Touching Pride Rock before home games is one of the most prominent traditions of the UNA football team. 

The history behind the making of the 60-pound rock, and the success it stands for, goes back to the early 90s, said Jeff Hodges, sports information director.

“In 1993 we won the NCAA Division II Football National Championship, and it was the first one at this school,” Hodges said. “A lot of people were doing commemorative things, such as Coca-Cola’s commemorative coke bottle with the UNA logo on it. The city did some billboards, and a lot of people did paintings or drawings of special plays.”

People at the university began to ask what could be done specifically to honor the team, Hodges said.

“Around that time the movie ‘Lion King’ had come out, and (the characters) all lived on Pride Rock,” Hodges said. “The definition of pride not only means being proud of something, but it’s also a group of lions. So, we came up with the idea of having a Pride Rock.”

One of the most unique ideas for designing Pride Rock was inspired by the mascot, Hodges said.

“Joe Wallace, who was the caretaker for the lions, came up with the idea of having a granite piece and getting a paw print from the live lion mascot put on it,” Hodges said. “They put the paw print in black and added the word ‘Pride’ in fall of 1994, which was the first year we had Pride Rock with us.”

Pride Rock used to appear at all UNA football games, Hodges said.

“For five or six years, while Coach (Bobby) Wallace was still here and slightly after, Pride Rock was carried on all the away games, as well as home games,” Hodges said. “They stopped doing that because it’s very cumbersome, heavy and hard to transport. However, it’s still at all the home games.”

The football players touch Pride Rock on their way out of the dressing room, Hodges said.

“The thought behind it was that the group before them put all they had into a national championship,” Hodges said. “It’s a symbol of what they did. (The current players) are part of that tradition now.”

Pride Rock helps to remind players of their goal, said Jerone White, a junior and defensive back.

“We go into every game with one goal, and that’s to win,” White said. “Pride Rock is a reminder of that tradition and history. We play our hearts out every game — no matter the stadium, weather or opponent.”

 Pride Rock is there to inspire us and to honor the players before us, White said.

“When we see and touch Pride Rock, we remember all the great teams before us,” White said. “We will be one of the teams that future UNA football teams will think of when they touch Pride Rock.”

Pride Rock is inspirational, but it does not determine how well the team plays, said Devin Crawford, a senior and offensive linemen.

 “Pride Rock is a tradition,” Crawford said. “We play the same if we touch it or not. Every game is very important when your goal is to win national championships.”

 Pride Rock holds him to a standard, Crawford said.

“When I touch Pride Rock, I feel obligated to play my best for my teammates and coaches, and to honor the players before me,” Crawford said. “We are playing with a purpose. We play hard for our own benefit, as well as to honor those before us.”