Citadel Football – Cheers, Customs, and Tailgating Traditions

• City: Charleston

• Home: Johnson Hagood Stadium (named for Governor Johnson Hagood)

• Mascot: Spike the Bulldog

• School Colors: Blue and White

• Conference: SoCon

• Website: http://www.citadelsports.com/index.aspx?path=football

Fight Song

Go Dogs, Go down the Field,
Let's win this game!
Fight'em and Bite'em,
The Corps sings your fame!
Rah – Rah – Rah!
Fight on and never yield,
It's plain to see
That the Corps will take the Dogs
To Vic – to – ry!

Cheers & Customs

• Alma Mater – The Citadel Alma Mater

• Cadet March-On – The Corps of Cadets march into Johnson Hagood Stadium with great pomp and circumstance 20 minutes before kickoff to start the pregame festivities. This beloved tradition is not to be missed!
  – Citadel alumnus Pete Matonis says he loves "seeing the The Citadel's Corps of Cadets march onto the field prior to the games at Johnson Hagood Stadium. I hated having to do it as a cadet, but as an alumnus, it fills me with pride to see the Corps assembled en masse – especially when the national anthem plays. The march-on of the alumni reunion classes at Homecoming when they join the Corps on the field is another great event. Go Dogs!"
  
  
• Touchdown Cannons – Each time the Bulldogs score, the cadets fire the famous Touchdown Cannons. The cannons also lead the cadet march-over to Johnson Hagood Stadium.
  – Citadel fan Charlie loves when the Cadets march into the stadium every football game, and the freshmen form a "C" corridor for the team to run through to enter the stadium before kickoff. "When the cannon and riflemen fire volleys after each score," Charlie says, "it just makes for an electric atmosphere."
  – Shelly Spradley of Lexington says that the freshman cadets also do push-ups for each touchdown scored. Shelly says that she also enjoys "listening to the freshman singing on the sidelines. They look like they are having fun!"
  
  
• Sittin' Pretty – Not so long ago, women wore hats and white gloves to all Citadel games. To this day, female fans tend to be among the most well-dressed in the South, as it is a time-honored tradition for ladies to look their finest while cheering for the Corps.
  
  
• Hey, Baby! – Associate Athletics Director Andy Solomon, writing in honor of Bulldog's 100th anniversary, celebrates these fun traditions: "Watching and hearing the Corps of Cadets sing 'Hey, Baby' in the second half is a favorite of many, and it isn't uncommon to see Spike, the Bulldogs' Muppet-like mascot, carried on the Corps' shoulders all the way to the top of their section. And don't forget those lovable live bulldog mascots that roam the sidelines, barking at opponents and referees alike." Read Andy's entire article, Bulldog Football Marks 100 Seasons, here.
  
  Firing the Cannons – Courtesy of Citadel Alumnus Bubber Hutto