No, college softball fans, you’re not crazy. There really was broccoli hanging from the dugout fence for Mississippi State during their first-ever appearance at the Women’s College World Series on Friday.From wigs to cows to making it rain with fake money, teams across the country have found their niche celebrations and rallying cries.As softball continues its meteoric rise each postseason (just last week, ESPN recorded its most-watched NCAA Softball Regionals on record, including three series that peaked at over a million viewers), it’s these moments of connection and pure joy that make the viewing experience unlike anything else in college sports. Of course, social media is a driving factor, but in recent years, viewers are coming not only for the game but also for the antics and the players behind them.One particular face appeared on social media throughout the NCAA Tournament. Cheeks pink with excitement, curly hair flowing and a Hawaiian shirt covered in vegetables over his shoulders, Broccoli Guy has become one of the viral moments of the postseason. Jim Stewart Allen, the Washington state native behind the sensation, said this isn’t just a bit. It’s an extension of who he is.
Social media fueling college softball’s rise thanks to broccoli and TikTok dances
From a broccoli-dancing superfan to players posting TikToks, college softball's most entertaining personalities are bringing new fans.













