Tradition

They say that football is a game of traditions. I feel that is especially true of college football. And I'm sure that the die-hard football fans are already compiling their lists of college football traditions in their heads. My first thought was the Notre Dame Fighting Irish slapping the "Play Like A Champion Today" sign before hitting the field. Everybody's list is long and it varies depending on the team they follow.

As the 2007 season approaches for UVM Club Football, I was wondering about the traditions of UVM football. What are the pregame rituals that the fans and players went through? What were the great rivalries?

As a member of the 1987 LSU Tigers, I remember that college football Saturdays were full of tradition. Tailgating for a Saturday night football game at LSU often started before daybreak. The parking lot was usually over half full by noon on a game day and I often stopped and had a hot dog with some of the fans. The live Bengal tiger, nicknamed "Mike", was on his way to the Stadium by 6:00 PM. It was often repeated that for every roar from Mike inside the stadium on game day, the Tigers would score a touchdown.

I remember that before coming out of the tunnel before a game, we all touched the crossbar from the 1959 National Championship team that hung over the inside door. When we were announced, the roar of the crowd drowned out the 200-piece Golden Band from Tiger Land and the sound waves felt like Mike Tyson punches. There's nothing like seeing 86,000 fans, many painted in LSU purple and gold, cheering you on. After seeing and hearing that, you just got the feeling that you couldn't lose.

But all of that was nothing compared to the feeling of game day and facing off against SEC rivals Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, or Florida. And things really got interesting when we played in-state rival, Tulane. Many an LSU coach got fired for losing to Tulane; one of whom had a winning record and an SEC title in the very same year.

But what about Vermont? If there's anyone out there who knows about some of the traditions of UVM's past, I'd love to hear from you. Or, if you've got ideas about new traditions, I'd like to hear them too.

I just know one thing: I'd love nothing more than to arrive at our home field on game days to a parking lot full of green and gold tailgaters. Now that's college football!