We're alums. We're old. We're even cranky. But probably not quite cranky enough to boycott the games because of rowdy students. Molly O'Halloran's delicate sensibilities were "sickened" by the students of her beloved Purdue. She doesn't specify, but one can only imagine she's referring to the "First down.... BITCH" chant that has, unfortunately, become popular in Ross-Ade.
And this is one of those funny cases where we can honestly come down on both sides here. Let's start with dear Molly.
Molly, first off, take it easy. You were a student once. And I bet you said -- and did -- some things that, were we to tell you children about them, you might turn shades of Hoosier red. Maybe not, maybe you were an angel. But not everyone is and if college-age students want to use a semi-curse word in a football stadium, well, I'd have to say there are worse things that could be going on.
Second, I think we're about the same age. And I love this line from Molly's letter:
"I was a student at Purdue in the early ’90s. The team was not good. Student attendance was low but we went to every game regardless because of our support of the team."
Student attendance was low but the students went because they supported the team! Wait, what? I'm no physics major, but that doesn't seem to compute. I kid, of course, but I think Molly let her anger get in the way. I also take umbrage with this part:
"We sold our tickets to the other games because I will not subject my children to the students’ behavior. The football games are not about you the students. It is about tradition, alumni support, John Purdue club members and the players on the field. The team can play without you, the Purdue University student."
Well, Molly, that's just plain ridiculous. I understand that you're angry (and boy, is she angry, since she heard these foul-mouthed hooligans at the Toledo game back in early September and despite the intervening seven weeks, she's still frothing!) but to suggest the team doesn't need the students is, um, a bit short-sighted, to be polite.
Has it occurred to you, Miss Molly, that the team is made up of, um....students?
Also, as an alum, you're most likely seated absolutely nowhere near the students. I know that I can barely ever make out what's being chanted at games, so I doubt your kids can, either. And if they're not ready for the words they might learn at a football stadium, well, I guess they're not ready to go there yet. But let me tell you something else -- those words and phrases are not much different from what they're likely already hearing on the playground at recess. I know, shocking.
And lastly to Molly, Purdue athletics -- despite what the form letters from Morgan Burke, Danny Hope and Matt Painter may lead you to believe -- are most decidedly not about "John Purdue club members." If we had to rank things and who the athletic teams are "about," I would have to say the students are at the very top (you know, since they go there and all), while the significance of John Purdue club membership is somewhere near the same value as my dog wearing a Purdue bandanna. Yes, the financial support is nice, but when Danny Hope was gushing about the support the team receives and who "deserved" the upset the most, who did he repeatedly call out specifically?
Yes, the students.
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Okay, counterpoint time.
All that said, the students actually should class it up a little bit.
We love that you guys are there at the games. We love seeing you screaming, posing, crowd-surfing, hoisting the "P" that's been there for many years, etc. But let's be honest: the "BITCH" part of the first down chant is kind of lousy. And sad. And it reflects poorly on you. And us.
We're all Boilermakers and that's an awesome feeling, especially on days like two Saturdays ago. But when you turn a fairly original chant (that already irritated other teams and fans, which we all loved) into something that sounds kind of classless, well, you're not only cheapening the chant, you're cheapening yourselves.
Don't misunderstand -- we fully support antagonizing opposing teams and their fans. Especially OSU fans wearing mid-90s era Starter jackets, Notre Dame fans who have no affiliation whatsoever the to school and IU fans who respond to football blowouts by mentioning their dusty basketball championship banners. What we can't really get behind is including misogynistic undertones to the cheers you do.
We're not here to tell you what to do. And we won't stop coming to games unless you beat us up. But remember, as cliched as it is, you're a Purdue student and you're not only representing yourself when you're visible or audible -- you're representing the entire Purdue family. Do us proud.
34 comments:
Thank you for the best take on the whole first down chant I have ever read. I get sick of hearing it from alumni every year. The chant started sometime in 2004 (my freshman year) and just snowballed from there. I've never been a fan of the addition, but I've also never been a fan of seated alumni who can only be bothered to shake a finger at "unruly students" (or even worse the alumni such as yourselves that actually support the team) rather than Boiler Up.
I think we need a Paint Crew-type organization for the football team. If we can make Mackey a tough place to play when the average age in the stands is 372, then we can turn Ross-Ade into a tough place while keeping it classy.
