O ver the last 160 years, Towson University has grown from a small teachers' college of 12 students to one of the top universities in the Mid-Atlantic. Tigers from all walks of life have come to campus and made TU their second home.

Students have also helped develop the traditions that make TU what it is today.

"Sometimes I think it's easy to look back at previous times and think those past events were the epitome of everything that this school was or has been,” says Felicity Knox, TU assistant university archivist. 

"The most important aspect of Towson University's traditions is that they evolve as the community itself changes, Knox adds. "That keeps us from doing something just because it's tradition, which could render something that was once important into something stale and meaningless."

From older traditions that have received a facelift to ones developed by the most recent generations—and even some that have disappeared—here is a look at some of the events, ideas and actions that make TU a great place to be.

TU Student Takes Graduation Photo with the tiger statue in front of Stephens Hall

Traditions Tigers have loved for generations

Honoring TU’s Tigers

With four Tiger statues on campus, there was bound to be some tradition surrounding the bronze protectors of campus.

For years, graduating students have posed with the statues in their caps and gowns. A newer tradition involves rubbing the ears of the bronze statue for good luck before exams.

A group photo from one of the first Junior Mothers and Daughters Weekends back in 1928
A picture of families posing together during the most latest iteration of Towson University Family Weekend

Above: One of the First "Family Weekends" was in 1928, with the annual Junior Mother’s Weekend, in which mothers visited their students at the Maryland Normal School. Below: Students and their families pose for a picture at the most recent Family Weekends. 

Family Weekend / Junior Mother’s Weekend

Each fall, TU students play host to their families during Family Weekend.

The highlight is the annual crab feast followed by a Towson Tigers football game.

While the tradition has been a mainstay, it started differently nearly 100 years ago when the Maryland State Normal School (MSNS)—TU’s earliest incarnation—held its first Junior Mother’s Weekend.

It was held in November 1926, when 100 mothers of the school’s junior class, which was then equivalent to freshmen, came to spend the weekend with their children. The tradition ended around 1957. A new family weekend began in spring 1980 before becoming the traditional fall weekend we know today in 1998.

Tiger Pride Day

TU traditions aren’t confined to campus.

Tiger Pride Day is the annual day of advocacy where hundreds of students trek to Annapolis to share what matters to them with Maryland’s lawmakers.

This spring’s event will be the 28th iteration, and thousands of students have participated over the years.

A picture of the Towson University Marching Band going to the ground while playing the theme song to the ESPN highlight show Sportscenter

The Marching Band’s Highlight Reel

In 2004, two students in the Towson University Marching Band suggested adding the theme song from ESPN’s “SportsCenter” to their repertoire.

Now a standard at football and basketball games, it’s also played at Convocation and pep rallies.

When the classic opening notes play, students begin to sway from side to side while the marching band’s sousaphone players see how low they can go, limbo-style, while keeping the beat.

TigerFest

Each spring, there is one question on the mind of all students: “Who is playing TigerFest?”

What started as a one-day music festival has become a weeklong series of events including block parties, food festivals, a petting zoo and more. It’s planned entirely by students through the Campus Activities Board.

But the highlight remains the concert, which has featured some of music’s biggest names.

Past performers include:

  • Lil Yachty
  • The Roots
  • Pharrell Williams
  • the All-American Rejects
  • Kid Cudi
  • My Chemical Romance
  • Playboi Carti
TUstaff pose together during last spring's end of semester Tiger Tuesday Bash

Traditions of today’s Tigers

Tiger TUesday

Tiger TUesday started in 2023 as a greeting shared by the Towson University Student Government Association and quickly turned into a weekly celebration, bringing the community together through TU pride, spirit and connection.

Every Tuesday, community members are encouraged to wear black and gold, share their school pride and celebrate what makes TU special.

There are several campuswide Tiger TUesday Bashes throughout the year, featuring music, giveaways, free food, raffles, carnival rides and more, giving the TU community a chance to unwind and celebrate.

