Anderson Arena cheering

[BGorDeath]

Is it necessary to drop an f-bomb or other profanity when cheering? Kids or no kids, this is a societal problem when fans think it is their God given right to swear at opposing players, coaches and refs. Before you start screaming something at a game, ask yourself, "would I say this in front of my mother" or "would I want my sister's kids to hear me saying this".

I think it does not show any class if fans are using profanity and is a bad representation of the university. Besides, being more creative with your taunts is a much better way to get at someone than just saying "you suck, (insert f-bomb)."

Now, I have to get back to ^&*%%$$%$%^#* work.

[Kaleena08]

Personally I feel that the "profane" language used isn't too much of an issue. If we're referring to "swear" words, yeah we all say them, but I have heard far worse comments said to refs and players not involving them. Besides if you are offended so easily, I don't think you should be attending any game where there is horrible officiating, or the game in general because you will hear it one way or another.

The issue with the band. I can agree that they should be more involved with the game. There are plenty of other colleges whose band is just as into it as the team and fans. When I went to Notre Dame for hockey, their band was awesome in the aspect of cheering and what not. How lucky they are. Who can I contact to complain about this?

When it comes to the non-students at the game. Adults, townies, whatever you want to call them. Well...they are pathetic. At least in my opinion. Granted there are some parents, and some select fans who I hear yelling and jumping, and props go for them. As for the rest of them...when us students are raising our hands and looking at you, we are not trying to fly, we are encouraging you to stand up and cheer. Clapping and the occasional yay is not sufficient.

Now with the students...don't expect more of them at the next game. Students apparently feel that it is only necessary to attend the game on "Kegs-N-Eggs" days or when we are winning. And since we lost that game, obviously there is no reason to go. I hate the fact that when i yell, I can hear myself echo...that means no one else is yelling.



Sorry for the tangent novel, but I absolutely hate the lack of support/yelling/screaming/cheering/enthusiasm we have in Anderson Arena.

[hammb]

If we were winning the place would be loud. We are not winning so it is not that loud.

That's pretty much all there is to it.

Personally, I don't think any of us have any right to tell any other fans how to behave at a game. If they don't want to jump up and down yelling & screaming, then that is their option. They paid their money for that ticket, they can act how they please.

Yelling & Screaming is infectuous. I used to be down in the front row yelling for every game, but I've grown tired of that. When the place gets rocking I cannot help but yell and scream and chant and whatever. But if we're down by 20 I find it pretty hard to keep chanting De-FENCE, as I watch another dunk go down.

Winning cures all that ails this program. We haven't won since '02 and fans aren't filling the stands anymore. Students aren't showing up to games any more. When the student section is full of loud mouth students the rest of the crowd will feed off this, and the place will be loud again. Until that time, I don't know what you expect. How loud do you think a crowd of 1100 people is really going to get? Put that same crowd in almost any other arena in the nation and you'd hear crickets chirping.

[bgmaggot00]

The issue with the band. I can agree that they should be more involved with the game. There are plenty of other colleges whose band is just as into it as the team and fans. When I went to Notre Dame for hockey, their band was awesome in the aspect of cheering and what not. How lucky they are. Who can I contact to complain about this?

Try the band forum.
http://www.ay-ziggy-zoomba.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=6

[It's the Journey...]

The issue with the band. I can agree that they should be more involved with the game. There are plenty of other colleges whose band is just as into it as the team and fans. When I went to Notre Dame for hockey, their band was awesome in the aspect of cheering and what not. How lucky they are. Who can I contact to complain about this?

I take issue with this. If you have never picked up an instrument and played with the BG athletic band who are you to criticize. You are a young, enthusiastic fan and that is exactly what we need. But I would like to know some of these other college bands you are referring to. Have you seen them in person, or just on TV? Was the game an average game, or a big rival/TV game? Was the team having a winning season? All of these things factor into crowd response as well as the response of the band. In a perfect world the arena is always full, the crowd is always loud, the band is always loud, and the team on the floor is competitive. But that is another Walgreen's commercial. The fact is, we have poor attendance and the enthusiasm among all groups there including the band is down. We have played a week OCC schedule that our head coach thinks is just what the conference wants and we are not prepared for league play. We are seeing the same problems year in and year out and people, including those in the band, have seen enough. Until this team starts showing some life from the coaching staff down we should thank our lucky stars to get 1000 people into the arena. If life returns to the team soon then crowd size and enthusiasm will rise. But don't rip on a group that consistently comes to games and gets counted in attendance only to have canned $h!t played over them on a crappy sound system. They come, the play, and cheer for the team as much as the team shows it deserves. A 20 point loss at home, I am surprised there were 10 people left to watch the clock hit 00:00. I don't mean to sound harsh but faulting the band for cheering is like blaming the ice bug for getting in the way of the titanic.

[falconmama2007]

Even in high school the band would cheer for the team.

I went to Marshall and Geen Bay a couple weeks ago and the whole crowd was into it. When we went to Ohio University the band was in the same area as our band was and every time our team shot file shots the band members would throw this big 5'x3' foam red brick and some had green and white round twirlly things that could make one dizzy, while the others yelled and waved their hands. It was awesome.

It was the last home game that someone commented beside me why was our band and dance team just sitting there. I just started coming because my son was just eligible to play and I haven't missed a game since. Now that I have a few games in attendance under my belt I have had the opportunity to observe some things.

We still lost don't get it twisted, but fan support can truely make a difference. Thats all I'm saying.