I totally agree. The "bitch" at the end is unneccesary and reflects poorly on us.
That being said, I hated the attitute of a lot of the crusty old alums when I went to PU(always sitting and quiet). And fully support the students because they are, for better or worse, what makes PU special.
What about the "bitch slap" that is now following the first down indication?
If this is the case, the students have assuredly gone too far.
some friends and I have taken it upon ourselves to yell "Ho!" and punch the air a-la "thundercats"; we think this is infinitely more classy, but still satisfying to yell. you can also say "HOOOOOOOOOOOOO" a lot longer and louder than "bitch"
another alteration might be "1, 2, 3, 4, Boilermakers, HO!"
But it's so much more fun to yell BITCH after 3 hours of breakfast club and 2 hours of tailgating than BOILERS or any alternatives.
It has gained enough momentum, it will be very difficult to stop at this point. The only thing I can forsee changing it is if the stops playing the tagline to Hail Purdue, ceasing the 1st down chant entirely.
I was a student when saying "bitch" became the hip thing to do and I'm an alumni now, maybe its just me but I still find it a little funny. My personal opinion about it is that if the parents have a real problem with it they could always tell their kids that they're saying something else, chances are that the kids won't remember it anyways. I went to the Illinois game on saturday and I was sitting in the section right next to the illinois fans, and if I didn't know they were saying 'bitch' I wouldn't have been able to understand them. I agree that the best way of stopping it is stop playing the first down tag. Although I don't really have a problem with the students saying something you can hear on prime time tv. If there's complaining to be done it should be about the giant inflatable penises that show up occasionally.
I'm a alumni that is very proud of our student section... the product that Purdue has put on the field for the past five years isn't really worthy of their support so I really appreciate them.
Alumni, pull the sticks out of your butts. Have you seen the childish, drunken behavior of the alumni in the R lot some weeks?
Students: you keep on having fun. Alumni, if you hope to ever see the "Bitch" chant fade, then STOP talking about it.
Personally, the chant has never bothered me. Let's remember that our student section also had a habit of sneaking an inflatable phallus every game there for a while.
I can understand people with kids being upset, or people thinking this reflects poorly on us. However, I'm positive kids probably hear worse things in the tailgate areas before the game. Protecting your kids from a word that is now commonly used on network television is a mission doomed to failure. I've also witnessed and participated in some "f the irish" chants during my time, so I know students can do a lot worse if they choose.
That all being said, let's remember that we've curbed poor behavior in the past. When I came onto campus ('03) it was commonplace for the student section to throw trash (empty or full cups, toilet paper, food wrappers, etc) whenever we scored. At some point, we all realized it sucked being hit by garbage and stopped. College students like to be loud and provactive, and I encourage their behavior at games. If we can agree on a happy medium, we'd all be better for it.
And to those alumni who think the games are about them - grow up! The reason you're at the game in the first place is to recapture some of your college experience. Let the students (you know, those people paying tuition) have their fun while they can. No one hears your clapping - espn does not cut to shots of the John Purdue club during tense moments.
That bitch doesn't know what she's talking about. Bitches like her make me sad and frustrated - they are no older then me but they act like they're 85. BTW, bitches, you got it right when you said it's about the students, not the Alums. Bitchen take on the truth, BS.
I've bitched in the stands as a student and alum, about the program sometimes but almost always about the fans. We need to kick the freeloading alumnus bitches out that cannot make Ross-Ade and Mackey hard places to play. When they stopped with the free tickets for students (I think it was '88) Ross-Ade became foe-friendly, which had to be a bitch for our teams. Feel free to stop coming to the games, Molly - and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. (Sorry, couldn't work that in the last line.)
I am a student (former member of the AAMB for five years, no less), and I agree with everything you've written.
I'd say the things the games are for are, in order:
1. The Team
2. The Students
3. Everyone Else
I also think the addendum to the first down cheer is stupid and classless. For my part, I yell "Boilers", but I'm still with the band and would get in trouble if I yelled anything else.
One of my best memories of the student section was from the Wisconsin game in '04 (a game that still gives me nightmares), looking up at a packed-house student section do the first down cheer (before it was dirty) in glorious unison, waving the yellow poms that were handed out to everyone.
