Gameday Traditions
Information
Baylor Mascots
Baylor offers NCAA Division I competition in the Big 12 Conference with the University’s Athletics Department ranking among the nation’s best. Students at Baylor have opportunities to cheer for championship-level teams in college athletics by taking advantage of the free student tickets to all regular-season home matches for the school’s 19 sponsored sports. From running the Baylor Line in the state-of-the-art McLane Stadium on the banks of the Brazos River to packing the Bear Pit for the men’s and women’s basketball games, the student experience at any Baylor Athletics event is second to none.
As a Baylor student, you can enjoy the action at any campus athletic events at no cost! For most sports, just bring your student ID card to the game for admission. For some sports including football, students register for tickets online in the days before the game. Supporting our fellow Bears in athletic competition is one of our favorite ways to show our Baylor pride!
Learn more about some of the activities you will be able to participate in by CLICKING ON THE LINKS BELOW.
Homecoming
What is homecoming?
Homecoming is a tradition that welcomes back former students (alumni) to return to the Baylor community and celebrate Baylor culture. It often centers on a home football game and may include a parade and special dinners for alumni hosted by their majors.
Baylor University is home to the nation’s oldest Homecoming Celebration. Hosted in 1909, the first Homecoming featured a parade, a football victory, and the chance to catch the Baylor spirit again.
Homecoming remains one of Baylor’s most cherished traditions. Among the activities is Mass Meeting, when the story of the Immortal Ten is passed down to new students.
Running the Line
Established in 1970, the Baylor Line is one of college football’s most exciting student traditions. As the leaders of the Baylor spirit, students in their first year at Baylor — including new transfer students — arrive early and stay until the singing of “That Good Old Baylor Line” after each home football game. Proudly wearing personalized gold jerseys with their nickname and graduation year on the back, new students gather at the south end of McLane Stadium prior to the game and then run onto the field to create a human tunnel to welcome the team onto the field. Students sit in the Baylor Line seating right behind the opposing team as they cheer the Bears to victory.
Tailgate
What is a tailgate?
A tailgate is a party that occurs before the start of a football game. In the tradition, people will park their trucks in the parking lot outside of the stadium and serve food from their tailgate (the back of the truck). It gives people a chance to meet up with their friends, socialize, and show their team spirit before the game.
Student organization tailgating is featured in an area just off the walkway leading to McLane Stadium, near the football practice fields and the Gov. Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village. An area just for the Baylor Line and spaces for student organizations give students a social environment all their own with one of the best views of gameday festivities.
Baylor also has a special tradition called sailgating. Fans can park their boats in the marina next to the stadium and host their pregame party there.
The Game
This content and more can be found in Baylor's Foundations program