College campuses nationwide are full of storied histories and lasting traditions. For those universities that participate in an NCAA sport, few traditions are bigger than those that precede a sporting event. Cheering your team on to victory is the quintessential precursor to those same sporting events, and cheering for your school's football team is one of the best ways to begin what will surely be a great game. To the people lucky enough to be students and fans of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets you will definitely know of the great tradition that is Yellow Jacket Alley. For those that aren't, it is worth attending a Georgia Tech home game just to experience the buzz!

When you go to an NFL game, what are you doing two and a half hours before kickoff? When you attend an MLB game, what are you doing two hours and 30 minutes before first pitch? Most of you are still at home; some of you may be driving to the game; a few of your may be tailgating. Georgia Tech fans are on Yellow Jacket Alley.

Yellow Jacket Alley is a small, one way street that stretches from 4th Street to Bobby Dodd Way just in front of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Historic Grant Field in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. Officially known as Brittain Drive, Yellow Jacket Alley is lined on one side by Peter's Parking Deck and by the Catholic Center, Alpha Chi Omega's, and Alpha Delta Pi's Greek houses on the other. On normal days the street will be lined with cars and a trail of yellow jacket caricatures can be seen painted on the street. On game days the experience is something completely different.

Two and a half hours before every home game Yellow Jacket Alley is lined with fans and supporters of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The purpose is to welcome the team into the stadium and onto the field, and boy do we do it with style! The team doesn't always show up exactly two hours and 30 minutes before the game, but until they do the Georgia Tech drumline entertains the crowd with their incredibly orchestrated skills. Their drums can be heard as far away as North Ave, and everyone nods their head to the beat as they play. When the team finally arrives, the show really starts.

The first thing you hear are the police sirens of the Georgia Tech Police Department as they escort the team buses to the Alley. Next, the distinct horn of the 1930 Model A Ramblin Wreck as it rolls down Yellow Jacket Alley. Then the cheers from the Georgia Tech Cheerleading squad pump up the crowd as they follow in the Wreck's wake. Georgia Tech's dance squad gracefully follows the exuberant cheerleaders, and by then the crowd is really screaming. Then you see him.

Standing a few inches above the crowd, Paul Johnson is a veritable presence as he leads his team, the Yellow Jackets, down their alley. He doesn't high five the crowd like the cheerleaders. He doesn't fist bump anyone like the Wreck Club. He doesn't smile to the fans like the dancers. He doesn't have to; he's Paul Johnson. The coach that has led the Jackets to a 19-6 record in his first two years as head coach is given every ounce of respect and praise he has earned as he walks, and he walks like a leader. Behind him are his followers. The jersey's show numbers like 9, 20, 21, 8, 1, 2, but the crowd screams, "Nesbitt", "Jones", "Dwyer", "Thomas", "Burnett", and "Butler". Camera's flash, fans yell, assistants smile, players walk. The Yellow Jackets have arrived, and they have arrived with all due pomp and circumstance.

A picture is worth a thousand words, a description can portray an instance, but there is nothing like the real experience. Being a part of Yellow Jacket Alley as the team comes through is something every fan should experience, and every opponent should fear. I will see you there next September.