For Texas A&M fans, an introduction to the schools, teams and places of the Southeastern Conference, This is the new home of Texas A&M. Country The Southeastern Conference Members Alabama Crimson Tide Arkansas Razorbacks 752 981 Auburn Tigers Florida Gators 770 936 Georgia Bulldogs 503 Kentucky Wildcats 615 1,035 Louisiana State Tigers 896 Ole Miss Rebels 629 571 756 Mississippi State Bulldogs Missouri Tigers 925 South Carolina Gamecocks 340 Tennessee Volunteers Texas A&M Aggies Vanderbilt Commodores Number below logo indicates mileage from College Station. ATM_0712_SECInsert.indd 1 7/3/12 2:03 PM As Texas A&M prepared for its fi rst year in the SEC, Th e Association of Former Students reached out to Aggies who live and work in SEC cities to learn about each university’s key traditions, landmarks and other local hotspots. University of Alabama www.ua.edu On the banks of the Black by UA fans as a nod to long-time famous homemade biscuits at Warrior River in Alabama sits football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, Th e Waysider, Tuscaloosa’s oldest a school that once bordered the who was known for wearing a restaurant that was featured on town, but now sits in the center houndstooth hat during games. ESPN’s “Taste of the Town” segment of Tuscaloosa. At Texas A&M, the “Ninety percent of tailgating for in 2008. Th e closest A&M Club mascot is a dog and the Aggies say UA fans takes place on the Quad to Tuscaloosa is the Birmingham “Gig ‘em,” which fi ts right in with (Simpson Drill Field times two); A&M Club, tx.ag/BAMC. For a the University of Alabama—“Bama” the other ten percent are in areas list of hotels in Tuscaloosa and for short—where the mascot is around the stadium,” said Savannah the surrounding areas, try tx.ag/ an elephant and the fans chant, Gable ’07, career advisor at UA. UAhotels. “Roll Tide.” Both traditions began On the north side of the when a sports writer referred to Quad there is a pep rally the Alabama linemen as a herd of on the steps of the Gorgas big elephants that rolled over the Library, aft er which the opponent like a crimson tide—a Million Dollar Band phrase that stuck aft er another marches to Bryant-Denny writer described a game against Stadium as part of the Auburn that was played in a sea pre-game Elephant Stomp of red mud. On gamedays the that takes place an hour Quad, also known as the “heart before game time. of campus,” fl oods with tents and tailgaters bedecked in crimson and It would be diffi cult to white, as well as black and white visit Tuscaloosa without houndstooth—a print adopted stopping for one of the Photo by Clyde Woodruff , Jr. University of Arkansas www.uark.edu Th e University of Arkansas team with hog calls. When they tx.ag/Arkhotels. Be sure to connect campus is located on a hilltop sing the university’s alma mater, with the Ozark A&M Club: tx.ag/ overlooking the Ozark Mountains Arkansas students point toward OzarkAggies. in Fayetteville. Originally, the Old Main—the university’s mascot of the University of signature building that appears on Arkansas was a cardinal, but aft er its seal. Similar to the Century Tree playing a football game against on Texas A&M’s campus, Spoofer’s LSU “like a wild band of Razorback Stone—a chunk of limestone left hogs,” Arkansas is now represented behind from the construction of by Tusk, a live Russian boar that Old Main—is a popular spot for resembles a razorback hog. But, marriage proposals. Th e walkway in Tusk is not alone. Th ere is an entire front of Old Main is called Senior family of uniformed mascots: Big Walk, because the cement bears the Red, the “fi ghting razorback,” Sue names of all former students dating E, the female hog, Pork Chop, the back to the fi rst graduating class “kid-sized” mascot, and Boss Hog, a in 1876. nine-foot infl atable mascot. Visiting teams tailgate along Maple Street In case game day doesn’t on the north side of the stadium. At provide enough exercise, Reynolds Razorback Stadium fans Fayetteville off ers many hiking chant, “Woo Pig Sooie,” which is trails and caves. Stop by Doe’s Eat their offi cial Hog Call—a tradition Place on Dickson Street or Hugo’s that came out of a group of farmers for their award-winning burgers. who wanted to spur on the football Accommodations can be found at Photo by David Schook ATM_0712_SECInsert.indd 2 7/3/12 2:04 PM University of South Carolina www.sc.edu As the proverbial rooster said, “It’s