Three hours. Two teams. One rope.

The 2024 Pull is Saturday, September 28

Odd year pullers in the pitsThere’s 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 Hope College 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 “pullers” on the rope and an equivalent number of “moralers” who relay directions and help keep the pullers focused.

“Come out and see the tug-of-war between the Sophomores and the A’s and Freshmen.”

—The 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 — their eyes, since they cannot see the signals while lying in the pit — and then heave for all they’re 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.

  • Students from Hope College participate in the Pull, an intense tug-of-war tradition. The image shows several students wearing red shirts and bandanas, exerting effort while pulling on a rope. Some are in wooden pits, straining with determination, while others are on the sidelines providing support and encouragement. An orange safety fence lines the background, and the ground is covered in dirt and grass.
  • A thick, textured rope stretches across a reflective body of water during the Hope College Pull event, a long-standing tug-of-war tradition.
  • Participants in Hope College's annual Pull tug-of-war competition lie in dugout pits, gripping a thick rope, with teammates giving directions. Spectators line both sides, watching intently. A uniformed official stands nearby, overseeing the event. Signs and banners are visible, including one that reads "THE CAGE."
  • A group of Hope College students participates in the annual Pull tradition. The Pull Coach stands on a platform with arms raised, wearing a maroon tank top with "19 Pull Coach" written on it and camouflage pants. Other team members, also in maroon tank tops, stand around him. A large banner in the background reads "Unleash Fury." The platform has "No Regrets" written on its side.
  • A participant in the Hope College Pull, wearing a red bandana and face paint, lies on the ground and looks up intensely. The participant is wrapped in duct tape and appears focused and determined. A blurred figure in red is visible in the foreground.
  • Two Hope College students participate in the Pull, a long-standing tug-of-war tradition. One student, with a Mohawk hairstyle and black face paint around the eyes, smiles determinedly with the word "UNLEASH" visible on their arm. The other student, also with black face paint, looks focused and engaged. Both wear maroon shirts and appear to be lying in the pit while pulling the rope.
  • A group of Hope College students in red shirts and bandanas huddle together with their arms around each other, preparing for the annual Pull tug-of-war competition. Their arms are marked with writing, and they appear focused and united, symbolizing teamwork and determination.
  • Participants in the Hope College Pull, a long-standing tug-of-war competition, are seen in action. The team members, dressed in maroon shirts, are intensely engaged, with some lying on the ground pulling the rope while others stand by, offering support and guidance. The coach, wearing a shirt labeled "19 Pull Coach," stands with arms outstretched, directing the effort. The scene takes place outdoors on a sunny day, surrounded by trees and onlookers.
  • A group of students at Hope College participates in the annual Pull tradition, a tug-of-war event, wearing red shirts and bandanas. One student stands on a platform with arms raised, wearing a shirt that reads "INVICTUS," while others crouch and prepare for the competition. A blurred background features a large, abstract painted sign.

This Year's Pull

The 2024 Pull is Saturday, September 28.

 

Contactoddyearpull@hope.edu
evenyearpull@hope.edu

Hope CollegeStudent Life

115 East 12th StreetSuite 107Holland, MI 49423

workP. 616.395.7942