It is no surprise that the University of Oregon football team, which is called the Ducks, has a duck for a mascot, but did you know that at every home game that duck rides a Harley Davidson motorcycle onto the field at Autzen Stadium. The bike is driven by a helmeted student while the duck waves at the crowd.
The duck is actually based on the character of Donald Duck and wears a yellow and green costume with a green beanie that says “Oregon”. He is quite a rowdy character and even got into a fight with Houston Cougar’s mascot Shasta after the rival mascot imitated him doing pushups after the Ducks scored.
Tennessee University
Neyland Stadium is one of the few college football stadiums that are accessible by boat. In 1962, George Mooney, a former University of Tennessee broadcaster, took his boat up the Tennessee River to Neyland and the rest is history. These days roughly 200 boats dock outside the stadium during game weeks.
People make an event out of it. They drink and laugh and visit right up to game time. It allows all different types of fans to mix together and has been described as a floating "sail-gate" party. One devoted Vols fan named Coy Coldwell even lives on the water during the season. Now that’s what we call dedication.
Tennessee University
Here’s another Tennessee football tradition, but this one takes place on land inside Neyland Stadium. The highlight of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band’s pregame show is Running Through the T. Hundreds of band members all move as one to create an enormous T shape. The music blasts and the players run thought the T while the crowd cheers them on.
The tradition was started after T’s were added to the player's helmets. It has recently celebrated 50 years and was even named one of the top 10 entrances in college football. It has even been taken on the road on several occasions.
University of New Hampshire
Hockey fans love to stick it to the other team, and UNH Wildcat fans have found a unique and stinky way to do so. When the team scores their first goal of the game, someone in the stands throws a large dead fish onto the ice in front of their opponent’s goal prompting the crowd to go wild.
The fish throwing began in the 1970s and has become an ongoing tradition upheld by a local fraternity. The “Throwing of the Fish” even continued while penalties were given out for throwing things on the ice. In one instance while playing Boston University, a fan brought an extra-large fish that was so heavy it took three tries for him to get it on the ice.
Clemson University
You’ve already learned about what Tigers fans do to show their support at away games. Here is another tradition that is unique to Clemson University but that takes place at home games. Before the start of each game, the players gather around Howard’s Rock and rub it for good luck. It is the last thing they do before running onto the field.
The rock used to be owned by former head coach Frank Howard and was used as a doorstop until he threw it out while cleaning. Gene Willimon, a Clemson booster, took the rock and put it on a pedestal in the east end zone. During the rock’s first appearance, the team made an unlikely victory against Virginia and it has been a token of good luck ever since. Clemson rivals must also believe in the power of the rock because it has suffered vandalism on more than one occasion and a part was even broken off.