The 20 Best Traditions in Sports History

By Jacob Kornhauser

The 20 Best Traditions in Sports History

Presbyterian v Duke — Traditions are some of the best things about sports. They unite generations of sports fans in common actions that make sports feel like more than just a game. These 20 traditions are some of the best in sports history.

20. The Sooner Schooner

Oklahoma State v Oklahoma

20. The Sooner Schooner

Oklahoma State v Oklahoma — At the opening of Oklahoma Sooners games, the famous Sooner Schooner is brought out onto the field and the crowd goes nuts. It makes sense because it really resembles the settlement of Oklahoma and the West as a whole, so it has a historical connection as well.

19. Singing "Tessie" at Fenway Park

New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox

19. Singing "Tessie" at Fenway Park

New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox — At first, this song was thought of as a curse, but when they started playing it to rally the team during the 2004 ALCS, it became an instant hit with Red Sox fans. Since there's such a large Irish population in Boston, it also helps the city connect with its roots.

18. NHL Playoff Beards

Boston Bruins v Philadelphia Flyers - Game Six

18. NHL Playoff Beards

Boston Bruins v Philadelphia Flyers - Game Six — Tough guys growing beards and hitting each other really hard -- does it get any better? That about sums up the NHL playoffs, and the deeper teams go, the more impressive the beards on players get. It's a cool tradition because it somewhat tracks how far teams have gone in the playoffs based on the beard length.

17. Duke Basketball Fan Heckling

North Carolina v Duke

17. Duke Basketball Fan Heckling

North Carolina v Duke — When opposing teams are inbounding the ball from the sideline at Cameron Indoor Stadium, it has to be intimidating. The sellout crowds and student section reach out as if they're going to touch opposing players in a display that looks really cool.

16. Miller Park Sausage Races

Miami Marlins v Milwaukee Brewers

16. Miller Park Sausage Races

Miami Marlins v Milwaukee Brewers — While the Brewers aren't the most historic franchise in baseball, one of their traditions is one of the best in baseball. People dressed up as various types of sausages race around the outside dirt track of the field and run toward eternal baseball glory.

15. "Play Like A Champion Today"

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

15. "Play Like A Champion Today"

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl — Tradition is a huge part of Notre Dame football as the team dates back about a century. Their greatest tradition is hitting the "Play Like A Champion Today" sign that is prominently displayed in their locker room. There's just something about it that gives you the chills.

14. The Grove at Ole Miss

Alabama v Mississippi

14. The Grove at Ole Miss

Alabama v Mississippi — Tailgating can get crazy for SEC football games, especially at The Grove at Ole Miss. It's a wide open area where people chill out and have fun before football games and the atmosphere has become one of the best in college football.

13. The Terrible Towel

Pittsburgh Steelers v Denver Broncos

13. The Terrible Towel

Pittsburgh Steelers v Denver Broncos — As annoyed as people get by Steelers fans sometimes, they need to acknowledge how cool the "Terrible Towels" are. These bright yellow towels, which come out in large number during playoff time, look really cool and the names of the towels sound just like the hard-nosed defense the Steelers always employ.

12. "Jump Around" at Wisconsin

Purdue v Wisconsin

12. "Jump Around" at Wisconsin

Purdue v Wisconsin — College football fans can get crazy, but they rarely register on the Richter scale based on how crazy they're being. Wisconsin fans did exactly that when doing their "Jump Around" routine to the song by the same name at Camp Randall Stadium. If that's not impressive, what is?

11. Octopus on Ice for Red Wings

Boston Bruins v Detroit Red Wings

11. Octopus on Ice for Red Wings

Boston Bruins v Detroit Red Wings — It's a very odd tradition, but throwing octopi onto the ice at Red Wings games to celebrate a hat trick has become the norm. It has to make you wonder why they don't call it an octopus trick in Detroit rather than a hat trick.

10. Ohio State Marching Band Dotting the "I"

All State Sugar Bowl - Alabama v Ohio State

10. Ohio State Marching Band Dotting the "I"

All State Sugar Bowl - Alabama v Ohio State — Believe it or not, many college football marching bands have some crazy traditions. None are better, though, than Ohio State dotting the "I". They consistently have a great band and the choreography involved in pulling off this routine year after year is extremely impressive.

9. 7th Inning Stretch at Wrigley Field

Philadelphia Phillies v Chicago Cubs

9. 7th Inning Stretch at Wrigley Field

Philadelphia Phillies v Chicago Cubs — While the 7th Inning Stretch exists at almost every major-league stadium, at Wrigley Field it's taken to a whole other level. The Cubs get famous guests to come sing the stretch, and the entire crowd joins in, so it's a bigger deal at Wrigley Field than anywhere else.

8. Clemson Football Running Down the Hill

Georgia State v Clemson

8. Clemson Football Running Down the Hill

Georgia State v Clemson — College football has its fair share of traditions and Clemson touching Howard's rock and running down the hill onto the field is one of the best. Just from a visual standpoint, it's one of the coolest spectacles you can possibly see in sports.

7. Throwing the Ball Back at Wrigley Field

Pittsburgh Pirates v Chicago Cubs

7. Throwing the Ball Back at Wrigley Field

Pittsburgh Pirates v Chicago Cubs — When opposing teams hit home runs into the bleachers at Wrigley Field, Cubs fans have been trained to throw the ball back onto the field of play in protest. While some people will throw a different ball back onto the field, a ball ends up back on the field of play every time without fail.

6. Roll Call at Yankee Stadium

Tampa Bay Rays v New York Yankees

6. Roll Call at Yankee Stadium

Tampa Bay Rays v New York Yankees — In the first inning of every Yankee home game, roll call gets called in the bleachers. Someone will be designated to "take roll call." Some shouting and excitement ensues every single game.

5. The Green Jacket at The Masters

The Masters - Final Round

5. The Green Jacket at The Masters

The Masters - Final Round — The Masters itself is a great sports tradition, and the green jackets are the best part about it. They're extremely sharp and the fact the jacket signifies the passing into an elite club makes it even cooler. If you're a golfer, getting that green jacket is probably your life goal.

4. The Lambeau Leap

Detroit Lions v Green Bay Packers

4. The Lambeau Leap

Detroit Lions v Green Bay Packers — Fan-player interaction in sports is awesome and it doesn't get any better than the Lambeau Leap. Whoever is doing the leap is already excited because they just scored a touchdown for the home team, but they're even more excited when they're mobbed by adoring fans as they jump into their arms in the stands.

3. Homecoming

Kansas v Baylor

3. Homecoming

Kansas v Baylor — Homecoming is one of the best traditions in this country, period. It can really motivate sports teams when they're playing on their Homecoming, and it just makes the game seem that much more important. With more excitement surrounding the game, naturally each Homecoming game seems better.

2. Cutting Down the Nets

Kentucky v Florida

2. Cutting Down the Nets

Kentucky v Florida — It's sort of strange when you think about it, but cutting down the nets is very cool. College players get to take a piece of history home with them, some net from the rim on which they just won a championship. Again, this is a cool tradition because it marks the end of a long journey that ended in success.

1. The Gatorade Shower

Super Bowl XLIX - New England Patriots v Seattle Seahawks

1. The Gatorade Shower

Super Bowl XLIX - New England Patriots v Seattle Seahawks — The reason the Gatorade shower is the coolest tradition in sports is because it only happens after you've just won it all. You've reached the mountaintop and now you're having Gatorade poured all over you. It's the ultimate moment of jubilation as you realize you reached the ultimate goal at the end of the season.

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