How to Maximize School Spirit as a Georgia Tech Student

Authors: Gowtam Kommi and Manlu Chen

Introduction:

Maximizing school spirit is an essential part of the Georgia Tech experience, yet many new students struggle to figure out how to get involved beyond the classroom. While Tech is known for its academic rigor, its culture is equally defined by traditions like the Ramblin’ Wreck, spirited athletic events, and student organizations that foster connection and pride. Tapping into this culture early helps students feel at home, reduce isolation, and build lasting friendships. Follow this guide to maximize your school spirit!

Table of Contents:

1. Step 1: Show your colors.
   • Official School Colors
   • Outfit Inspiration
   • Where to get your Merchandise
2. Step 2: Learn the lingo & icons
   • Tech Lingo
   • Songs and Chants
     • Campus Icons
       • Buzz
       • Sideways
       • George P. Burdell
       • Ramblin’ Reck
3. Step 3: Cheer at Athletics
   • Football at Bobby Dodd
4. Step 4: Embrace unofficial traditions
5. Step 5: Join spirit organizations
6. Step 6: Take on spirit focused roles
   • Goldrush Dance Team
   • Marching Band
   • Becoming Buzz
7. Step 7: Carry on the legacy

Step 1: Show your colors

The easiest way to start showing school spirit is to wear it! Whether through official school merchandise or creative outfits featuring Georgia Tech’s official colors, students can easily show their pride by walking the walk and embracing Tech-inspired fashion.

Official School Colors:

To kick off your journey toward showing Georgia Tech pride, start by wearing the school colors. Georgia Tech’s official colors are Tech Gold and White, with Navy Blue also featured prominently in school merchandise and branding.

The Institute provides a detailed guide on how to represent the Georgia Tech brand. If you’re looking for additional ways to express your school spirit beyond wearing the colors, visit Georgia Tech’s Branding and Color Guide to learn how to incorporate official colors and logos into your designs and websites here.

Georgia Tech’s Colors:

Don’t have any clothes in the exact colors? Any hue of yellow will suffice as a substitute for gold. Mix and match similar colors and styles to formulate the perfect outfit showcasing some variant our school colors. Showcase your creativity and innovation through your outfits!

Where to get your merchandise:

If you would rather rock the official merchandise, then head on over to the stores that sell official Georgia Tech merchandise. Burdell’s or Barnes & Noble @ Georgia Tech supply official merchandise ranging from jerseys, hoodies, sweat pants, hats, and water bottles. Don’t know how to get there?

Now that you walk the walk, can you talk the talk?

Step 2: Learn the lingo & icons

Georgia Tech has rich traditions and language that reflects the fun and innovative culture here. From our world-famous fight song to fun and festivities, Tech offers a community that is steeped in traditions.

Tech Lingo:

You might have heard conversations around campus and wonder what sort of jargon students at Tech are using. Here at Tech we have nicknames for landmarks and acronyms that may leave you feeling a little lost if you don’t know what they mean. Listed below are some acronyms and slang words that are commonly used by students around campus.

• Burger Bowl/Couch Park – large green space adjacent to the Campus Recreation Center’s Penny and Roe Stamps Recreation field on West Campus. Previously known as Burger Bowl because the field used to have a Burger King next to it.
• CRC – Campus Recreation Center where students, faculty, and staff can access a range of well-being activities and fitness classes.
• CULC – Clough Undergraduate Learning Center or Clough is the main study spot with classrooms, study rooms, open spaces, labs, academic services, and Kaldi’s (a coffee shop).
• Freshman Hill – the hike from the entrance of Bobby Dodd to Crossland Towers, or the street known as Bobby Dodd Way NW. Notorious for it’s steep climb from popular east freshman dorms to the library.
• Hell Week – a week where all the midterms for a student lines up within the same week, or a week loaded with midterms.
• Nave – North Avenue Dining Hall, a dining hall on the farthest east side of campus.
• PG – Price Gilbert Memorial Library, connected to CULC and Crossland Tower, PG is also a popular study area with many study areas, poster printing, double monitors, and books to check out.
• RATS – Recently Acquired Tech Students.
• THWG – TO HELL WITH GEORGIA.
• Willage – West Village Dining Hall, a dining hall on the farthest west side of campus.

