Go Bulls! What to Yell and Wave at Sporting Events
The whistle blows. The players burst into action. The crowd erupts! And you…do what, exactly?
You might feel a bit nervous before attending your first game. How can you show support for your USF Bulls when you don’t know any of the cheers, chants, traditions, or musical cues that seem to come so naturally to everyone around you? It never feels great to be a step behind the crowd.
We want you to feel ready for your first game. More than that, we want you to feel included from the very start of your college journey! To help, we enlisted some knowledgeable folks from around campus to help us design a handy cheat sheet and offer words of encouragement to new students.
Here’s everything you need to keep up. Go Bulls!
Overcoming Jitters
The first thing to remember is that Bulls Athletics events are a place you belong. College sports are invigorating community events that build school pride and generate memories that last a lifetime. You are meant to be there!
“It's a blast!” said Abby McCloskey, Assistant Athletic Director for Development. “It's a great way to be around other students — to celebrate the culture and the excitement of your college community.”
McCloskey recalled her own experiences attending games as a USF student. “It reinforced a strong sense of connection to my school, which made my entire experience that much more meaningful.”
Siddhant Pandey, a senior finance major from India, described his first football game experience as an international student: “When one of my friends asked if I wanted to go to a football game, I said sure, expecting it to be soccer — and that was my first American football game.”
Pandey was nervous at first. He didn’t know anything about American football, so he had no idea what to expect. “But I really liked that atmosphere,” he explained. “And whenever they scored a touchdown, the whole stadium turned green. I’ve found that to be really cool.”
When the Bulls hoop at the Yuengling Center, the vibes are good, too. “You don't need to be a sports person to be excited about basketball games,” explained Ari Thibeault, a junior public relations and advertising major at USF. “So many of my friends aren't sports people, but I dragged them out to some games and they had the time of their lives.”
Her advice? Just show up and roll with it! “Once you're in the environment, you're chanting, you're yelling, you're screaming — especially when the team is winning. People love it! They keep coming back.”
Bottom line: There’s no pressure. No one’s going to look at you funny if you mess up or get too hyped — they’ll be too busy watching the Bulls down below! Come show support in your own way.
Game Day Chants, Cheers, and Traditions to Know
POV: You’ve just been invited to your first USF game, and all you know is that “we want the folks in green to win.”
Don’t worry! We’ve got you. Here’s a basic list of the most common chants and cheers. They’re fun to learn, but every game is different! The crowd may start a new cheer or sing along to a really catchy song like “Sweet Caroline” or the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.”
S-O-U-T-H F-L-O-R-I-D-A
USF’s fight song includes the famous “South Florida” chant, where the crowd spells out South Florida and adds a “South Florida, South Florida, Go Bulls!” at the end. Here’s the entire fight song so you can learn the lyrics before you go:
USF Bulls are we,
We hold our standard upright and free.
For Green and Gold we stand united.
Our beacon lighted and noble to see.
USF Bulls are we,
For USF we'll always be.
With all our might we fight the battle
Here and now, and we will win the
Victory...
(shout) S-O-U-T-H F-L-O-R-I-D-A
South Florida, South Florida
Go Bulls Go!
T-N-T (U-S-F)
You may know the AC/DC song “TNT,” but when you attend a USF game, you’ll hear a new take on the classic. During football and basketball games, when the song plays over the speakers, replace “TNT” with “USF” and sing out proudly! At basketball games, the lights go out and everyone pulls out their flashlights, creating a thrilling atmosphere.
Horns Up
At USF basketball games, when one of our players steps up to the free throw line, the entire student section yells, “Horns up!” Then, the whole crowd holds the Horns Up sign 🤘 up high. Follow their lead!
Once the player shoots the ball, drop your arm and get ready to do it all over again if they line up for another free throw. Everyone in the arena participates to show their support for the player (except fans of the opposing team!)
You’ll also do Horns Up at football games and other sports on campus, too (it’s kind of our big thing).
