Seven University of Tennessee traditions every student must do before graduating

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has a history spanning more than 225 years.

All that history had led to some time-honored and steadfast campus traditions, from academic superstitions to gameday fun. A few are well known and even promoted by the university itself, including Torch Night, whereas others are passed by word of mouth from student to student.

Knox News has compiled seven UT traditions students should know about heading into this record-breaking enrollment year, including one we created that might stick around!

Paint the Rock on Volunteer Boulevard

The Rock was unearthed in 1966 from its original home, which is where Fraternity Park now resides. The huge Knox dolomite stone has been painted over with messages since the 1980s when students started promoting their causes and create art in its surface.

Painting the Rock is one of UT's most expressive traditions. It's limited only by students' creativity and the amount of money they want to spend on paint. The university encourages students to take part by adding a new layer to the Rock, and it's something every student should do at least once while they're at UT.

If you aren't feeling the creative juices yet, there's a livestream of the Rock available for anyone to watch on the corner of Volunteer Boulevard and Pat Head Summitt Street.

Avoid stepping on 'the seal' in front of Hodges Library

Tens of thousands of students walk along the Pedestrian Mall throughout the school year. But one thing you won't see is students stepping on the Seal of the University in front of John C. Hodges Library.

The superstition goes that if you step on the seal as an undergraduate, you won't graduate in four years.

Whether or not this happens is anecdotal, but better to be safe than sorry!

Students ending their time on campus as graduates can take part in another seal tradition by taking photos standing on top of it.

Go to a Tennessee Volunteers game

A big must-do for students (and parents, too) is attending a Vols game, and football is a must for most, especially for an SEC rivalry game with a packed Neyland Stadium.

The Lady Vols basketball, men's basketball and baseball are amazing options as well. Supporting any team is a great way to feel like you're a part of the campus community.

If you stick with football, there's a couple traditional options. You can try and go to every home game. You could pick the big games like homecoming, Florida or Alabama games. Or you can go to one of the special checkerboard games where you wear either orange or white depending your ticket section. Night games are awesome, too.

Get tickets online at allvols.com.

Vol Walk is a unique gameday tradition you can't miss

Before you head to a football game, you have to check out the Vol Walk. The walk starts two hours and 15 minutes before every home game. Gather at the Torchbearer statue and head down the hill onto Philip Fulmer Way and then into the stadium at Gate 21-A.

The Vol Walk is a great way to get hyped for the game, see the team up close and cheer them on early with hundreds of other Volunteer fans.

Just please don't wear the wrong shade of orange!

Torchbearer can make a sweet senior treat

For graduating seniors, one quirky tradition involves visiting the Torchbearer statue with three essential ingredients: graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows. Using a long stick or a marshmallow poker, seniors make s'mores using the eternal flame from the statue.

Your dessert might taste a little bit like gas, but it's still a delicious tradition to do right before you graduate!

Torch Night bookends the University of Tennessee

There are two parts to Torch Night that begin and end your college career.

The first is called "Torch Night: A New Beginning" and it welcomes the incoming freshmen class to UT. It's an event that symbolically passes the torch to them, and participants say an oath to the university. This upcoming class will meet at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at Thompson-Boling Arena for the event.

When students get ready to graduate, they will conclude with "Torch Night: A Farewell to Thee" as a send off. Seniors gather in their caps and gowns on the lawn at Ayres Hall to pass candles to upcoming seniors and say goodbyes.

A new tradition: Visit all the Smokey statues

In 2019, UT placed 10 statues for all 10 Smokey dogs the university has used as mascots.

There's actually an eleventh statue on campus that wasn't listed on any UT maps! Can you find the statue? Here's a hint: it's located near Smokey's doctor's office.

Knox News proposes a new tradition to visit all the statues across campus. This could be during your time as a student or during a visit to the university as an alumni. Here's where to find each statue.

• Smokey I: In front of Gate 21 at Neyland Stadium

• Smokey II: In Circle Park near the Communications building

• Smokey III: At the intersection across from Pat Summitt Plaza

• Smokey IV: At the entrance to the UT Gardens

• Smokey V: Guarding the pool at the Student Aquatic Center and TRECS

• Smokey VI: Near the second floor entrance to John C. Hodges Library

• Smokey VII: Between Strong and Clement Halls

• Smokey VIII: In the courtyard for Perkins Hall, Ferris Hall and the Science and Engineering building

• Smokey IX: Near the Ayres Hall lawn

• Smokey X: Between the James A. Haslam II Business Building and the Student Union

Keenan Thomas is a higher education reporter. Email keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com. Twitter @specialk2real.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: University of Tennessee traditions you must do before graduating