With campus back and bustling, navigating Stanford during your first quarter can be overwhelming. As the quarter goes on, upperclassmen start to throw around words like “The Axe,” “The Red Zone” and “All Right Now,” and it can be confusing, especially when it comes to traditions and all things Stanford spirit. This is why we’ve created A frosh’s guide to Stanford football: sharing the essentials to being the best Stanford fan you can be!
One of the staples of the student experience is becoming a part of the “Red Zone.” This is the official name for the student section at home sporting events. During football season, there is no specific student section-affiliated pre-game event; however, there are a bunch of activities, food, games, and entertainment that take place next to the stadium.
The student section is the best place to see a beloved tradition of ours called “The Walk”. This is when the players parade into the stadium followed by coaching staff, the Axe Committee, the Cheer team, the Dollies (the dance team), the Tree, and the always wacky Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band. Typically, there are three stops, but every so often there is a fourth for special occasions.
The Walk begins with the Band playing in the Band Shak, until the players arrive. It then follows the players to the front of the stadium, where Cheer and Axe Committee join them while Band continues performing. The Walk comes to an end as Band, Tree and Dollies all come back to the red sand pit by the track and rock out to a few more songs.
After The Walk is over and kickoff inches closer, it’s about time to make your way into the stadium to the Red Zone! Students enter for free using your Red Zone Pass (your login is emailed to you) and scanning it at any one of the entrances, though the one to the front edge of the stadium is closest to the Red Zone. This football season, the Red Zone is located in sections 136, 137, 138, 139, 140 (to the left of the tunnel facing the stands) and 102, 103 (to the right of the tunnel facing the stands).
The Band sits directly adjacent to the tunnel in section 101, where they perform at pregame, halftime, postgame and throughout. On the side of the Red Zone closer to the visitor section is where the Cheer team performs stunts and gets the crowd loud for third downs, field goals and touchdowns!
On the other side of the Red Zone, in front of Band, is where Dollies perform. They wear their traditional red dresses and gloves and dance throughout the game as well as perform with the Band during pregame and halftime field shows. As a student, there are plenty of chances throughout the game to hold up signs that staff will give you, make it on the Jumbotron, and jump to All Right Now!
Speaking of which, if you were at the Discover Stanford rally at Frost, you know this song! It is the official fight song of Band and has a place for the entire crowd to jump on “5-6-7-8-WOO!” Our fight song is played at pregame, whenever we score a field goal or touchdown, and when we win.
With this layout, come to the game this weekend at 7:30 p.m. again Georgia Tech to show up, show out and, as always, GO CARD!