
| Miami | As players take the field, they run through an inflatable helmet and smoke. | |
| Miami University | ||
| Michigan | As players take the field, they touch a 'Go Blue' banner | |
| Michigan State | Team enters through smoke. | |
| Mid Tenn State | Team enters through smoke. | |
| Minnesota | ||
| Mississippi State | As players take the field, they run through smoke and touch a bulldog statue (?). | |
| Missouri | ||
| Navy | 2011 Video | Team enters through band tunnel while being led by Navy and "N A V Y" flags while players carry US flags. |
| NC State | 2010 Video Different angle | Following wolf howls, players take the field to fireworks as they go through smoke and touch a wolf statue and run through band tunnel. |
| Nebraska | 2010 Video | Crowd begins "HUSKER ... POWER" chant. Students wave "GO BIG RED" flag. As team exits locker room hallway, they touch a horseshoe. Upon leaving locker room they touch the 'Pound the Rock' boulder and before finally taking the field, they touch the "I Play for Nebraska" signage as the players run through band tunnel. One player carries US Flag. |
| Nevada | ||
| New Mexico | ||
| New Mexico State | ||
| North Carolina | 2011 Video | Crowd does "TAR ... HEELS" chant. Team flags run out: blue flag with white "NC" logo, other smaller team flags. Team takes the field through smoke and runs through band tunnel led by US Flag. |
| North Texas | Team touches eagle statue as they take the field. | |
| Northern Illinois | Husky Statue in endzone. Unsure if touch tradition, but thinking so. | |
| Northwestern | 2010 Video | Players take the field through a purple inflatable tunnel that features a mascot head on the end. As they exit the inflatable, they touch "TRUST YOURSELF" sign, while running through smoke and fireworks are shot off. The team runs through band tunnel, led by cheerleaders carrying large "N" logo flag and smaller flags spelling "W I L D C A T S". |
| Notre Dame | 2011 Video | Players touch 'Play like a Champion' signage in tunnel. They take the field through band tunnel spelling out "N D" while being led by team flags. |
| Ohio | Players take the field going through an inflatable mascot head and smoke, following mascot on motorcycle. Based on 9/17/2011 photos, they exit tunnel and take the field walking four in a row with arms locked through fan tunnel. | |
| Ohio State | 2011 Video | Players gather in corner of end zone before taking field running through band (in Block O formation) while being led by team flags "O H I O". Similar: 2008 Entrance |
| Oklahoma | 2010 Video, 2011 Video | Crowd does "BOOMER...SOONER" chant while fireworks go off from top of videoboard. Players run through an inflatable Sooner Schooner tunnel and then run under "Oklahoma Sooners OU sign" on the field. [Note: Sooner Schooner only takes field following each OU score. It does not lead the team onto field.] |
| Oklahoma State | 2011 Video | The Spirit Rider takes the field. The team then runs through smoke and out of a gate opened by two cowboys. Two players hold items (unintelligible in video). |
| Ole Miss | After leaving locker room, players touch Chucky Mullins statue in corner of field. | |
| Oregon | Before players take the field they touch 'Win The Day' signage while being led by mascot on motorcycle. | |
| Oregon State | ||
| Penn State | [2011 Video] | Players take the field through band tunnel and led by "P E N N S T A T E" flags. |
| Pittsburgh | Team runs enter "PITT FOOTBALL A 122-YEAR TRADITION" banner as they exit tunnel, then through band tunnel. | |
| Purdue | [2007 Video] | Purdue Big Bass Drum brought to midfield as part of pre-game festivities. Players Gather in front of an inflatable train/tunnel before taking field. They are led by large gold flags with black "P U R D U E", mini-train and player carrying large US Flag. They run through cheerleader/dance team tunnel. |
| Rice | ||
| Rutgers | 2009 Entrance, 2010 Chop | Players take the field through smoke led by a different senior player carrying an ax each week. They run to one corner of the field and chop wood with the ax. |
| San Diego State | Team enters through inflatable helmet. Led player player carrying circular Aztec shield (?). | |
| San Jose State | ||
| SMU | ||
| South Carolina | 2010 Video, Alt. Angle | As entrance music plays (theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey), costumed mascot Cocky performs his 2001 Magic Box Entrance. Team enters field as music hits crescendo through smoke and band tunnel. |