Assorted Football and Basketball Cheers
Here’s a quick rundown of some other fun ways the crowd gets involved in USF football games:
- Singing the alma mater (ask an upperclassman to teach you)
- The “Charge” song on third downs
- The Swag Surf, where fans link arms and sway to the rap song “Swag Surfin’”
- The Bulls Stampede, where fans greet the players at the stadium gate with cheers and high-fives
And for basketball:
- The student section distracts opponents on the free throw line.
- When opponents miss their free throws, fans chant, “Do it again!”
- Students chant the USF players’ names when they score.
- On an opponent’s travel call: “You walked! You traveled! You took too many steps. The next time you travel, take the B-U-S.”
- Other classics like “de-FENSE!” and “Let’s Go Bulls!”
Meet Our Mascot
Our loudest, proudest Bull on the field and in the stands is our beloved mascot, Rocky D. Bull.
Over the years, Rocky got some glow-ups, trading his old-school look for the bold, athletic version we know and love. His most iconic redesign happened in the early 2000s.
Now, Rocky shows up everywhere. He’s always on the sidelines, crashing pep rallies, and making surprise appearances around campus. He’s more than a mascot; he’s USF’s hype man and No. 1 fan rolled into one — a symbol of our pride. Next time you see him, snag a selfie! #DoItForTheGram
Herd of Thunder Band
If Rocky is the face of USF spirit, then the Herd of Thunder Marching Band, a.k.a. HOT, is the heartbeat.
HOT debuted in the late 1990s with around 100 members. They arrived ready to pump up the stadium and give Bulls fans a true game day soundtrack – and they delivered. Since then, HOT has grown into around 350 members, including drumlines, color guard and the pep band that keeps the energy alive at basketball games.
HOT knows how to get the crowd on its feet. They’ve also repped USF on big stages, from parades to bowl games, bringing Bull spirit nationwide.
Themed Games
Check Instagram accounts like @usffootball, @usfmbb, or @usfwbb to see if an upcoming game has a theme.
“Some of my favorite traditions are the spirit games,” said Morgan Merchant, a USF alumna who is now a first-year graduate student pursuing her master's degree in public administration. “Football will have ‘salute to service,’ black-outs, and white-outs, with the same for basketball games. But there’s also Hawaiian night, PJ night, and last year, there was a Taylor Swift night.”
Merchant advises you to go all out, as others in the crowd will likely outdo you. Student spirit organizations like the Beef Studs and So-Flo Rodeo (see below for the details on those) fully embrace the theme.
“They’re always at the max when it comes to spirit games,” Merchant said.
Wear Green (and Gold)
The USF Bookstore offers a wide selection of green and gold options to choose from. Our Student Government also has a new $6 shirt stocked in the bookstore every year. These feature art designed by USF students.
“You see a lot of those. Some creative people cut them in certain ways for a different style,” Merchant said.
Many games include clothing giveaways — a big help for Bulls on a budget!
“There’s always bucket hats, regular hats, free shirts. I have so many free things,” Merchant said. “If there’s a free thing being given away, I’m usually going to be at that game.”
Homecoming Week and Parade
Every year, USF has a Homecoming football game. It’s accompanied by a week of festivities on all three campuses and a big Running of the Bulls parade on the Tampa campus. Monitor the USF Homecoming site for the most up-to-date information. Come early and be prepared for lots of fun!
Start Your Own Traditions
Don’t see a tradition that fits you? Start your own!
For example, Merchant’s mom took her to the bookstore in 2015 and bought her a shirt she wore to her first USF football game. It became their ritual. Even years later, as a student, Merchant still picks out a new shirt with her mom each year. Find your own gameday vibes that make you feel at home here.
Even the cheers started as some fan’s original idea! McCloskey hasn’t seen a new one pop up in a while, but she sees that as an exciting opportunity: “You can start something that impacts generations to come.”
Get Involved with Student Organizations
If you want to find yourself on the frontier of Bulls fanhood, connect with one of our unofficial student fan organizations. The passionate students in these clubs keep their peers engaged by serving as the reliable, beating heart of the student section.
