Three hours. Two teams. One rope.

The 2024 Pull is Saturday, September 28

Odd year pullers in the pitsThere鈥檚 nothing quite like the Pull. One of the longest-running college traditions in the country, the three-hour tug-of-war has been active for more than 120 years.

In a 91自拍论坛 tradition that began in 1898, freshman and sophomore teams face one another on a crisp fall day, tethered together by a rope that each intends to claim. Three weeks of practice in the month of September lead the teams to Pull day. Each team has a up to 18 鈥減ullers鈥 on the rope and an equivalent number of 鈥渕oralers鈥 who relay directions and help keep the pullers focused.

鈥淐ome out and see the tug-of-war between the Sophomores and the A鈥檚 and Freshmen.鈥

鈥擳he Anchor, November 1898

Every year, the pullers push themselves to the limit (many say past the limit), by working in unison with team mates who are also giving their all. They face an opponent that they cannot see, but who they know are doing the same.

A puller waits for the signal from the moraler 鈥 their eyes, since they cannot see the signals while lying in the pit 鈥 and then heave for all they鈥檙e worth, willing the rope home. Then they lock in and try to keep the other side from doing the same.

This is repeated again and again.

In three hours, maybe less, the contest will be over. The memories, though, will last a lifetime.