Alma Mater

To coincide with TU’s 150th anniversary in 2016, a new alma mater was created.

Composed by J. Kyle Richards ’92 and orchestrated by Brian Balmages, TU’s former assistant director of bands and orchestras, the song is now a staple at Commencement—even playing during the virtual 2020 ceremony during the pandemic.

But it’s not the university’s first alma mater. That drew its inspiration from early school colors and first appeared in the 1914 Normalite yearbook under the name “The White and The Gold.”

“The White and The Gold” appeared in Commencement programs until 1996, when it was replaced by Maryland’s state song, “Maryland, My Maryland.”

TU Photo

Each fall, Towson University welcomes its newest students to campus for Convocation. Afterward, the new Tigers head to Unitas Stadium for a class photo, forming the shape of Towson University’s brand mark — a giant “TU" (pictured above).

The tradition began in 2016 and featured longtime photographer Kanji Takeno braving the elements atop the Unitas Stadium.

Dance The Madness

Students finish their routine for Dance the Madness

TU’s fraternity and sorority life comprises organizations from different backgrounds, cultures and interests.

One of Homecoming Week’s longest-running traditions, Dance the Madness, is a competitive coed group performance in which student organizations partner to present a short routine that promotes school spirit.

The event also serves as a pep rally for athletics, with many teams in attendance to get students excited for the season.

Late Night Breakfast

The newest tradition on TU’s campus puts an early-morning spin on the late-night snack.

Introduced in 2024, Late-Night Breakfast is hosted in all campus dining halls in the days leading up to finals.

Students enjoy special breakfast dishes served by guest dining hall workers, including TU President Mark Ginsberg. Along with food, there is music, photo booths, crafts, board games, massage chairs and more to help students relax before their exams.

A photo of Newell Hall during Maryland Normal School's Old English Christmas Dinner

Traditions you might have forgotten

Old English Dinner

Starting in 1926, there was a tradition that might have come straight from a classic black-and-white holiday movie.

The Old English Christmas Dinner took place through the early 1940s. Held in Newell Hall, it served as one of the social highlights of the year for students, faculty and staff.

It started during the tenure of the sixth principal/president, Lida Lee Tall, who encouraged social activities to promote camaraderie and give students an opportunity to hone their social skills outside the classroom.

Founders' Day

The very first day of classes at MSNS was Jan. 15, 1866.

Beginning in the 1920s, Jan. 15, became a day of celebration for the school called Founders’ Day. The school community listened to speakers during the day and celebrated with a dance and refreshments in the evening.

After World War II, Founders’ Day programs became part of the midwinter Convocation, and the speeches began to focus on the topic of education as a whole.

While the formal Founders’ Day celebrations mostly disappeared by 1966, TU still marks Jan. 15, as Founders’ Day.

The first marathon football game in 1966

The first Marathon Football game was held in December of 1966 and saw Towson State College play Loyola College for 72-straight hours to raise money for charity.

Marathon Football

In the 1960s, Loyola College student Larry Evans came up with a new philanthropy concept: raising money by breaking records and playing three days of continuous flag football.

The games would be played by students from area colleges, with Towson State College becoming the first partner. The money would go to Santa Claus Anonymous, a Baltimore-area charity that donates toys and clothing to needy children.

In December 1966, students from Loyola and Towson State College played for 72 hours straight. They raised about $7,000 ($71,000 today), and Towson earned bragging rights after scoring 944 points to Loyola’s 580.

That weekend, 24 players went to the hospital with various injuries. Despite that, TU continued to participate in Marathon Football until 1983.

Philanthropy continues on TU’s campus through events such as Stuff-A-Bus, TigerTHON and Impact TU.

Traditions continue!

As TU continues to grow, new traditions are bound to emerge.

To learn about what’s happening on campus and any new traditions that might be developing, follow Towson University on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

And don’t forget to follow your favorite student groups and organizations. Their traditions could become the next great part of TU history.