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Here I am at my 1000th post. (Balloons are flying and confetti is pouring down ) We have been talking about traditions and I think we should take the discussion a step farther. We know we have traditions, but we are die-hard fans and we should know them. How do we take our traditions and spread them the the student body and community. I think part of the draw some of the bigger schools have is the tradition that has become game day on their campus. I don't care where it is, there are things that are done and most people know about it. With a new AD here at BG this is the perfect time to hone in on this and develop what our traditions are.

I'll start with the team walking into the stadium. It's something that I love to see and the bands presence has enhanced the experience even more. But, many people don't know it's happening. How do we spread the word? I would like to see some kind of public address system in the parking lots and tail gate areas to remind fans of what is going on. I would love to see thousands of Falcon fans crouding around the sidewalk leading into the stadium to welcome the team home. That not only energizes the fans, but hopefully the team as well.

For me, I think that the university needs to do more pre-game festivities to get students out to the stadium, like music or something. A lot of the students here won't go anywhere unless there's an incentive or "reason" for being there.

jpfalcon09 wrote:For me, I think that the university needs to do more pre-game festivities to get students out to the stadium, like music or something. A lot of the students here won't go anywhere unless there's an incentive or "reason" for being there.

Current BG students would be shocked to learn that the gameday atmosphere is 10-fold improved over what it was just 6-10 years ago.

It's the Journey... wrote: I'll start with the team walking into the stadium. It's something that I love to see and the bands presence has enhanced the experience even more. But, many people don't know it's happening. How do we spread the word?

First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your 1000th post.
Second of all, the FMB is trying to get that whole Pre-Game, team walking in deal to the rest of the campus by writting it on the sidewalk (if it's not raining) putting it in the BG news, and things like that.

Congrats on the 1000th post. I also agree that many things need to be done in order to have more students there at the game. Flyers put in all of the students mailboxes on campus would be great. Posters and signs around campus would be great too.

I love the discussion so far, but how about expanding it to the community outside the university borders. That is where our money will come from since the students pay regardless. And thanks for the congrats I would also like to see us talk about other traditions. This is great!

Dayon's really hit it on the head - the gameday atmosphere, though not the rollicking party some might want, is light years ahead of anything BG has had before.

The pieces are coming into place and with a little effort, things like the walk into the stadium will become a standard - and cherished - part of a BG football game.

Having enough people in the tailgating area is a start. I think it would also be helpful if folks knew when the buses were coming. Suggestion - someone from the athletic department merely calling (aren't cell phones grand?) someone with the FMB and saying "we're on our way." That's the signal for the FMB to take up their position, which in turn is a signal to the tailgaters that the team is on their way.

1987alum wrote:...with a little effort, things like the walk into the stadium will become a standard - and cherished - part of a BG football game.

For the OSU lurkers: I don't know that you appreciate what we are talking about here.

We aren't talking about the team running onto the field. The walk into the stadium occurs a couple of hours earlier, when the bus pulls up at the stadium, the team piles out and then walks, together, west through the tailgating area toward the stadium gate.

It gives me goosebumps every time I've seen it.

I think we have a pic around from the '03 NIU game. Can someone post it, so these OSU fans have a sense of the drama here?

Don't know if this is the one you're talking about or not (this may actually be Toledo), but I love the "game faces..."

I miss the Victory Bell.

As we talk about the Falcon Walk, something we borrowed from the SEC schools I see on Turner South and Comcast Sports South, another idea came to mind.

A lot of teams have a rock or sign or whatever they rub for luck. What if we put the much talked about Doyt L. Perry bronze statue near the walkway where the team gets off the buses. They could walk past coach on their way to the locker rooms on game day and also coach would also be keeping a watchful eye on practice.

Just a thought. What a glorious day it will be when plans for the statue are announced and in turn the bust is unveiled.

With how smoothly Project Falcon ran on here, I wonder if we should start a DLP statue fund. . . .

The walk is cool and all, but it seems to be a little short for me. I would like to see the bus drop the players off like over by the Mileti Alumni Center or Ice Arena and then they walk across the intramural fields to the stadium. Since this walk starts closer to the residence halls, have the students and band line the path to the Doyt. To me, it would be more dramatic for the players to see the stadium a little farther away and having all the people lining the way. When they come in from the East side, there isn't that much space before they are walking through the tailgaiting tents. Just an idea.

I've seen the team walk in twice this year, and it is incredible. I don't know what they have done the last couple of years, but I know this year the team is dressed up when they walk in....not khakis and polos, but full out suits. It's an impressive sight to see these big strong football players dressed in their Sunday best. The boys clean up very well.

I would think the Doyt L. Perry statue would be in front of the SEBO Center for all to see when they walk in to the new entrance of the stadium. Or maybe have it on the balcony overlooking the field and our team.

But no matter what, I would definitely donate some money for a statue of our coach. Send me a pm.

Tricky_Falcon wrote:I would think the Doyt L. Perry statue would be in front of the SEBO Center for all to see when they walk in to the new entrance of the stadium. Or maybe have it on the balcony overlooking the field and our team.

On he other hand...

I don't know what the long-term plan is for the south end zone, but what if the statue was out that way in a prominent place where it could be seen by everyone in the stadium, including the players on the field?

Analogies that spring to mind: The flag poles in play at old Tiger Stadium and at Yankee Stadium.

Obviously a statue couldn't be in play -- but what if it was visible from play?