Student Section Suggestions

[mbenecke]

Also, about my parents:

I found out that they were actually members on this site long ago tonight. They did not tell me what their usernames were, but I did some searching. My dad was Buffo, and my mom was Squeak.

I found the old "Buffo" forum from 2005, and you were on it! You asked my mom how 'the boys' were. Reading that was actually really cool. I was 7 at the time, and I was probably doing pretty well! It's awesome to see all of this BG history and old conversations, especially seeing as I am now in college (just finished with my first year yesterday) and studying to be a high school social studies teacher. Very cool to see this BGSU community expand and evolve over the years!

A little funny tidbit: my dad's license plate for his car was a birthday gift from my mom. It is customized, and it reads "BUFFO." He never gave up on the group!

Go Falcons! It was awesome to connect with you. My parents wish you well.

[Redwingtom]

A couple key points.

The original bleacher creatures sat in the front row. That should not change...EVER!

That pathetic blue crew is another toledo copy of us. They came into being after our SIC SIC crew. Coincidence? I think not.

And I used to have so much fun with Jerry Welsh. One year he got so mad at me that he turned right at me and yelled "NICE FACE!" So the next year, before a game with them I yelled his way, "Hey Jerry, nice face!" He turned, cracked a big smile and laughed and said "Oh, that was you?"

We also had a great time with Darren Fridgen who used to play for Ferris State. And then by some chance he ended up at Myles after a game. We ordered him a pop or something and had the waitress deliver it to his table with one of those little umbrellas in it. He loved it.

You can only create experiences like that when you keep things original and funny. That was always the motto of the Section A guys and the Section H guys.

[Freddie]

Come up with some annoying sound (bark like little yappy dogs, or scream like a girl who just found Freddie Krueger in her bedroom). Pick one player on the opposing team each night, and ALL make that noise every time is touches the puck. God, that couldn't help but get inside somebody's head...PLUS it would be fun AND encourage (even the unenlightened among you) to pay attention to the game.

[mbenecke]

Come up with some annoying sound (bark like little yappy dogs, or scream like a girl who just found Freddie Krueger in her bedroom). Pick one player on the opposing team each night, and ALL make that noise every time is touches the puck. God, that couldn't help but get inside somebody's head...PLUS it would be fun AND encourage (even the unenlightened among you) to pay attention to the game.

I like the idea of "targeting" a specific player like that.

We actually did that once this year - the final weekend of the regular season at home against Huntsville, we picked on Teets on their team. Every time he came onto the ice, we all let out a long "TEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTSSSSSSS" together, and the entire student section eventually joined in. That's something we will definitely look to continue next year. After all, Teets was only a sophomore this past season.

[pdt1081]

Come up with some annoying sound (bark like little yappy dogs, or scream like a girl who just found Freddie Krueger in her bedroom). Pick one player on the opposing team each night, and ALL make that noise every time is touches the puck. God, that couldn't help but get inside somebody's head...PLUS it would be fun AND encourage (even the unenlightened among you) to pay attention to the game.

I like the idea of "targeting" a specific player like that.

We actually did that once this year - the final weekend of the regular season at home against Huntsville, we picked on Teets on their team. Every time he came onto the ice, we all let out a long "TEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTSSSSSSS" together, and the entire student section eventually joined in. That's something we will definitely look to continue next year. After all, Teets was only a sophomore this past season.

Booing every time a certain player has the puck works well.

[transfer2BGSU]

Don't forget to place the reserved seat sign behind the opposing team penalty box for their goon.

I think it was Michigan or Michigan State that had a "Reserved for Matt Ruchty" sign.

[mbenecke]

Don't forget to place the reserved seat sign behind the opposing team penalty box for their goon.

I think it was Michigan or Michigan State that had a "Reserved for Matt Ruchty" sign.

There was a sign that we apparently had been putting there that said "You Feel Shame," but that was apparently stolen after a game this year.

We also have a sign that we place by the end of the opposing bench that reads "Place backup sieve here," accompanied with an actual kitchen sieve. That really gets under their skin.

