Traditions

[weyuo]

Well folks football season is finally here(Hip Hip Hooray!!) and I thought I'd start a thread about some of the very cool college traditions starting with this one:

The "Ramblin Wreck" of Georgia Tech

 

[SubbaBub]

I still like the idea of "The Wildings Beyond the Wall of the Dog Pound."

If the students could start an American Outlaws type of section, it would kick the GameDay experience right in the pants.

 

[weyuo]

And then of course the most famous Bison of them all....

 

[uconnell]

And then of course the most famous Bison of them all....

Poor, drugged up animal.

 

[CTMike]

Anything is better than students shaking keys!!!

 

[lne001]

 

[huskypantz]

I like the way the GT students interact with the other fans - they do cheers where the student say "Yellow" and the old-heads return "Jackets". So simple. We could turn our UConn/Huskies UConn/Huskies Huskies/UConn UUUUUU chant into one of those.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Let's just start with wearing a GD blue shirt.

 

[CTMike]

Benedict mentioned this as an inspiration for a future student-led tradition between the 3rd and 4th quarters...

 

[Garrett]

I've read this a couple years ago how FSU's "warchant" got it's start. It was circa 1986, a boisterous drunk student started doing this crazy sound sometime during the game, other students joined in, before long it was something the entire crowd started doing. I don't remember if the "chop" part was originally part of it or not, but no doubt it was soon incorporated into the chant. The original story I've read was much more intriguing with actual names and opponent.

Chief Osceola and Renegade was added around the 2nd year of Bobby Bowden who liked the USC Trojans entrance with the horse and rider.



I'm not sure what traditions UConn has, but it seems a coach can have a lot of influence in this aspect. Several coaches within the last 10 or so years have incorated a player "walk" into their school's tradition. Pre-game, players would be gathered at some place near the stadium and walk to their locker rooms with fan support cheering them along the way. David Cutcliffe at Duke and Mark Stoops at UK among others have done this.

Also interesting is how Auburn got it's "War Eagle" chant. I think there were 2 versions of the story, but the one I vaguely remember was that some time in the early leather helmet days, Auburn was behind in a game and up in the sky was an eagle circling the stadium. From that point forward, Auburn would come from behind and win the game. The saying was invented off of that event.

 

[TheDrifter75]

On the Football Gameday Changes, I posted this

I've always thought they should do more with actual Huskies on game day. Basic gist of my thought is, hours before game time have an interactive area set up with several Husky dogs. This could involve anything from just a fun area for kids, meet and greet, and pictures too, maybe, a dog rescue/adoption set up. I'm sure someone more creative than me could explore the possibilities on that. Then when the team is introduced have the dogs come out first either in a pack or some reasonable assimilation of a dog sled team. Any riff off that would be fine. Thoughts and criticism appreciated. Go UConn

You could have that event anytime feasable during the game, end of 3rd qtr etc, I personally just like it best at the beginning. Of course Jonathan would lead the charge!

 

[SubbaBub]

It takes a lot of work to get the dogs to remain calm in a stadium environment. I can see the handlers trying to chase down errant dogs looking foolish.

You can do a lot with the U-C-O-NN chant. I don't particularly like the way they do it at BB games. It's too fast. I'd prefer something more rhythmic in between plays.

U, {clap} {clap} {clap}, C {clap} {clap} {clap}, O {clap} {clap} {clap},N (pause), N, (pause), U...(repeat)

Any long drive would have the place rocking as they march down the field. (Being quiet for the snap of course)

 

[Papadukes]

I've been to many Virginia Tech games and I'm always telling my family that I go with I'm jealous of a packed stadium and one side is screaming Lets Go and the other side is screaming Hokies until Enter Sandman starts and now everybody is jumping up and down. My family has never noticed I always yell HUSKIES Gonna be a great year. Can't wait

 

[FartMan69]

There's a reason none of the suggestions on how to start a "new tradition" come from this board.

 

[TheDrifter75]

It takes a lot of work to get the dogs to remain calm in a stadium environment. I can see the handlers trying to chase down errant dogs looking foolish.

You can do a lot with the U-C-O-NN chant. I don't particularly like the way they do it at BB games. It's too fast. I'd prefer something more rhythmic in between plays.

U, {clap} {clap} {clap}, C {clap} {clap} {clap}, O {clap} {clap} {clap},N (pause), N, (pause), U...(repeat)

Any long drive would have the place rocking as they march down the field. (Being quiet for the snap of course)

The Dogs can be acclimated to a crowd. Either, each dog is leashed with a handler, or set up with a rig together such as they do with a dog sled. The actual sled being a whole other deal that may or may not be feasible. Thats why you brainstorm that stuff and come up with something that works. If they can run out with buffalos, steers, Sooner Schooners and a myriad of other horse shows etc, surely UConn could work it out with a few dogs.
Something along the lines of what you're talking about would be cool during game play as well.

