8 Arizona college traditions students will never forget

Discover some of the wildest, strangest, and most beloved college traditions found across Arizona’s universities.

A tradition is defined as an “inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior.” While many traditions are rooted in religious or cultural beliefs, they can also stem from social customs. Often, traditions are shaped by where we live and the culture around us. That’s one reason colleges are a hotspot for traditions (especially the goofy, memorable ones).

I recall quite a few strange traditions at my own university, such as professors serving students breakfast at midnight on the last night of finals week, celebrating Groundhog Day, and paying to put professors in “jail” during an annual event called Charity Week. I’m sure many of you can look back on your college days and recall some odd or memorable traditions you took part in.

Just like every state, Arizona is home to a number of colleges, each with its own unique customs. Here are a few of the most memorable ones.

Arizona State University 

Guarding ‘A’ Mountain

If you’ve been to Tempe, you’ve likely seen the popular “A” Mountain. But do you know its history? Believe it or not, before it was “A” Mountain, it was actually “N” Mountain in 1918, representing the Tempe Normal School. Later, it became “T” Mountain for Tempe State Teachers College before finally becoming “A” Mountain in 1938. Oh, and I should also mention that not only has “A” Mountain had two other letters, but it also survived a bombing in 1952.

Today, it’s one of ASU’s most historic and beloved traditions. It plays two special roles: First, during Fall Welcome Week, incoming freshmen hike the mountain and paint the “A” white to mark the start of the new year and the incoming class.

The more intense tradition centers on the rivalry between ASU and the University of Arizona (U of A). Each year, ASU students take turns guarding the “A” to prevent U of A students from painting it.

Spoiler: It gets pretty rowdy.

Curtain of Distraction 

The Curtain of Distraction is easily one of the goofiest and most entertaining sports traditions at ASU. In fact, it’s even been recognized by ESPN. This tradition takes place during home basketball games, when ASU students do their best to distract the opposing team from making free throws.

As the opposing player lines up at the free-throw line, students pull out a curtain (usually just a PVC frame with fabric draped over it) and prepare a surprise. Just as the player is about to shoot, the curtain opens to reveal students in costumes and wigs acting out outrageous skits designed to throw them off. These performances have included everything from aliens and Elvis to Michael Phelps (yes, the actual Michael Phelps), Charlie Day, Thanos, and even angry old ladies.

University of Arizona 

Bear Down 

If you’ve ever wondered why the University of Arizona says “Bear Down!” Even though their mascot is a wildcat, keep reading. This iconic rally cry dates back to the 1920s, when John Byrd “Button” Salmon, student body president, quarterback, and baseball player, was returning from a big win over ASU and was tragically involved in a car accident.

After the accident, Salmon spent several weeks in the hospital and was frequently visited by his coach, J.F. “Pop” McKale. According to McKale, Salmon’s final message to the team was this: “Tell them… tell the team to bear down.” His words quickly spread through campus and became a symbol of determination and school spirit.

Salmon is also remembered with a bronze bust of Button Salmon, which stands near the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility. Before each home game, players touch it as they enter the stadium to honor his legacy.

Today, “Bear Down” is more than just a motto; it’s a battle cry. You’ll hear it shouted at games, painted on signs, and echoed throughout campus.

Go Bananas! 

If you go to a Wildcats baseball game, don’t be surprised if you see a player in the dugout wearing a banana crown—your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. Every game, the Wildcats bring over 100 bananas into the dugout. Players wear them on their heads, use them to cheer, snack on them, and just have fun with it. Lately, we’ve even seen bananas popping up in the crowd.

There’s no set moment when the bananas make their appearance. Sometimes they come out when the team needs extra rallying; other times, they’re part of the celebration. It’s unclear exactly how (or why) this goofy banana tradition started, but it seems to be working: The Wildcats finished the year with a 44–21 record and their 19th College World Series appearance in program history.

Northern Arizona University 

Lumberjack Tree Cookie 

What’s the lumberjack way to celebrate a touchdown? With a chainsaw, of course. At Northern Arizona University, football celebrations are loud and proud. After each score, the Logging Sports Club fires up a chainsaw and slices a round from a log (known as a “tree cookie”), then stamps it with the NAU logo. These prized cookies are donated to local sponsors or raffled off to lucky fans.

This tradition is fun, gets the crowd excited, and embodies the beautiful Flagstaff location, surrounded by ponderosa pines, mountain air, and good people.

Mr. Lumberjack Pageant 

You’ve heard of the Miss America pageants where one woman is crowned Miss America—but that’s nothing compared to the Mr. Lumberjack Pageant, where one lucky Lumberjack is named NAU’s Lumberjack of the Year.

Male contestants compete in categories that include arm strength, talent, and question-and-answer. The talent portion is where things really get fun. Past contestants have performed log lifts, lasso tricks, original songs, and skits in full flannel. Some have even showcased their chainsaw-carving skills or outdoor survival expertise. The winner earns the title of Lumberjack of the Year and gets a spot on the homecoming float.

Grand Canyon University 

Silent Disco 

Imagine a party where you have full control of the aux cord, all night long. Now imagine it’s with all your new college friends, and you can sing and dance your heart out without anyone judging you. Sounds pretty great, right?

Grand Canyon University’s yearly Silent Disco tradition gives students the chance to do exactly that. Everyone gets their own pair of headphones and tunes into their choice of music, dancing to the beat of their own drum (literally). It all goes down during Welcome Week, giving new freshmen a fun, judgment-free way to meet each other and kick off the year.

Lip Sync Battle 

Grand Canyon University’s biggest event of the year is their annual … wait for it … Lip Sync Battle. Held each fall, it’s one of the most anticipated traditions on campus, drawing a crowd of thousands of students, family members, faculty, and the nearby community.

The Lip Sync Battle provides student groups with an opportunity to put on impressive and flashy performances. And while it’s all in good fun, the competition is taken fairly seriously. Some teams put in over 90 hours of rehearsal to get ready for the big night! Lip syncing is really just the start. These performances also feature choreography, acrobatics, storytelling, and impressive audio-visual editing. Each group usually picks a theme, such as “The Hunger Games,” “Barbie,” “The Greatest Showman,” “Dune,” “Deadpool,” or “Love Island.” From there, the crowd judges their favorites and sends in their votes via phone, choosing one winning group to go home with a trophy.

For many students (performers and or audience members alike), it’s the highlight of the year and a unique Arizona college tradition only GCU can provide.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

RELATED: 10 cheapest colleges in Arizona