[Dayons_Den]

I have three rules for cheering/yapping it up with players at the games:

1. No Refs- do not yell at the refs about anything. I've learned that one the hard way. Focus on cheering the Falcons and jeering the other team.

2. No Adult Language- Being funny and witty gets more of a response out of those around you and often times the players. Make fun of a guys fruity tatoo or bad hair cut or resemblance to Gary Coleman or Opie or just pick out a guy that made a bad pass and remind him of it each time he passes- chances are he will mess up again.

3. Don't make fun of Casey Shaw, his wife (Dana Drew), or any of their offspring. Also learned that one the hard way.

[Falconfliccbone]

I have three rules for cheering/yapping it up with players at the games:

2. No Adult Language- Being funny and witty gets more of a response out of those around you and often times the players. Make fun of a guys fruity tatoo or bad hair cut or resemblance to Gary Coleman or Opie or just pick out a guy that made a bad pass and remind him of it each time he passes- chances are he will mess up again.

One of my personal favorite cheers is "I strongly disagree with your officiating sir"....it's polite and let's you know that you didn't like the call, but sounds more mature than the BS call. Fliccgirl and I used to come up with fun and intelligent sounding cheers all the time. Other favorites are "Our team is vastly superior to your team" and "Irrational exuberance".

When my dad was in school at New Mexico State University, the students were brutal. They used to tell the other coach he was tipping the floor and would frequently sing "Three Blind Mice" to the refs (complete with cane).

[always a falcon]

Interesting comments. I sat next to a "townie" at the Women's game who cheers and claps. She was appalled that the band would try to harass the players shooting foul shots, she felt that it did not represent us well. But she has no problem with the students and the wigs and stuff. She has been going to games way before I was born.

IMHO, one of the difficulties with the men's following is that we HAVE NOT been able to follow them. We didn't watch them get a few minutes here and there as a Frosh, and then better as a sophomore and kicking butt and taking names as a junior and senior. We didn't get INVESTED in them.
I will always support whomever is wearing the O&B, but we all know the transfer problem. Not that we don't have good players now, but as a TEAM, playing together, they are NEW to us.

Compare that to the women. We have been watching this same group for 3 years. Add a couple here, someone graduates, but you know who is ready to step in and take the place. We already know about Sarah Clapper, and Jaz, etc. They create a following. OH, and BTW, they win.

I agree with Grant. When the Falcons used to run out of the tunnel with a packed AA and the band playing their brains out, I would never want to leave. It was the greatest thing in the world.

AND, this year's band is awesome. They sound great, and the music is appropriate to the game situation. They can't play as much, with all the PA announcements and Kyle from Marketing doing his thing, but when they do, they are darn good.
So they don't paint their faces and act like goofballs on the side, "Like they do on TV." Put us on national TV and who knows what they might think up.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

Interesting comments. I sat next to a "townie" at the Women's game who cheers and claps. She was appalled that the band would try to harass the players shooting foul shots, she felt that it did not represent us well. But she has no problem with the students and the wigs and stuff. She has been going to games way before I was born.

I think thats stupid, I see nothing wrong with the band or anyone yelling or moving around to distract a free throw shooters, thats been going on for years at all levels of basketball.

[always a falcon]

Interesting comments. I sat next to a "townie" at the Women's game who cheers and claps. She was appalled that the band would try to harass the players shooting foul shots, she felt that it did not represent us well. But she has no problem with the students and the wigs and stuff. She has been going to games way before I was born.

I think thats stupid, I see nothing wrong with the band or anyone yelling or moving around to distract a free throw shooters, thats been going on for years at all levels of basketball.

I didn't say I agreed with it, just that it was out there. I remember years when someone in the band had a "FLIP CHART" with comments on it, and would tap a cane and put on glasses on a bad call. Oh...those days without PC!

[The Niz]

It all boils down to this: If there was a reason for people to be excited, then they probably would be. We had some exciting finishes early on, but apparently that wasn't enough to make people take notice. After the last couple of games, I don't see anyone taking notice anytime soon either. There's not a whole lot to get people excited so lame they will stay until the team perks up.

[ZiggyZoomba]

When I played in the band, I had the word SLAM on the back of my bass in masking tape, whenever there was a dunk I'd flip it over and hold it over my head!

... of course, that's back when we dunked...

Kirk Whiteman's half-court alley-oop to Joe Moore against Michigan State may well have been the finest moment for the bass-dunk salute!

[Dayons_Den]

Kirk Whiteman's half-court alley-oop to Joe Moore against Michigan State may well have been the finest moment for the bass-dunk salute!

Twas more like a three-quarter court oop. What a dunk with Reghi and Witte on the call.

[FMBfan07]

i am in the athletic band and there are a few of us who love being at the games and cheering and then there are the others who I feel are there because they are getting a credit and paid or need to be in a band to stay in the band fraternity/sorority. I really would love to see everyone in the band cheering and yelling and stuff. Next time we play i'm going to try to encourage more people to get up and cheer, but i can only do so much.
I have been in the athletic band now for 5 years and I really can see a change from over the years. Seems like people don't care at all.
I have stood on the sideline when not playing in the band at the game and it does look bad when they are all sitting there. (minus a few).

I was at the women's game tonight vs Miami and I liked some of the things the band there did. They had a cheers they all did together and it looked good and sounded good. So maybe some cheers could be formed for our band too.

I need to go to sleep now, so that is my stuff. Hope to see you all at the women's game Saturday!! I'm going to try to encourage people to get up and cheer!

(sorry is any this is confusing or something, i'm tired from the drive to and from Oxford!)