roundtable

Syracuse Football Debates Signature Walk-Out Song for College Football 26

With the highly anticipated release of EA Sports College Football 26, fanbases across the nation are diving into the virtual gridiron. A key feature of the new game, as highlighted by EA Sports, is the emphasis on presentation and game atmosphere, including team-specific entrance songs. Virginia Tech’s “Enter Sandman,” Boston College’s “Shipping Up to Boston,” and the universally recognized “Seven Nation Army” are among the new additions.

This has sparked a discussion among syracuse football fans and staff regarding whether the Orange should adopt their own signature walk-out song. Currently, the team’s entrance involves the marching band performing as fans enter the Carrier Dome.

When asked if the current walk-out setup should be maintained, staff members offered varied perspectives. Dom expressed a preference for keeping the marching band’s presence and suggested performing “Down the Field” at a strategic moment, but still desires a dedicated walk-out song. Calvin appreciated the current simplicity and its ability to energize the crowd but acknowledged the potential benefit of a specific song. Kevin advocated for increased marching band involvement and envisioned a pre-game sequence featuring the National Anthem, “Down the Field,” a lighting change to orange, and a hype video.

Regarding potential walk-out song choices, Dom proposed three options across different genres, prioritizing songs not already claimed by other prominent schools. His top choices are “Panama” by Van Halen and “Lucky Son” by Creedence clearwater Revival, with the latter being preferred for non-night games. “We Dem Boyz” by Wiz Khalifa is a distant third option.

Calvin suggested leaning into Syracuse’s identity as New York’s sole FBS college football team with “empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. He also proposed “In and Out” by Lud Foe as a more surprising pick, referencing a viral video featuring Kyle McCord from the previous season.

Kevin’s selection focused on resonating with the players and reflecting Head Coach Fran Brown’s unique approach. He suggested contemporary rap from a hometown artist like Stove God cooks, or even a collaboration with Westside Gunn, to create something distinctive and relevant to Syracuse.