| Southern Miss | Team touches Eagle statue before running through inflatable helmet and taking the field. | |
| Stanford | As team takes the field, they run through smoke. | |
| Syracuse | ||
| TCU | ||
| Temple | ||
| Tennessee | Players touch "T" signage after leaving locker room and then take the field running through the band which is in a "T" formation while following Smokey. | |
| Texas | 2011 Video | Players touch a set of longhorns in the locker room before taking the field. Big Bertha is rolled onto midfield while Bevo is shown. The team exits the tunnel through smoke and a band tunnel while being led by Longhorn logo flag and T E X A S flags. |
| Texas A&M | 2010 Video | Players are led onto the field by yell leaders and run through cadet tunnel. |
| Texas Tech | 2010 Video, 2 | Players touch the saddle and then run through smoke as they are led onto the field by the Masked Rider. Flags are also run onto the field - large TT logo, T E X A S T E C H. The entire time, the bellringer is going. |
| Toledo | Team enters through smoke while running through band tunnel as fireworks go off outside the stadium. | |
| Troy | ||
| Tulane | ||
| Tulsa | Team takes field running through inflatable helmet and through band tunnel. | |
| UAB | Team runs through inflatable dragon head and smoke, led by team flags: large UAB dragon logo, smaller letter flags (unsure of text). | |
| UCF | 2010 Video | (Partial) Team runs through band tunnel led by flags - UCF. Unsure of logo/text on smaller flags. |
| UCLA | ||
| UL Lafayette | 2010 Video | Team exits tunnel through smoke and runs through band tunnel. R A G I N C A J U N S flags are run out along side of field. |
| UL Monroe | ||
| UNLV | ||
| USC | 2011 Video | (Partial) Tommy Trojan and Traveler in pre-game. Team exist tunnel with large TROJAN logo flag and four smaller flags (unsure of what they say). |
| USF | 2009 Video, 2010 Video | (Partial entrance) Team runs through tunnel (band?) and smoke, being led by mascot carrying USF flag and male cheerleaders carrying B U L L S flags. |
| Utah | Team enters through inflatable and smoke while running through a band tunnel. They are led by two large "U" flags: One white with red "U" and the other red with white "U". | |
| Utah State | Team enters through inflatable helmet. | |
| UTEP | 2010 Video, Older, accurate video | Led my mascot Paydirt Pete and coach carrying a pickaxe, the teams walks through the crowd down from an entrance in the stadium dubbed 'The Mine Shaft'. The players gather in one end zone (locking arms, swaying) before fireworks go off in opposite endzone. They then run through a band tunnel while being led by cheerleaders carrying team flags - U T E P. |
| Vanderbilt | Team enters through smoke next to large "STAR V" logo inflatable. | |
| Virginia | 2010 Video | Team runs through band tunnel following The Cavalier on horseback. They are led by cheerleaders carrying large "V" logo flag and smaller flags spelling out "V I R G I N I A" as they run through smoke. One player carries US Flag, another state flag of Virginia. As team takes field, fireworks are shot from top of videoboard. |
| Virginia Tech | 2011 Video, Older but accurate video | Crowd does "LET'S GO....HOKIES" chant. "Enter Sandman" plays while crowd jumps/bounces. Players led through band tunnel by flags (Team Helmet - H O K I E S). Players carry US Flag and Virginia state flag. |
| Wake Forest | 2006 Video | Team is led onto the field by team flags (Logo - D E C O N S) mascot on motorcycle and runs through human tunnel (unsure if band or fans). |
| Washington | 2011 Video | (Incomplete video) Team runs through smoke. |
| Washington State | 2011 Video | As players exit tunnel they run through smoke and tunnels formed by fans and band. |
| West Virginia | 2011 Video | Team touches rope wheel in locker room tunnel before taking the field. Led by cheerleaders and mascot, the team runs through smoke, under "WV LETS GO MOUNTAINEERS" banner and through band tunnel. |
| Western Kentucky | Led by mascot Big Red, team runs through inflatable WKU and smoke. Players led by coach waving red towel. | |
| Western Michigan | ||
| Wisconsin | 2011 Video | Team runs through band tunnel led out by red team flags with white text - W I S C O N S I N |
| Wyoming | ||
| South Alabama | 2010 Video | Unable to gather full details from video. (Smoke? Inflatable tunnel?) Team takes field being led by flags. Logo flags and U S A |
| UMass | ||
| Texas State | ||
| UTSA | 2011 Video | Fireworks and pyros go off. Team runs through band tunnel while being led by flags (Logo flag then ROADRUNNERS). |
