Axe ’Em, Jacks!
You can read more about these and other traditions in the Centennial issue of Sawdust Magazine.
A tradition of team spirit
At SFA, you don't have to be an athlete to get in on the fun of Lumberjack athletics. Our unique traditions are part of the full SFA experience, and we welcome all Lumberjacks to join us in our fight song as we cheer our teams on to victory.
Grab your axe handle, put on your craziest purple outfit and get ready to cheer on the Lumberjacks!
Purple Haze student section
Whether you love athletics or just love to be around people who are super excited to be Lumberjacks, joining the students in the Purple Haze student section is the best way to demonstrate your SFA pride!
Purple Haze is the nickname for the student cheering section at all sporting events. Everyone becomes a member of the Purple Haze student section after receiving their Purple Haze T-shirt at Orientation. What are your duties as a member? Unite with your fellow Lumberjacks and scream for the home team in the Purple Haze section. Don't forget to wear your purple!
Of course, there's more to Purple Haze than cheering: Jacks Charge is a special tradition for football season, when the Purple Haze section rushes the field before kickoff, waving their axe handles proudly.
During basketball season, members of the Purple Haze student section put on crazy costumes, sit right behind the other team's hoop and do their best to distract the opposing team.
Ol' Cotton and purple victory lights
You’re not a true Lumberjack until you’ve heard the resounding boom of Ol' Cotton. Members of the SFA ROTC roll Ol' Cotton out for every home football game, and they fire it every time the Lumberjacks score a touchdown. If you’re anywhere on campus — or anywhere in Nacogdoches, for that matter — Ol' Cotton will tell you when the Lumberjacks are scoring.
And we celebrate every Lumberjack victory — from football and basketball to cross country — by lighting purple victory lights on the Steen Hall towers and the lights on the Baker Pattillo Student Center clock tower.
Fight Song
From the oldest town in Texas
Where the Lumberjacks chop through the pines
From the oldest town in Texas
Where we fight for the purple and white
From the oldest town in Texas
Where the purple lights shine bright for vict’ry
We fight for our honor and praise our alma mater
Hail dear ol’ S-F-A!
Go! Jacks! Go!
Fight! Jacks! Fight!
Win! Jacks! Win!
S-F-A-S-U!
From the oldest town in Texas
Where the purple lights shine bright for vict’ry
We fight for our honor and praise our alma mater
J-A-C-K-S,
Goooooooo Jacks!