Spirit Splash is a crazy, fun, and totally unique UCF tradition. There’s water, free t-shirts, upbeat music, and the opportunity to grab a highly coveted duck. Don’t kid yourself; it’s all about the ducks. While Spirit Splash is a great way to show school spirit, there are a few things newcomers don’t realize.
1. If you don’t get there early, you won’t get a t-shirt.
Have you seen those cool shirts with ducks on them around campus? Well, obtaining them takes work. My friends and I were in line at 8:30, and we waited on the cold, hard ground for almost four hours. A free t-shirt is always worth it, though.
2. The countdown takes forever.
Everyone knows the part where hundreds of UCF students crowd around the fountain and then run in. Lots of fanfare and screaming. But it doesn’t actually happen this way. After getting your t-shirt, everyone stands on top of each other in front of the fountain and then you wait. And wait. And wait…. That’s forty minutes in the blazing sun, packed in like sardines, with only the dance team for entertainment.
3. Getting in the water is perilous.
There are multiple drop offs before you even get into the water. And when you jump into the water, it’s always deeper than you think it is. I even fell and scraped my knees up this year, and I wasn’t the only one. If you don’t keep up, you will be trampled.
4. They don’t throw the ducks immediately.
Once you get into the water, there’s more waiting. It’s not nearly as hot, but you’re just as squished. People start throwing balls and shoes (not cool), and every time you see something in the air, you think it’s a duck. The anticipation could kill.
5. When they throw the ducks, it’s a free for all.
This may seem like a given, but until you’re in that water, you have no idea. People push, shove, and deliberately hurt their neighbors. It’s one big cluster. UCF students will do anything for a duck, and if you get one, run like there’s no tomorrow.
Spirit Splash can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to be safe. Keep the entire process in mind and be careful. People get hurt every year. Stay safe knights!