Spirits and Traditions
Tyler Junior College, since its founding in 1926, has exemplified spirit and tradition at a post-secondary institution. A rich history of student life involvement sets TJC apart from other two-year colleges and fosters an ever-growing Alumni Association.
National recognition also has helped establish the College's Spirit and Traditions:
Bleacher Creatures
Tyler Junior College created Bleacher Creatures and Gold Rush in order to help boost support for athletic events by providing a common black/gold t-shirt that unifies sections of fans and supporters.
Drumbeat
Drumbeat started in 1948 and it is an unbroken tradition since that time. The drum beats to the Apache Cadence 24 hours a day starting on Monday of Homecoming Week and continuing until kickoff on Saturday. The tradition of the drumbeat is that if it does not stop we will win the game on Saturday but it stops we will lose the game. Tradition has held for the past 18 years, with one exception, one time the drumbeat stopped and we tied the game. But it was the worst weather that you can imagine for a football game. It hailed, rained one inch per thirty minutes, and had cloud to ground lightning, with the game being delayed three times due to the lightning.
Fight Song and Alma Mater
| Fight Song | Alma Mater |
|---|---|
| Sons of Black and Gold Will you let the foe, Take from us the victory? Hear our warriors’ chorus, Sweep the line before us Carry on to victory. Onward, Onward – Charge against the foe. Forward, Forward – Apache banners go. Sons of Mars and Thunder Rip that line assunder Carry on to victory. |
All Apaches, men and maidens Raise your voices high Till the echoes heavy laden Swell up to the sky! On to Honor! On to Glory! On to Victory! Hail to thee our Alma Mater! Hail to T-J-C! |
Ramey Tower
In the 1940's TJC played in many national football games including the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Members of the Tyler Community were interested in knowing if TJC won or lost its game and so they came up with a way for the community to know if TJC won their game. Ramey Tower was visible at the time from Broadway, since the trees on campus, planted by Dr. Potter were very small and Tyler Junior College is located on a hill at the present location. Ramey Tower is lit in gold if we win the game and in white if we lose the game. In 1996 the Student Senate put the chime system in the tower and had the wiring and paint redone on the tower. The next year they held a contest on campus for a stained glass window design and the art department helped to construct the stained glass window in Ramey Tower. The window captures many traditions, including the old logo, the school flower, the yellow rose, the Apache, and the first building built on the TJC campus, Jenkins Hall.
Rim March
The Rim March began in 1948, and has been an unbroken tradition since that time. As best can be determined, the Rim March started as a way to give a psychological advantage to our football team, much as the Indians did in the old westerns, silhouetting themselves on the canyon to intimidate the cowboys, so the Apache Band and Belles march the rim to show the Black and Gold. The march takes place approximately 45 minutes prior to kickoff.
