3 Memorable Stadium Entrances Using College Banners

Out of all the college banners that enter stadiums in the NCAA there are 3 that stick out as extremely memorable and entertaining. 

Clemson - Down the Hill                         

What has been called by many the most exciting 25 seconds in college football, running down “The Hill” at Clemson began out of practicality. Clemson Memorial Stadium was originally built and ready for use before the 1942 season. The shortest route to enter the stadium was a walk down Williamson Road from Fike Field House's dressing rooms to a gate at the top of the hill behind the east end zone. There were no dressing facilities in the west end zone so the team would dress at Fike, walk down Williamson Road, come in the gate underneath and then jog down the hill for its warmup exercises. What began in a practical way has now become a massive production as fans yell and cannons are fired. 

Virginia Tech - Enter Sandman

 Another much newer but equally as exciting entrance belongs to Virginia Tech, where they come out bearing their college banners to "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. Only tradition since 2000, this entrance has quickly become a fan favorite and a psychological weapon to any team who comes to play against the Hokies of Virginia Tech. 

Colorado - Ralphies Run 

One of the more unique mascots in college football is Ralphie the buffalo from University of Colorado. The buffalo first appeared in 1934, three weeks after a local contest for the school's macot determined the “Buffaloes”  to be the winning entry. For the final game of the ‘34 season, a group of students paid $25 to rent a buffalo calf along with a real cowboy as his keeper. 

In 1966,  the original Ralphie was donated to CU, it was the duty of the five sophomore class officers to run the buffalo around the stadium with fans participating in the "Buffalo Stomp" at the conclusion of the run. Around that same time, head coach Eddie Crowder was approached with the idea the charging buffalo running out on the field before the game with the team behind right her waiving their college athletics banner. Crowder thought it was a great idea, and the debut of the tradition of "Ralphie's Run" took place on Oct. 28, 1967, CU’s homecoming game against Oklahoma State.