In some places, the pre-game traditions can be as big as the games themselves. Look no further than Columbus, Ohio. There are fewer honors bigger than being the band member to “dot the ‘i'” when the Ohio State Marching Band spells out it’s script “Ohio” before Buckeyes home games.

The “Ohio” tradition is one of the greatest in college football, and the SEC has a few pre-game entrances that rival it.

Running through the “T”

School: Tennessee
Origin: 1965
Throughout General Robert Neyland’s tenure as head coach, Tennessee entered the field at the 50-yard line to their bench on the east side of the field. In 1965, Doug Dickey changed that. He moved the Volunteers’ bench to the west side of the field, and instead of entering through the sideline the team came streaming onto the field through a “Power ‘T'” formed by the Pride of the Southland Band. Since the home locker room was moved under the north stands of Neyland Stadium, the Vols enter every home game (and select road games) through the famous “T.”

2001

School: South Carolina
Origin: 1984
It’s simple, but it’ll send chills down your spine. The origins of the tradition will give you a chuckle: back in the late 1960s, a Gamecocks player saw Elvis enter a performance to the song and suggested Carolina use the entrance. That’s exactly what Joe Morrison decided to do when he took over as coach in 1983.

Shortly before kickoff, the “Dawn” section of the theme song of “2001: A Space Odyssey” comes rumbling through the speakers at Williams-Brice Stadium. As smoke pours out of the Gamecocks’ south end zone entrance, the song hits its crescendo, the curtain around mascot Cocky’s cage at midfield to reveal the bird losing his mind and the team comes sprinting out of the tunnel with 82,000 fans going crazy.

The Hog Pen

School: Arkansas
Origin: 2014

It’s one of the SEC’s newer pre-game traditions, but Arkansas went all out in introducing its Hog Pen for this year, and it blows their old blow-up Razorback out of the water. Last season, Arkansas introduced a new chromed-out pen, complete with a Razorback logo emblazoned on the front. Smoke begins billowing up from the ground, and as the gate swings open the team emerges from the locker room and onto Frank Broyles Field. Now when Razorbacks fan call the hogs, they get to watch them enter the field in style.

“Only Gators Get Out Alive”

School: Florida
Origin: 1990s
There aren’t many more intimidating environments in the SEC, and all of college football for that matter, than Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as The Swamp. When the Gators take the field, they do so in similarly intimidating fashion. With deep, ominous music playing, reminiscent of the “Jaws” theme song, a video of real alligators plays on the stadium’s video board. As 88,000 fans do the Gator Chomp, a deep voice bellows over the stadium speakers, “Only Gators get out alive!” The Gators also still use a recording of long-time PA announcer Bill Finch’s famous “Here come the Gators” call on occasion when Florida enters the field.

Bear Bryant’s Speech

School: Alabama
There’s no more powerful or legendary figure in the SEC than Bear Bryant, just like there’s no program as prestigious as the Crimson Tide. It’s only fitting, then, that the Bear’s voice is what calls the team out to the field. No one can quite make out every word of the speech, but the message is clear. Alabama fans hear Bryant tell the team to conduct themselves the right way and to play like winners is his deep, gravelly voice. The introduction ends with legendary broadcaster Eli Gold saying, “This is Alabama football,” and the crowd responds resoundingly with, “Roll Tide!”

While it’s not flashy, the introduction is perfectly fitting for Nick Saban’s no-nonsense program. And while there are no theatrics, there’s not much more intimidating for an opponent than to hear one of the greatest coaches of all time egging the home fans on.