 

[Nostical]

I'm all for creating new outlets for displaying fan enthusiasm but some can get cheesy (remember the wave?) so care must be taken. The multiple animal entry idea seems forced and ripe for PETA protests and without a history to point to, would be hard to justify. In light of his already impressive work on changing the game day experience I'm confident Benedict can provide the leadership to explore some good ideas but the clear takeaways from what makes the other stadium traditions so cool are threefold.
1. The stadiums are full. Imagine those traditions with half empty seats.
2. Fans are IN their seats, not standing in the shadows in nooks and crannies.
3. Fans are wearing school colors.
Our stadium design provides challenges. And our fan mindset is almost non-conformist.
If this team's play can generate the energy and excitment to match Diaco's charisma, and the natural media buzz surrounding winning can become louder, many current and future fans who are now ho-hum may embrace (and re-embrace) Husky football. If they show up early, enthused and ready to engage, then whatever new tradition is employed can add greatly to the fan experience. I just want to be sure we have our ducks in rows, our chickens and eggs in perspective and our carts and horses in proper position.

 

[weyuo]

I'm all for creating new outlets for displaying fan enthusiasm but some can get cheesy (remember the wave?) so care must be taken. The multiple animal entry idea seems forced and ripe for PETA protests and without a history to point to, would be hard to justify. In light of his already impressive work on changing the game day experience I'm confident Benedict can provide the leadership to explore some good ideas but the clear takeaways from what makes the other stadium traditions so cool are threefold.
1. The stadiums are full. Imagine those traditions with half empty seats.
2. Fans are IN their seats, not standing in the shadows in nooks and crannies.
3. Fans are wearing school colors.
Our stadium design provides challenges. And our fan mindset is almost non-conformist.
If this team's play can generate the energy and excitment to match Diaco's charisma, and the natural media buzz surrounding winning can become louder, many current and future fans who are now ho-hum may embrace (and re-embrace) Husky football. If they show up early, enthused and ready to engage, then whatever new tradition is employed can add greatly to the fan experience. I just want to be sure we have our ducks in rows, our chickens and eggs in perspective and our carts and horses in proper position.

The ho hum non conformist fans have to be lead by a raucous student section. That's the way it happens or is started anyways at other schools.

 

[weyuo]

I think Texas A&M has the tradition thing down to a science. The "Midnight Yell", "12th Man" and Reveille are great football traditions but the most moving are "Silver Taps" and "Muster".



Reveille

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

Anything is better than students shaking keys!!!

Especially when many of the students dont even have key because they took the free bus from campus!! Haha

 

[kemba]

Benedict mentioned this as an inspiration for a future student-led tradition between the 3rd and 4th quarters...

Sandstorm worked fine for that when they started doing it. It's just you need a big crowd or its just lame.

 

[Nostical]

The ho hum non conformist fans have to be lead by a raucous student section. That's the way it happens or is started anyways at other schools.

Agree.

 

[CL82]

It takes a lot of work to get the dogs to remain calm in a stadium environment. I can see the handlers trying to chase down errant dogs looking foolish.

You can do a lot with the U-C-O-NN chant. I don't particularly like the way they do it at BB games. It's too fast. I'd prefer something more rhythmic in between plays.

U, {clap} {clap} {clap}, C {clap} {clap} {clap}, O {clap} {clap} {clap},N (pause), N, (pause), U...(repeat)

Any long drive would have the place rocking as they march down the field. (Being quiet for the snap of course)

I prefer the U C O N N, UConn, UConn, UConn chant myself.

I'd love to see a dog sled with a team of Huskies at the start of the game lead the team out, perhaps with costume Jonathan on the sled and then circle the field.

 

[businesslawyer]

Sandstorm worked fine for that when they started doing it. It's just you need a big crowd or its just lame.

When they first started that, it was cool and relatively spontaneous. But you need (I) students, and (ii) the University to give up the $20 bucks they charge for Mike Enright to promote something.

 

[TheDrifter75]

I'm all for creating new outlets for displaying fan enthusiasm but some can get cheesy (remember the wave?) so care must be taken. The multiple animal entry idea seems forced and ripe for PETA protests and without a history to point to, would be hard to justify. In light of his already impressive work on changing the game day experience I'm confident Benedict can provide the leadership to explore some good ideas but the clear takeaways from what makes the other stadium traditions so cool are threefold.
1. The stadiums are full. Imagine those traditions with half empty seats.
2. Fans are IN their seats, not standing in the shadows in nooks and crannies.
3. Fans are wearing school colors.
Our stadium design provides challenges. And our fan mindset is almost non-conformist.
If this team's play can generate the energy and excitment to match Diaco's charisma, and the natural media buzz surrounding winning can become louder, many current and future fans who are now ho-hum may embrace (and re-embrace) Husky football. If they show up early, enthused and ready to engage, then whatever new tradition is employed can add greatly to the fan experience. I just want to be sure we have our ducks in rows, our chickens and eggs in perspective and our carts and horses in proper position.

Yours is a fair assessment of my idea and the obstacles would have to be overcome. Your 3 points are critically important.