Whenever the BS staff gets together, you just know brilliant ideas abound. So when we were alerted to this letter to the Exponent by reader Ross (proprieter of Bad Idea Blue Jeans), it was more than a little interesting. Letter-writer Jason Tindall, take it away:Please for the love of true traditions stop playing "Shout." We might as well call it "Reach" for the underwhelming and largely silent reaction it stirs in the stadium. "Shout" is actually a pathetic rip-off of two other traditions: Wisconsin's playing of "Jump Around" and the Chicago Cubs' celebrity-introduced seventh inning stretch. This "tradition" peaked with last year's return visit from Drew Brees and hit rock bottom with this week's hackneyed spell-a-thon by Sameer Mishra.
I have no problem trying to get folks out of their seats, dancing, and making noise. Why not do it with the Quad City DJ's "C'mon Ride the Train"? It's at least more fitting and noise-worthy than "Shout."
We're fairly certain Jason wasn't holed up in the back of the Boilerdowdmobile or hiding in his basement that night, but we all discussed the very topic of "Shout" and possible replacements.
Not that discussing "Shout" and its suckiness doesn't come up pretty frequently... but we even got into a discussion about how if we're going to play a non-current song as a way to "make it our own" and get everyone up, why not be semi-original and play something like "Come on Ride It" by the Quad City DJs? It's goofy and dorky, but hey, these are a bunch of white people we're talking about here. Goofy and dorky would be funny because it would be our own thing. And what team would a train-related song apply more to than the Boilermakers?
The good thing here is that other people are noticing the lackluster effort of, well, everything, at Boiler home games right now. We need to be more energetic and more original. And, oh yeah, the team should play better, too.
9 comments:
I know this is crazy, but I would think the best way to entertain/engage fans at a home game is to field a team that plays 60 minutes of solid, unpredictable, high-energy football.
While I am embarrassed by "Shout," I do see a tradition brewing that I quite enjoy - the battle between the student section and the scoreboard operator during the "1-2-3-4 First Down, Bitch!" chant.
Here is another crappy tradition...why is every "BIG" Game a Blackout? During the 2005 campaign, it seemed as if every game was a Blackout. They only advertise it in the greater Lafayette area, thus half the stadium isn't wearing black. And our crowd looks more pathetic when ESPN announces it and then scans the crowd. At least when PSU does a Whiteout, 100,000+ wear white.
Shout is embarassing. I was a student when shout was first introduced, and I would sit during it. Does Purdue really need another song that the fans simply clap along to?
raise hands in air, clap clap clap, raise hands in air, clap clap clap, raise hands in air, clap clap clap NOW WAAAITTT A MINUTE...
That sounds like most people's take on my favorite fight song, (and my opinion best song) Hail Purdue.
clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap BOILER UP clap clap clap...
or playing Powerman 5000 before the game When worlds collide. A few years back that song would turn the student section into a mosh pit. but now, as like every other song... it has turned into a clap along... or in some instances a pom-pom along.
Purdue needs to dish out some money. get some pyrotechnics, or fireworks or something. bring back the cannon, stop trying to muffle the students. Dont have socially akward spell bowl champions spell out S-H-O-U-T. Make Purdue into the more ravenous atmosphere that a Boilermaker would actually be proud of.
After all, Purdue wants to become the next uppity school in the big10 next to Northwestern. Hm... Who has the better football atmosphere, Northwestern? or the Drunks of Wisconsin? or the Never went to class, Ohio State fans?
lets start by taking the governor off of the fans. We have never prentended to be "high class"... the administration has forced us into it.
THey need to get rid of all the jumbotron crap. All the movie clips, commercials, promotions, best fan contest, Arby's thinking contest, playing music on the jumbotron speakers.....ALL OF IT! The band is supposed to be playing during these stoppages in play to keep the energy level high. It's all so tacky.
I have a train whistle that I used to use when I was a student at Purdue. It sounds every bit like a train whistle. Hand those about before one of the games and encourage fans to keep bringing them to the games. Sell them at the bookstores. They are loud, obnoxious, and fit the Boilermaker theme perfectly. They should put a few "real" train whistles around the stadium as well - make it loud as hell!
I agree about the blackout try - pathetic.
Looking at the post title and the picture I thought to myself........Why was Drew Brees was hiding in your car?!
Yeah, I realized that after I put it up... heh.
Here's the deal:
Every game day tradition is better when the program is strong. I used to love 1-2-3-4 First Down...it now seems silly since every drive ends with a turnover or missed field goal. It was one thing to demoralize the opposition's fans with a march that was definitely going to lead to 7 points, it's quite another when your team averages less than an offensive touchdown a year.
If Shout had started when Brees was at Purdue, maybe I'd have good memories of it...Or maybe if it wasn't a soul-less rip off of another tradition...or if it didn't suck...sadly, it does suck badly, it's depth is shallow and the fact that people like my Mom like it makes it even worse. Plus, it white-washes an already extremely white group of people.
A new tradition, like not losing to every team with a winning record would be neato.
Amen on the jumbotron crap. And why doesn't the band learn some new songs instead of the 5 they seems to play over and over again? There are lots of other tunes they could play that are LOUDER and more energizing.
Post a Comment