Before the college football season kicked off, the Sports Department set out to highlight the passion and pageantry of the game beyond the scoreboard. That plan included a weekly Joy/Wonder/Discovery feature to explore themes that resonate with fans, such as mascots, tailgating—and, in this case, music.
Reporters leaned into a quirky and culturally rich angle: the rise of pop songs becoming essential to the game day experience, from Wisconsin’s “Jump Around” to Michigan’s “Mr. Brightside,” and anthems at LSU, Oklahoma State and beyond. The feature traced how these modern singalongs have evolved into beloved student traditions, creating shared experiences that now rival older collegiate rituals.
The team landed an exclusive interview with Oklahoma State alumnus Garth Brooks about the use of his song “Friends in Low Places” at Cowboys games, adding both star power and historical insight to the story. The video component, curated and edited by video journalist Mike Householder, drew on a network of AP photographers and reporters to collect footage of students singing and dancing in stadiums across the country.
The result was a cross-format package that connected college football’s deep traditions with the evolving ways fans express unity and spirit.
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