[Critical Thinker]

The funny thing about the Bleacher Creatures is that it isn't the entire student section... it's a select few of us. There will be 12 active Bleacher Creatures next year. So while they announce "The Bleacher Creatures" and it seems as though they are referencing the entire student section, it is actually a select few of us that applied and went through the interview process to become real members. We're technically not a real organization in the eyes of the athletic department, but we do exist.

I will say, I think a big part of the struggling student section in recent years is because everyone is on their phones tweeting and snap-chatting and putting every little aspect of their lives on social media. When I am in the Ice Arena, my focus is solely on being engaged with the game and making snarky comments towards the opposing team. My goal is to make it fun enough that people don't want to be on their phones, because they're having so much fun in the moment. It's a tough hill to climb, but I believe in our ability to do it. It just takes time and effort, and I am more than willing to invest as much time as possible to make the 'Madhouse on Mercer' into an intimidating place to play at again.

Thanks for the explanation, I didn't realize there were so few of you!! Dang, those numbers need to climb!!

The cap for Bleacher Creatures is at 15 students. It's not meant to be a large group.

I'm intrigued by how you might know this, as it feels as though many don't, which is something we are going to be pushing hard to change in the next few years... I'm curious, what is your connection to the group?

I'm Ben... I was there when that rule was made. We didn't want to lose the tight-knit feel of a small group. Well worth the tradeoff from whatever we'd gain from a larger group.

[mbenecke]

It makes so much sense that this is Ben, especially with that username. Connecting the dots just became much, much easier. Haha.

[Hockey John]

I agree with the idea of focusing on a player. I can remember a game against Lake Superior where we rattled their goalie after he let in a weak goal. All we did was chant his first name. Four goals later and he was removed from the game and he game over and slammed his stick against the glass. I like the cheers when they are creative, smart, and not rude or crude. I hate the Jackass cheer, but I like the Ziggy cheer after each goal. I also liked the "you feel shame" sign in the visitors penalty box. A great "Slapshot" line.

Keep working to build the student fan base. That will return the "Slate" to that building that other teams hate going to.

[pdt1081]

I agree with the idea of focusing on a player. I can remember a game against Lake Superior where we rattled their goalie after he let in a weak goal. All we did was chant his first name. Four goals later and he was removed from the game and he game over and slammed his stick against the glass. I like the cheers when they are creative, smart, and not rude or crude. I hate the Jackass cheer, but I like the Ziggy cheer after each goal. I also liked the "you feel shame" sign in the visitors penalty box. A great "Slapshot" line.

Keep working to build the student fan base. That will return the "Slate" to that building that other teams hate going to.

There's an "older" (as in, not college age) group that sits next to the penalty box with some good signs. "Hey Ref, You Pregnant?" Was one of them.

[Schadenfreude]

That pathetic blue crew is another toledo copy of us. They came into being after our SIC SIC crew. Coincidence? I think not.

I've always suspected this.

[Freddie]

There's an "older" (as in, not college age) group that sits next to the penalty box with some good signs. "Hey Ref, You Pregnant?" Was one of them.

Yeah, the white board signs were great...I remember one against Notre Dame "long live Martin Luther"

[BG84]

... Also, if the announcer still announces the other team back at full strength after a penalty, are we still yelling our traditional "That's debatable" ...

I hate to try to apply logic to traditions, but this has been bugging me for years. It doesn't make sense to me to say "that's debatable" after being told the opponent is at full strength. Full strength might be low or high, but it's still that team's full strength. There's no debate.

Memory of the '80s fails me, but I wonder if the announcer used to say, when appropriate,"The teams are at even strength." That is debatable.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

... Also, if the announcer still announces the other team back at full strength after a penalty, are we still yelling our traditional "That's debatable" ...

I hate to try to apply logic to traditions, but this has been bugging me for years. It doesn't make sense to me to say "that's debatable" after being told the opponent is at full strength. Full strength might be low or high, but it's still that team's full strength. There's no debate.

Memory of the '80s fails me, but I wonder if the announcer used to say, when appropriate,"The teams are at even strength." That is debatable.

I recall '81-'85 announcements being "full strength."