As rivalry weeks approach in college sports, anticipation builds far beyond campus. For Hockaday alumnae, now scattered between various schools, the game represents more than just a rivalry; it becomes a source of pride and success for their respective schools.
Rivalries between the University of Notre Dame and University of Southern California (USC), Auburn University and University of Alabama and Florida and Georgia are a few of many competitions that occur in college sports each year. Between conferences and divisions, the games exist as a source of pride, showing the student and alumni devotion to their respective schools and how it builds a special, interconnected community. The traditions that date back decades and the heightened sense of school spirit bring universities together as a whole.
For Caroline Petrikas ‘23, a Notre Dame sophomore, the first experience at the Notre Dame vs. USC football game formed her strong sense of passion towards the team. Rivalry week at Notre Dame means stands packed with alumni and constant conversation about the matchup with USC, bringing excitement that extends beyond the game itself.
“Freshman year, Notre Dame played USC right after exams,” Petrikas said. “It was our first big game. It was a night game, and it was the day before we left for fall break. My family came up, we tailgated and we ended up winning. It ended up being one of my favorite games of my time at Notre Dame.”
Even though wins are always special, all the important traditions are what make games special to Petrikas and enforce her devotion to her school.
“Friday night right before midnight, there’s these things called Midnight Drums,” Petrikas said. “Then on Saturday morning, there’s bagpipes playing across campus. No matter the outcome of a game the stands all link arms and sing the Alma Mater. No matter the traditions, there’s always alumni and new people surrounding you, and you can establish a strong community with them.”
USC harbors intense sports rivalries with both Notre Dame and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Millie Trumpower ’23 loves the sense of community that her school, USC, possesses through sports.
“In high school, I was on the cheer team, and I loved the sense of community that came from rooting for a team,” Trumpower said. “So, when I applied to colleges, I always prioritized a school with a big football team because I wanted to continue having a team to root for. Even though we aren’t great at football, I felt super proud and connected with the team.”
The rival connection to the game against UCLA brings USC traditions to a new level, such as promoting selling t-shirts and protecting the Tommy Trojan Statue, a symbol of USC, 24 hours a day.
“One moment from the rivalry that I’ll never forget is when USC won [versus UCLA] sophomore year,” Trumpower said. “It was so exciting because we had lost the prior year, so it was super fun finally experiencing a win as a student. The crowd in the stadium went crazy; in that moment, the school really came together as a community.”
At Auburn University, rivalry traditions take on a distinct southern intensity, especially at the Iron Bowl against big-time rival, the University of Alabama. For London Rhodus ’23, the sense of community at Auburn stretches far beyond just the football game.
“You can just feel the excitement in classes,” Rhodus said. “Everyone knows there’s a big weekend ahead. Even the professors seem aware of the big game. They’re not necessarily going easier on you, but there’s definitely this shared understanding that something big is happening. “
Rhodus said participation can be seen in the stands of the Iron Bowl
“For big games like the Iron Bowl, they’ll do color themes, like a ‘navy out,’ where everyone in the stands coordinates,” Rhodus said. “Alabama will wear one color, Auburn another and the stadium looks unified.”
When Auburn wins, Rhodus said the celebration extends beyond the stadium.
“One thing that’s special about Auburn is that whenever we win any sporting event, everyone goes to roll Toomer’s Corner,” Rhodus said. “It’s a really special tradition that brings our community together.”
This same blend of tradition and tension also defines rivalry culture.
“Game-day atmosphere at Alabama is insane,” Alabama student Alexa Welch ‘23 said. “The outfits, tailgating and school spirit take over the entire quad and the strip. It is a full city takeover.”
This energy spreads beyond campus boundaries as fans pack the city, turning the day into a statewide marvel.
“Strangers yell ‘Roll Tide’ at each other all day,” Welch said. “Especially during Iron Bowl week, there is friendly trash talk and watching the other team’s games all season to prepare for what shapes the Iron Bowl.”
