Peregrinner wrote:Good lord. If I had known this post would cause such a storm I probably wouldn't have posted it. Although, I guess every other thread that has been started in the last month should have been a clue.
Look, I'm not saying Sweet Caroline is going to inspire any mosh pits or anything. I'm just saying it gives people something to sing/say/yell between periods when most of the noise/energy dies down and rarely comes back to the same level. Are there songs that would better accomplish the task? Sure. The only difference is that we asked them to play Sweet Caroline because we liked the song. Like something else? Walk up yourself and ask them to play something different.
Honestly, there are a few of those "New Traditions" I do like, and a few I don't, but when it all comes down to it, as long as there are people in the seats making noise for the Falcons, does it really matter exactly what hand motion/chant people are doing?
Sweet Caroline will be Great if:
The band wants to play it
AND
The students want to sing it.
If that is the case then I'm all for it.
My thought is that you don't make tradition by forcing tradition. Most people don't like to be told what to do but they will participate if they are encouraged. That is why the cheerleaders, band, SicSic and other students groups form and participate in game day activities.
The traditions that I remember that were not scripted but lead by various groups without cards, message boards or any real push by the ath. dept are:
Cheerleaders chanting BG - SU (and often started by fans)
The band playing a little Gary Glitter at AA (best response they got from crowd) with a lot of "HEY" going onand Beer Barrel Polka creating some dancing on the sidelines.
The students at the hockey games ignoring intro of the other team, counting goals and calling the opposing goalie a sieve, insert team "back at full strength" with the response "That's debatable" and several others.
PA at football got the crowd to say "Falcon First Dowwwn!"
I think these things are great when they are done but I really doubt a card sent to every student on campus is going to make this happen. The band, cheerleaders, SicSic and groups of students that form groups like the Anderson Animals will create and maintain these traditions.
The athletic department should pass the traditions and new ideas to the appropriate groups and see what they can do with them and see what happens. I hope I don't see some Freshman checking a card during the game to see what should happen next.
I proudly chose to be a Falcon and a Falcon I will remain until the end.
