Stan Beck - College Sports Traditions: Picking Up Butch, Silent Night, and Hundreds of Others

Stan Beck has built a unique reputation as the preeminent expert on college sports traditions, and has been interviewed on the subject by numerous publications and radio broadcasts, including ESPN Radio.

Jack Wilkinson is the author or coauthor of eight books, the most recent of which include Of Mikes and Men: A Lifetime of Braves Baseball (2010) and 100 Things Braves Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die (2011). A three-time Georgia Sportswriter of the Year, Wilkinson has written for such publications as Newsday , the Miami News , the Chicago Daily News , the New York Daily News , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Associated Press .

Id like to thank my family. My wife, Cary, for her constant encouragement; my daughter, Katie Agress, for her encouragement and help with Facebook and Twitter; my son-in-law, Adam Agress, for website help with www.collegesportstraditions.com; my son, Gill Beck, for his constant encouragement; my daughter-in-law, Nicole Beck, for obtaining the photographs that are included in this book; and, Anne and Jay Cooper for their early encouragement.

Thanks to Jeff Schultz for introducing Jack and me; Anne Devlin, my literary agent; Christen Karniski, a wonderful editor; Tony Barnhart, for his encouragement and advice; and Tim Cortes, whose unique artwork graces the books cover. I would also like to acknowledge from Hyundai Motor America, Steve Shannon, vice president marketing, Monique Kumpis, senior manager, advertising, and especially Trea Reedy, senior group manager, experiential marketing. Treas leadership and vision continue to be of great help to me. From Innocean Worldwide, Id like to acknowledge Ed Miller, executive creative director; Shawn Wood, creative director; Tyson Brown, associate creative director; Joe Reynoso, art director; Casey Nichols, account supervisor; Chrissy Borgatta Liuzzi, senior art producer; Maria Ortega, project manager; Shannon Inouye, Mindi Barber, Molly McLaughlin, Suzanne Cheng, Josh Lieber and especially Bryan Di Biagio, account director. This Innocean team was responsible for The Hyundai Show Your Loyalty Campaign , and allowed me to use their magnificent creative work to illustrate some wonderful college traditions.

Id also like to acknowledge Andrew Giangola with IMG College; Tom Fuller and Bob Hope; Marty Appel, the worlds best publicist; and Paco Underhill, for his early encouragement and explanation of the publishing business from a writers perspective.

Id like to acknowledge my new friends at various colleges and universities, and those who hosted me: Dick Quinn, Bill Peterson, Scott Goode, Eric Smith, Jerry Reilly, Jeff Meredith, Paul Just, Brad Nadeau, Debby Jennings, Penny Hite, Helen Smith, T. J. Manastersky, Tom Renner, Rick Morris, Mark Brand, Kelli Sampson, Scott Morse, Phil LaBella, J. D. Campbell, and especially Butch Varno, a true inspiration.

Id like to acknowledge Scott and Stephanie Simpson, who met me only briefly, but responded by sending me books about Texas A&M traditions; Fred West, Breck Weingart, and Mike Barkett, each of whom gave me free tickets to watch their favorite schools; Joe Halverson, Amber Blecker, Mike Hite, Anissa German, and Jenny Stewart, who helped with some research; Karen DePaolo for her research and encouragement; and especially Michelle DePaolo, who did all of my database work. Also, Cody Smith and Mike Olivella for some very special photos that are included; the hundreds of colleges/universities that made me aware of their traditions, and the many that provided photos included in this book; and the local radio stations and newspapers that were excited that I cared about their traditions.

With apologies to those I have missed: The Gentlemens Club, who never doubted their potentate would do this; Angela Rothen, who submitted my very first tradition; John DeMonica; Dave and Kathy Lindsey; Stan Clymer; Greg Morris; Betty Blank; and especially Ken Weingart.

To Middleburys Brad Nadeau, for all his help on Picking-Up Butch; Georgia Techs Dean Buchan and Mike Stamus, for all things Tech; Penns Mike Mahoney, for updates on Dan Harrell and The Palestra; Georgias Claude Felton, for all things UGA and being the best; Kansas Chris Theisen, for info on the Phog and KU hoops history; Utah States Doug Hoffman, for the latest on Wild Bill; Georgia States Allison George for Samaritans Feet information; David Housel for his Auburn Tiger Walk 1989 perspective; and Tim Bourret for his Clemson and Notre Dame expertise.

Mark Blaudschun, a Jersey guy; Mike Jensen; Rick Cleveland; Steve Hummer; Mark Bradley; Tom Stinson; Bill Rankin; Baylors Todd Copeland, an esteemed historian; Vahe Gregorian; Rick Reilly; Tim Layden.; Tom OToole; Ivan Maisel; Malcolm Moran; Carroll Rogers; Dan Lauck; Patty Rasmussen; Tom Kertscher; and especially Jeff Schultz, who introduced Stan and me.

Furman Bisher; Beano Cook; again, Paul Hemphill; Edwin Keeble, the architect of Vandys Memorial Gym and the father-in-law I never got to meet; Tommy; Fitz and Jack; Pegs; Aunt Kay and Aunt Rene, for driving us to all those ArmyNavy games in Philly; Rick Majerus; the Wizard of Westwood and Nell Wooden; and the incomparable Al McGuire.

Tom Merritt; Fran Connors; Rick Sabetta; Paul and Dorothy Shea; the Fowlers, Lynn and Candace; the Petit-Bolster family: Barbara, C. J., and Caroline; Barbara Wilkinson, who knows and lived her hoops; Bill Cook, a true Tech Man; Jim Misudek; Karla Hudecek; Bill Fowler; Ron Lacey; Mike Cingiser; Tom MacDonald; Larry Hausner; Looie, as in Carnesecca; At Manuels, Brian Maloof and company, especially Bill McCloskey; Pete Van Wieren; Dr. Sparky Reardon of Ole Miss for his perspective on The Grove; and Scott Blusiewicz.

Marty Appel, the ultimate professional.

To Stan the Man Beck, for inviting me to join him on this venture, and for putting up with me.

And finally, my family: my wife, Janet Ward, and our daughters Ali and Katharine. The joys of my life, sporting and otherwise. The Stantons of Sayville, L. I., and Auntie M, as my sister Kathleen calls our beloved Aunt Maureen Dahler.

Bartosek, Nancy. Hhwaaaaaaaaaah! TCU Magazine , http://www.magazine.tcu.edu/Magazine/Article.aspx?ArticleId=386 (5 May, 2013).

Belmont Student Affairs, 100-Year-Old Pembroke Hall Built on Strong Traditions, Belmont University / Student FYI , http://blogs.belmont.edu/studentfyi/2012/10/26/100-year-old-pembroke-hall-built-on-strong-traditions/ (5 May, 2013).

The Best Post-Game Tradition in America, SI Vault , 31 August 1992, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/9344/index.htm (5 May 2013).

Best Traditions, SI Vault , 22 Aug 2011, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1189369/ (2 May 2013).

Brettman, Allan. Nike Special-Edition Shoes Will Cheer University of Oregons Pit Crew, The Oregonian , 12 Oct 2011, http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/10/nike_special-edition_shoes_wil.html (4 May 2013).

Caple, Jim. Road Warrior: Best College Tailgating, ESPN.com , http://espn.go.com/espn/thelife/news/story?id=3037293 (5 May 2013).

Casagrande, Michael. Larranaga Doesnt Sleep After Canes Crushed Duke, Sun Sentinel , 24 Jan 2013, http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-01-24/sports/fl-miami-duke-aftermath-0125-20130124_1_coach-jim-larranaga-durand-scott-duke (2 May 2013).