Leading up to the big game, Welch said traditions add to the anticipation.
“We also have a tradition of getting game day pins that poke funny jabs at the Auburn Tigers,” Welch said. “We also wake up on Iron Bowl Day every morning and run a lap around our house and have fun tailgating parties to get ready for the game.”
During rivalry week, Welch said the campus unites around school spirit.
“The campus becomes a community during rival week,” Welch said. “Everyone wears crimson, and we talk about the game in class. There are high standards and discipline for hard work with legacy and history, which always makes us aim to win.
Some of her most memorable moments have come during the Iron Bowl itself.
“One rivalry moment I will never forget was my freshman year Iron Bowl,” Welch said. “We were down and had about seven seconds left, and the play was fourth and 31, and we won the last second. It was electric.”
Though the rivalry is very intense, Welch shares that it ultimately strengthens her friendships with her Auburn friends rather than divides them.
“Alabama vs. Auburn rivalry has been going on for a long time, and it is an intense rivalry,” Welch said. “But something cool is that the kids in college always look forward to seeing their friends from the opposing school and celebrating the Iron Bowl together.”
While Alabama and Auburn divide one state, another Southeastern Conference (SEC) rivalry takes over an entire region each fall. At the University of Georgia (UGA), Jane Clark ’23 experiences rivalry week through the annual Florida-Georgia matchup in Jacksonville.
For Clark, the excitement begins long before the clock starts.
“Leading up to the big games, especially Florida, the atmosphere on campus and in Athens is full of excitement, anticipation and preparation,” Clark said. “The week before the game is so fun, getting ready to leave town and pack all of your game day attire.”
For many Georgia students, the preparation becomes part of the tradition, marking the unofficial beginning of rivalry weekend.
“The Georgia-Florida game always falls on our fall break and usually Halloween too, so we have Friday off from classes, and we all pile into cars and drive to St. Simons, GA, the day before the game,” Clark said.
The tradition extends beyond the stadium, turning the weekend into a multi-day celebration with both teams.
“We spend all day on the beach in Halloween costumes and then [wake up] bright and early Saturday morning [to] drive to Jacksonville,” Clark said.
The road trip itself has become one of the rivalry rituals for Clark.
“Some of the most memorable traditions include the road trip to St. Simons, spending all day on the beach with thousands of other UGA students and then caravanning out to the game and attending tailgates in the lots outside the [Jaguire’s] stadium,” Clark said.
During rivalry week, Clark describes how the campus visibly transforms.
“During rivalry week, the energy on campus definitely heightens,” Clark said. “Even the campus buses have ‘Beat Florida’ on the front, and the gas stations put it in their marquees.”
Some of her most memorable moments have come during the rivalry football game itself.
“During the 2025 game, UGA and FL were down in the fourth quarter and then in the last four minutes got a touchdown, and the student section just erupted, and it was so fun,” Clark said. “The whole remainder of the game was so loud and exciting, and when everyone was leaving the stadium, the cheering continued all the way to the parking lots.”
While Georgia students experience the rivalry from Athens, students at the University of Florida (UF) share a similar excitement for the annual Florida–Georgia matchup. For Payton Arbaugh ’23, the game brings together a mix of tradition, travel and school pride.
“Something that makes the game really special is that it’s played in Jacksonville instead of on either campus,” Arbaugh said. “It’s supposed to be neutral territory between the two schools, and the whole city fills with fans from both sides.”
For many students, the weekend becomes a major social event as well as a football game.
“There are tailgates everywhere, and it’s packed with people,” Arbaugh said. “A lot of students travel to Jacksonville for the game, so campus can actually feel pretty empty that weekend.”
Arbaugh said the rivalry reflects the strong pride students have in Florida athletics. Even when negative outcomes arise, sports communities worldwide stay interconnected, even when not always succeeding.
“Students take a lot of pride in being Gators,” Arbaugh said. “Even when the outcome isn’t what we want, people are still excited for the game and the traditions around it.”