The Beef Studs
At USF football games, the Beef Studs aren’t hard to spot. They’re the painted-up group at the front of the student section, shouting the loudest. For every single home game since 2002, the Beef Studs have painted anywhere from 25 to 50 people.
The Beef Studs understand their purpose — and their power. “There are times when an individual can’t get the crowd going,” explained Kyle Muffoletto, a senior mass communications major who serves as business operations manager for the Beef Studs. “When you’re there with the Beef Studs and there’s 25 of you, you can do anything. You can control the whole stadium. Who’s not going to follow the 25 crazy, painted people?”
The Beef Studs generate hype and provide game-day information for students on their Instagram page, @beefstuds, so give them a follow. And if you’d like to ask for your own fresh coat of paint, you can meet them in Lot 1 of student parking.
Everyone is welcome, including alumni and general fans. “If you can get into the game, we’ll paint you,” Muffoletto said with a smile.
The SoFlo Rodeo
From tipoff to the final buzzer, another highly visible group of students keeps energy in the Yuengling Center maxed out for Bulls basketball. Founded in 2022, the SoFlo Rodeo’s impact has already been felt by players and coaches — and recognized nationally by ESPN. Wearing their iconic neon green color and infiltrated by more mannequins than you’d expect, SoFlo’s leadership of the student section makes the bleachers rumble.
Through campus outreach and a strong presence on social media, SoFlo Rodeo has boosted attendance and built a culture of excitement around Bulls basketball.
“When people see us around campus, they’re automatically transported to the basketball games and the energy we bring,” said Thibeault, who manages online marketing for SoFlo Rodeo. “We’re helping to create core college memories.”
SoFlo Rodeo welcomes all students, giving away their “slime green” shirts at the first few home basketball games, while supplies last. “Take one of those and you’re automatically one of us,” Thibeault explained.
Follow SoFlo Rodeo on Instagram (@soflorodeo). Like the Beef Studs, they build pre-game hype and offer valuable game-day information. In fact, the groups work closely together. You’ll often see a few painted-up Beef Studs among all the neon of SoFlo, and vice versa.
If you’ve got some ideas for basketball chants and cheers, SoFlo Rodeo is open to ideas. “We're always willing to listen and get input,” Thibeault assured. “You can come sit with us. We love meeting new people.”
Join Intramural and Club Teams
Intramural sports are one of the best ways to get involved at USF. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just looking for a fun activity with friends, intramurals offer the perfect mix of competition and community. You’ll meet new people, relieve stress, and stay active. Another option is club teams.
“Get involved in club sports,” Merchant urged. “We have over 56 different club teams, and you’ll play club teams from other schools.”
Club teams have other cool opportunities, like when the USF rugby team travelled to Ireland for a tournament.
“No matter how good you are, it’s really fun,” Merchant said from experience.
The Future of USF Athletics
USF already has a strong fanbase, and things are only looking up! The 2025 football season started off with a bang as USF took down two ranked opponents two weeks in a row – Boise State and Florida.
Our men’s basketball team had their own record season in 2023-24, earning their first conference regular season title. Led by Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, they won 25 games and earned the program’s first-ever top 25 ranking.
In Fall 2027, USF plans to unveil a brand-new on-campus football stadium bursting with green and gold spirit, just steps from student housing. Plans include a student section DJ and plenty of space for tailgating outside, according to McCloskey. As the late Abdur-Rahim liked to say, “This ain’t the same old South Florida.”
Your Seat’s Already Saved
Whether it’s your first game or your 50th, USF Athletics is about more than sports. It’s about community, pride, and memories you’ll carry long after graduation. With Rocky leading the cheers, the Herd of Thunder bringing the energy, and fellow Bulls filling the stands, you’ll never feel out of place.
“There are colleges where, win or lose, you're a die-hard fan,” said McCloskey, “and I think that's starting to catch on here at USF. That’s very exciting!”
Here’s the best part: Every USF student gets into home athletic events for free. So, grab your green and gold, put your horns up, and join the excitement, because game day isn’t complete without you.
