One of the things that endear college football over other sports and even the NFL to many people is the pageantry and tradition that have stood the test of time. There’s nothing like a fall Saturday with the band playing, the familiar colors and all the traditions that make you feel like you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
But not all traditions are created equal. Some evoke goosebumps and chills because they are so special and have been around forever. Some get the crowd whipped up in a frenzy. Some are newer and still finding their way into the collective psyche of the college football world.
Call us biased, but the Big Ten might have more storied traditions than any other conference, and if not, what you see on Saturdays in the fall is at least up there with other leagues. Some have found their way on lists of best traditions in all of college football.
We decided to get in the game and give it the old college try at ranking the 10-best Big Ten football traditions. Before we do, remember this is just an opinion piece and normally what we hear is that your school has the best tradition and is severely underrated, while an opposing school’s traditions are overrated. It’s the way of the world.
Undaunted though, here we go with our list of the 10-best Big Ten football traditions as we count down to the best of the best. Take it to the bank.
10
Paul Bunyan's Axe - Wisconsin and Minnesota
Why it makes the list
Why not start with a tradition that could poke someone’s eye out? To be fair, it’s not a real ax with sharp edges, but it still looks dangerous. Wisconsin and Minnesota have been playing for Paul Bunyan’s ax since 1948, the year after the original “trophy”, the “slab of bacon” — which feels about as upper Midwest as you can get — disappeared.
9
Big Bass Drum - Purdue
Why it makes the list
The “World’s Largest Drum” was commissioned in 1921 and can be seen at home football games and other special events in and around the area. It stands about 10 feet high in its carriage and is a symbol of the Purdue band and football team. Interestingly enough, it was harder than you think to make because of challenge in finding hides large enough to stretch out over the drum. All of that effort to make an iconic symbol is worth making the list.
8
Gold Pants - Ohio State
Ohio State's Michael Thomas shows off his "gold pants" for beating Michigan in football! http://t.co/zuQNDVwVEW pic.twitter.com/IWNeYo1ltz
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) April 14, 2015
Why it makes the list
The Ohio State vs. Michigan game could be considered the best tradition in all of college football if we really wanted to, but there are things that surround the game that are unique. Every time the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines, each player is awarded a “pair of gold pants” charm. Former Ohio State head coach Francis Schmidt started the tradition when OSU was finding its footing against Michigan back in 1934 by saying “They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like the rest of us.” There have been a lot of gold pants hanging around former Ohio State football players’ necks over the last couple of decades.
7
The Boilermaker Special - Purdue
Why it makes the list
There are mascots, and then there are mascots. We can’t forget about “Purdue Pete” parading around with a hammer in his hand, but the official mascot of Purdue University is a literal engine named the “Boilermaker Special.” It was first introduced in 1940 and there’s a “Boilermaker Xtra Special” that comes out onto the field for football games. As mechanical things do, it has a tendency to not last, so Purdue is on its eighth version in some way shape or form as a nod to its engineering heritage. Believe it or not, the bigger engine can actually get up to 75 miles per hour. Remember — stay out of the passing lane.
6
The Tunnel Walk - Nebraska
Why it makes the list
Nebraska’s “Tunnel Walk” has only been around since 1994, but even if you aren’t a Cornhuskers fan, experiencing it will give you chills. The team prepares to enter the stadium by walking down “red carpet” or field turf, with fans surrounding them, then burst out onto the field to a frenzied crowd of over 90,000 fans. It’s all shown on the Jumbotron while “Sirius” plays throughout the stadium.
5
White Out - Penn State
Why it makes the list
You don’t have to be there in person to understand how intimidating and awe-inspiring a White Out game in Happy Valley is. The environment has been called by many as the greatest in all of college football. Imagine a frenzied crowd dressed all in white with the music pumping, fans jumping, and the stadium moving. There’s no more intimidating setting to go in, period. The tradition has only been around since 2004, but the 2005 game in which Penn State upset No. 6 Ohio State cemented the White Out as an annual event that rivals any setting you’ll see in college football.
4
Go Blue banner - Michigan
Why it makes the list
It’s simple, but it’s still iconic. In 1962, Michigan was having a bad year with just one win in six games. A literal bed sheet was made by the hockey coach’s wife with a Block M on it to show the team support. The team went out to win the next game and it became tradition. Now, before every home game, the Michigan players take the field and run to jump the “Go Blue” banner with seniors in front and freshmen in the back. When you watch it, you know you are watching college football, most likely on a gold, gray Saturday in the Midwest.
3
Jump Around - Wisconsin
Why it makes the list
I have to admit, I haven’t yet made the trek to cover an Ohio State game up at Wisconsin, but it’s on my bucket list. And it’s not because of the football team, it’s because of this tradition. Visually speaking, it’s awe inspiring. “Jump Around” takes place at the beginning of every fourth quarter and was first played in 1998 off a playlist of favorite songs. It took off, was tried again to see if the result was the same, and it has been that way ever since.
2
The Hawkeye Wave - Iowa
Why it makes the list
The Hawkeye Wave hasn’t been around very long at all, and like most traditions, it started organically. It started in 2017 when the new University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital that overlooks Kinnick Stadium was completed.
A fan on social media suggested that fans in attendance wave back to the top floor of the hospital as a sign of hope and it took off. Each home game day, the “wave” takes place when the clock strikes zero at the end of the first quarter. We may not have this tradition ranked No. 1 because of how new it is, but it’s definitely No. 1 as the most sentimental.
1
Script Ohio - Ohio State
Why it makes the list
Could there be any other? Even opposing fans that come to home games at Ohio State stay in their seats to watch the “Best Damn Band in the Land” march through spelling out the word Ohio to Le Regiment. At the end of it, a sousaphone player takes to the top of the formation to “dot the I.” It brings chills every time and is actually a very complex coordination that takes a lot of rehearsal. It takes place before every game the band is in attendance for and has been in place since Oct. 10, 1936. Many consider it the best tradition in all of college football. Shockingly, we agree.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.
Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.
