With the start of the 2014 basketball conference tournament games, emotions run high. A conference championship win not only guarantees a year’s worth of bragging rights, but also influences the seeding in the most important sporting event in college basketball, the NCAA Basketball Tournament. March Madness!
From my previous tailgating posts, many of you know my 3 major team allegiances. The University of Tennessee, my alma mater.
Sister Lucy Hawkins, a Tennessee grad and a Gator Mom, with me sporting my usual T and Gator Mom buttons.
Duke University, my husband Dave’s, alma mater,
and the University of Florida, the college of choice for my 2 Gator children, Elizabeth and James.
Many times I have written of special college football traditions.
With March Madness upon us I would like to celebrate some of college basketball’s most storied traditions. Many traditions begin with the fans or a song that suddenly skyrockets to infamy.
Please enjoy each video chosen from my THREE SCHOOLS. After viewing each video, vote for your favorite under my comment section. I also would love to hear from you on YOUR favorite schools and basketball traditions.
Tennessee, home of Rocky Top. (This is a long video, please fast forward to 8:14 and end around 11:21).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcN9AqyRWNs
Pat Summitt is a role model for me and many other women. Please see my The Button Lady post.
Duke, home of the Cameron Crazies.
(Love that the Duke Speedo guy is now a pastor in Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the University of Tennessee.)
Duke and Florida are both unique in that their student sections are court side. That makes for lots of noise.
Florida, home of the Gator Chomp and the Rowdy Reptiles.
I hope you noticed the single Gator Chomp and “The Sprinkler” dance move. The Dazzler Dancers teach the Rowdy Reptiles the dance moves the morning of the game. Such spirit!
I happen to love the Florida Dazzler Dancers as my nieces, Hannah and Kelly were both Dazzlers.
Football or basketball season. Doesn’t matter. The love of our college teams keeps us going. We can “Tailgate” during any season. A tailgate can be at home during March Madness. With that I will end with my usual closing.
Watch for upcoming stories from my tailgating travels. I welcome your comments, recipes and any inside information on your favorite tailgating spots.
Come celebrate with me. I’ll save you a seat at the table.
Please vote for your favorite video, or comment on your favorite school in the comment section below (click) and subscribe to this tailgating blog.
I love to hear from you!
15 Comments
Please vote and let me hear about your school and traditions.
I am pulling for the Gators to go ALL THE WAY 🙂
Know you have a Gator heart Molly. I am pulling for all 3, at least until crunch time. I just hope they are placed in different brackets come NCAA time.
Love the video of the Florida student section and the Dazzlers. Hannah and Kelley were the best Dazzlers ever! Great picture of you 3 beautiful girls.
GO CATS!
Yay! March Madness is here!
Love the Gator dancing. It gets my vote.
Thanks Gina for your vote for the Gator dancing. Pretty cool of those Rowdy Reptiles. I dreamed that I was a Rowdy Reptile once. Wish they would let me sit in that section.
Clara thanks for your comment. We have 4 votes so far for the Gators! Where are my Duke and Tennessee buddies?
Somehow I knew Dave Kempf would vote for the Kentucky Wildcats. Hear Kentucky is renovating their football stadium. Sounds great. Watching basketball right now!
Looks like the kids picked the perfect school for family harmony: blue and orange combo. The Gators have had a great season, the Vols have rebounded… but neither has played in the big leagues yet. To #### with Carolina!
Ha Mary! Pulling for the Blue Devils too!
Rowdy Reptiles Are the Best! Go Gators! Chomp Chomp!
As a true UT and Auburn fan, it is not a pretty picture!! I will be pulling for all SEC teams. That’s about the best I can do!!
That sounds like a plan. Hope Tennessee wins today and makes it into the NCAA! Very tough basketball year for Auburn. Football was pretty good though!!!!