Songs and chants:

Georgia Tech has many popular songs and chants, some of which are accompanied by dances. The Institute has two fight songs: Ramblin’ Wreck and White and Gold, with Ramblin’ Wreck serving as the official fight song. Georgia Tech also highlights its long-standing rivalry with the University of Georgia through the spirited “To Hell with Georgia” chant.

In addition to fight songs and chants, several other tunes are played at football games and paired with traditional dances. Budweiser and The Horse are crowd favorites performed by the Georgia Tech Marching Band to energize fans and celebrate the Yellow Jackets. To fully immerse yourself in Tech tradition, learn the lyrics and dances to these songs and join in the fun!

“Budweiser”: Begin by bending your knees in a steady rhythm so you move up and down. The motion should alternate between people, so when you’re up, the two people next to you should be down, and vice versa. Then at the right time, scream “GO GEORGIA TECH” while punching your fist in the air. To learn more, watch here.

“The Horse”: Begin by learning forward and back while rolling your arms in a circular motion. Then, side-step twice to the left, and clap, followed by two steps to the right, and clap. This dance is traditionally performed at the end of the game. As the song nears the end, students run out of the stadium and off the field in a frantic manner. To learn more, watch here.

Campus Icons:

Georgia Tech has a campus mascot and other campus icons that have historical significance (to Tech Students) and have traditions accompanying them.

Ready to show off your newly learned Georgia Tech spirit?

Step 3: Cheer at Athletics

As you learned in Step 2, Georgia Tech has many football chants and dances that help generate excitement and energy among the crowd during games. Whether at home or on the road, Georgia Tech fans always show their spirit by wearing gold and white and bringing their loudest “A” game. You can also play sports by joining official teams, intramural leagues, or ask around for casual group ups around campus.

Football at Bobby Dodd:

Georgia Tech on average has around 6-10 home games a season. That’s 6-10 opportunities to showcase your colors, tech lingo, chants, and dances you’ve now acquired. To make sure you’re fully prepared, check to see if you’re dressed correctly. Georgia Tech will declare one of the biggest games of the season as a White-out game, which showcase our schools unity and spirit. Otherwise for a regular game, students can follow the provided outfit inspiration guide to gear up for the game.

While at the game cheer as loud as you can! Follow along with the crowd and learn the dances that go along with popular songs played by the marching band. You may even spot Buzz running around or the Reck parked at the game. Alongside Buzz you’ll be able to experience the Georgia Tech Marching Band, Goldrush Dance Team, and the Reck.

Want to get more hands on?

Step 4: Embrace Traditions

Here at Georgia Tech we have a rich history of traditions, some officially endorsed by the school, while others are organized by students. Students can immerse themselves in traditions like Freshmen Cake Race, RAT Caps, stealing the T, the Mini 500, and Midnight Buzz.

• Freshmen Cake Race and RAT Caps: You can show your spirit by participating in the cake race and wearing your caps around campus and at games.
• Mini 500: Join or create a team of engineers and innovators to compete in the annual homecoming tricycle race on Peters Parking Deck.
• Stealing the T off buildings and signs. This tradition is not endorsed by the school and is officially punishable by expulsion.
• Midnight Bud: Keep on the lookout for student made posts about when the Midnight Bud will be, and use the lyrics you’ve learned to release some stress!

Ready for some commitment?

Step 5: Join Spirit Organizations

Georgia Tech offers student organizations that create opportunities and events that bring the spirit and love Georgia Tech has. Joining an organization opens up a behind the scenes look at all the work that is put into creating a school with maximum spirit.

• The Student Alumni Association focuses on keeping Georgia Tech students and alums connected with the Georgia Tech Community. Reference our How to get involved with the Georgia Tech Student Alumni Association (SAA) guide.
• The Student Government Association (SGA) focuses on the student body and how to govern and better the Tech campus. If you want to get involved with the nitty gritty details, SGA is the org for you.
• If you want to amp up the spirit and work directly behind the scenes, the Ramblin’ Reck Club promotes Georgia Tech traditions and spirit by organizing the official traditions mentioned in Step 4.