almost a hang loose hand in South Carolina. Pawley’s was crows to begin the day, so does the sign—a gig ‘em hand sign with your mentioned on the Food Network’s revealing of Cocky the gamecock pinky sticking out.” “Diners, Drive–ins and Dives” show signal the beginning of a football in 2010. Be sure to connect with the game at the University of South Iron gates can be seen in many South Carolina A&M Club while Carolina. Th e USC football stadium places around campus. Th e iron you’re in Columbia: tx.ag/SCAggies. is about a mile away from the gates on the campus’s academic For hotel information, tx.ag/ campus, so no tailgating takes place plaza, referred to as “the horseshoe” USChotels. on campus. Visitors will hear Th e because of how the Sandstorm played over the speakers street is shaped, are at Williams-Brice Stadium, a song the same gates that that sprung up at a turning point in appear on the USC a game four years ago and quickly logo. Th e horseshoe became a USC tradition. Inside the is the oldest part of stadium, dubbed “Th e Cockpit,” campus and features USC fans yell, “Game!” and the the oldest library in opposite side replies, “Cocks!”—a the state. volleying chant that continues across the stadium. Th ey also make Stop by Pawley’s a hand sign to signify the spurs on a Front Porch for gamecock that means, “Go, Cocks!” their assortment of Assistant Director of Fraternity and hamburgers named Sorority Life Ryan Williams ’01 aft er landmarks University of Tennessee www.utk.edu Th e Tennessee Volunteers— part of Vol Walk, and fans line Boasting the largest seating oft en shortened to “Vols”—adopted up to watch and cheer them on. capacity in the SEC, Neyland their name from the state’s Th e team is ushered into Neyland Stadium was named in honor nickname, “Th e Volunteer State,” Stadium by Tennessee’s Pride of of former athletic director and which stemmed from the number the Southland Band as part of a coach General Robert Neyland, of brave soldiers from Tennessee giant “T” formation. One of now who attended Texas A&M prior to during the War of 1812. About four canine mascots in the SEC, receiving an appointment to West two hours before the game, the the University of Tennessee is Point. A unique approach to game football team walks down Payton represented by Smokey, a blue tick day, UT fans take advantage of the Manning Pass to the stadium as coon hound that sits on the fi eld Tennessee River that borders one during games. It is side of the stadium where upwards Smokey who leads of 200 boats dock together to the Vols football form the “Vol Navy,” which acts team out of the as a fl oating tailgate party. “We’ve band’s giant “T” never done it, but seeing as how and onto the fi eld. we have a maroon and white boat, Shields-Watkins we might join in now,” said Kristin Field is fl anked Rearden ’98, associate professor by orange and of science education at UT. Check white-checkered for hotels, tx.ag/UTh otels, and endzones—a be sure to connect with the East design that began Tennessee A&M Club while you’re in the 1960s with in Knoxville: tx.ag/ETAggies. former coach Doug Dickey. Photo by Ben Moser ATM_0712_SECInsert.indd 3 7/3/12 2:04 PM Mississippi State University www.msstate.edu Mississippi State was originally winning band, but everyone is called Mississippi A&M College looking forward to seeing the Aggie and the fans were called Aggies Band perform,” said Dana Franz before Bully the English Bulldog ‘01, associate professor at MSU. came along. Prior to game time, Before the game starts, the song Dawg Walk takes place, where the “Who Let the Dogs Out?” plays to MSU football players walk through rev up the football team. the Junction—a circular area by the Davis Wade Stadium where many Th e Little Dooey is a popular MSU fans tailgate. Visitors’ tailgates hangout and barbeque spot, are mainly located in the area west although it rivals Petty’s, which is of Stone Boulevard toward the MSU a roadside stand on Highway 12. Vet School. Th e Bulldogs don’t wave MAFES (Mississippi Agricultural towels or pom-poms at football and Forestry Experiment Station) games; they ring cowbells, a Cheese Store on campus features tradition that started when a jersey cheeses made in Starkville that sell cow wandered onto the playing out early in the football season. Photo by Jay Parker fi eld during a game against Ole Starkville is a small town and there Louisville and West Point.