At ECU, football season is full of lots of traditions. We as a college family have so much pride in our football team even though we may not win every game. Whenever you step into Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, you see a sea of purple and yellow all over. I am so happy that I go to a school with so much school spirit.

One of the biggest traditions at ECU (not just on game days) is the purple gold chant. Whenever you hear someone say purple you shout gold back no matter what you are doing. It just makes you feel so giddy inside with school spirit. The most notable time that this is yelled is when the team is entering the stadium to get everyone hyped up. This doesn't only happen in our stadium either, we take over other stadiums too.

Most schools have a first down chant but ECU is said to have done this before it was even cool to do. After every ECU first down the announcer says "where it is the first down...", then the crowd says "PIRATES". Then the announcer says "Pirates" himself. It's very simple but awesome to see and hear and makes you appreciate the school spirit even more.

Another tradition is done at the beginning of the 4th quarter of every game. The red No Quarter flag is raised at the 4th quarter and this goes all the way back to old pirate days. On ECU's website, it says "Once a battle began the Jolly Roger was lowered and replaced with a No Quarter flag signifying that the Pirates would now take no prisoners and give no quarter to their enemy." Meaning that during the 4th quarter of our game we will not give in to our enemies.

At ECU we have a very distinguished and noticeable entrance in college football. The football team comes out to Jimi Hendrix's classic tune through the purple smoke at the beginning of every home game. There's nothing like being there and witnessing that in person. No matter how many times you witness it, it is still a great tradition. It is an irreplaceable tradition and no one can do it like ECU.

You can't have a game day without tailgating. ECU fans located all over Greenville are out tailgating hours before the game starts. When you walk around on a game day there is a smell of food on the grill and sense of school spirit. At every tailgate lot there are corn hole games being played, and people throwing footballs. Everyone is decked out in their purple and gold and enjoying each other's time.

There is a sense of anticipation and excitement as fans of all ages get ready to enter the stadium. Families are tailgating alongside all of the college students. You can tailgate anywhere really because in Greenville people are tailgating everywhere and everywhere you go you can feel the pride radiating off of everyone. Tailgates bring people of all ages, races, genders, and backgrounds together for a few hours to all be one family in Pirate Nation.