Time to embody YELLOW JACKET SPIRIT (literally)!

Step 6: Take on Spirit Focused Roles

Students can embody Georgia Tech by taking on spirit focused roles by joining the Goldrush Dance Team, the Georgia Tech Marching Band, or even becoming Buzz.

Goldrush Dance Team

• Performs at all home football and basketball games, selected away games, and national dance competitions.
• Requires regular rehearsals (3× per week minimum) and technical/athletic dance skills.
• Acts as visible ambassadors: appears at campus, community, and charity events representing Tech spirit.
• Raises school prestige by winning national-level titles.
• How to join Goldrush

Yellow Jacket Marching Band

• One of the oldest student orgs (founded 1908), with over 300 members across majors.
• Performs at every home football game; pep band (subset) plays at basketball/volleyball games; travels to away games.
• Blends tradition and innovation: plays fight songs, forms iconic field formations (interlocking “GT,” Tech Tower), and adapts to contemporary music.
• Builds strong internal community: members share rehearsal loads, travel, traditions (e.g. RAT caps), and a shared identity.
• How to join the marching band

Becoming Buzz, Our Mascot

• Official Georgia Tech mascot since ~1980; brings personality, energy, and visibility to athletic and campus events.
• Makes ~300–400 appearances annually beyond sports: campus programs, alumni events, charity, corporate functions.
• Central to traditions: leads crowd chants, performs stunts like crowd surfing, conducts the band during games.
• A secret identity tradition: multiple students rotate playing Buzz; reveal often happens at graduation, fostering mystique and continuity.
• Recruitment interest form to become Buzz
  

Create connections, legacy, and new traditions.

Step 7: Carry on the Legacy

By now, you’re not just a fan. You’re part of the story, the culture, and the legacy we’ve created here at Georgia Tech. Carry on the legacy by sharing the lore with freshmen, pass down the traditions you’ve learned, and maybe even invent your own unofficial tradition.

Welcome to the Yellow Jacket Family.

Appendix:

White and Gold Lyrics:

Up with the white and gold
Down with the red and black
Georgia Tech is out for a victory
Well drop a battle axe on Georgia’s head
When we meet her our team is sure to beat her
Down on the old farm there will be no sound
‘Till our bow wows rips through the air
When the battle is over Georgia’s team will be found
With the Yellow Jacket’s swarming ‘round! Hey!

Ramblin’ Wreck Lyrics:

I’m a Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an engineer
A helluva’, helluva helluva helluva helluva engineer
Like all the jolly good fellows I drink my whiskey clear
I’m a Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an engineer

Oh, if I had a daughter sir, I’d dress her in white and gold
And put her on the campus, sir, to cheer on the brave and bold
And if I had a son, sir, I’d tell you what he’d do
He would yell “To Hell With georgia” like his daddy used to do

Oh, I wish I had a barrel of rum and sugar three thousand pounds
A college bell to put it in and a clapper to stir it around
I’d drink to all the good fellows who come from far and near
I’m a ramblin’ gamblin’ hell of an engineer! Hey!

To Hell with Georgia Chant:

Don’t send my boy to M.I.T.,
The dying mother said.
Don’t send my boy to Emory,
I’d rather see him dead.
But send my boy to Georgia Tech,
’Tis better than Cornell.
But as for the University of Georgia —
I’d rather see him in hell!

Chorus:
To hell, to hell, to hell with Georgia,
To hell, to hell, to hell with Georgia,
To hell, to hell, to hell with Georgia,
The cesspool of the South!

Verse 2:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the stomping of the dogs,
We will teach those poor darn farm boys they should stick to slopping hogs.
When the Jackets are triumphant, we will raise a mighty cheer:
“We’ll do the same next year!”

[Chorus]

Verse 3:
On the field between the hedges, there arose a mighty stench.
In the Dog machine, the engineers will throw a monkey wrench.
When the Jackets are triumphant, we will raise a mighty yell:
“Them dogs can go to hell!”

[Chorus]

Verse 4:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the NCAA,
They’re investigating Georgia players to see how much they’re paid.
After counting all the cars and the loans alumni made,
They outpaid FSU!
(Alternative lyric: “the NBA” or “NC State”)