Also, the band's being forbidden from playing the tag to Hail Purdue (what we call "quickie") has come up seriously in conversation in past years. If we can't play it anymore, the first-down cheer will die. Which is sad, 'cause I think it's awesome when not augmented with curses.
We'll just have to wait and see.
I think its funny but.....I like it a lot more without the bitch part.
"antagonizing Notre Dame fans who have no affiliation whatsoever the to school...."
That is one of my favorite things to do at Purdue ND games. At the end of the Purdue ND game this year, there was a ND fan being loud and telling everyone how great ND was. I asked him what he majored in at Notre Dame. He didn't answer. I asked again what he studied at Notre Dame. He then admitted in front of everyone that he didn't go to college. That was one of the highlights of my day. Does that make me a bad person?
If you think bitch is bad, I graduated in '85. We used to grab unaware female students as they walked by us in the lower rows and pass them over our heads to the very top of the stadium! These were not isolated occurrences either - everyone many students did this. I'm sure anyone attempting that these days would be kick out of school.
I've been an alum now for 5 years. The game is and always will be about the students. I'm embarrassed to sit in the non-student section at games now, and I literally mean SIT. Oh wait, we are allowed to stand up and cheer when the band comes on the field at halftime.
If the all these alums dislike it so much, they could I don't know... participate in the cheer themselves and replace "bitch" with anything they desire. The students are outnumbered at the games, but its the students that show any pulse of excitement.
Terry Hutchens leaves Hummel and JJ off his All Big Ten team.
http://blogs.indystar.com/hoosiersinsider/archives/2009/10/preseason_allbi.html
I'm 31 now, and I find it a little tasteless. However, this type of thing is what sets us apart from the rest, being unique. Rowdy. Fun. Getting pumped up for Saturday. Hell, when I was there we always had the inflatable penis floating around. Times change i guess, but they always stay the same :)
I just hope it wears off and transforms into something naturally. Trying to TELL students what to do will only end in disaster, and they will only do it longer and louder......ha!
Just sit back, smirk and enjoy it a little and just know its students being students. I had my time. You had your time. Now its their turn, just let it roll and look forward to it turning into something else.
BTFU (thats right-I said it)
Ummm, Molly doesn't sound like a staunch and loyal supporter of the Boilers if it has taken her FIVE YEARS to show up to a game to realize that the students yell "Bitch". Too bad the program will lose all of her financial support that we obviously cannot survive without. I bet Molly would also be offended hearing someone say that a player (unpaid student athlete) sucks! Get a life Molly and watch from your couch!
They do need to get rid of the first down cheer, not because they say b!tch, its because they cheer for a first down. Think if we cheered for something as basic as a first down with brees? Do it occasionally to mock the team, like when the bengal fans go apesh!t for a PAT.
And never cheer as a group
The student section needs to be a random grouping of drunk idiots with no chance of getting their sh!t organized enough to formulate a group cheer.
ND, michigan and ohio state had entire stadium cheers, lame
And get rid of the stupid @ss student tshirts, ND does that and nobody likes ND.
I hope dancinretard is kidding.
First down chants or songs are part of what makes college football great.
The students should be fine making thier mark with Elmo, Chicken Man and Sponge Bob. So genius play by play people like Pam Ward can think it's halloween early. BC is the one thing we have that is completely unique, it should be promoted.
Not entirely sure why Alums don't cheer. Why even be there? Do you not cheer at a baseball game?
Oh and also, the band needs to stop playing during the offensive plays. Seriously. And don't get loud when Joey's doing check off's at the line, it should be silent in there. It's called home field advantage, we need to learn how its done.
Molly would be even more upset if more than 20% of the students supported the Boilers by actually buying tickets and attending the games!
Weren't student tickets free during the Akers and Colletto years?
It could be worse. Maryland basketball fans changed "Hey! Go Terps!" to "Hey! You suck!"
Not during Coletto years, I don't think. I came in '94 and we had to pay.
If the alums really have a problem with it (which I agree it does lack class) they should stand up with the cheer and scream "Boilers" afterwards. There are more of those fans in the attendance than the student section, they could drown the "Bitch" out so to speak. (plus they actually get loud for once... win-win).
However if that idea does not happen (and it probably won't due to MOST alumni trends) I like what the band has done now, immediately after the "FIRST DOWN" from the chant the drums play the "First and Ten.... do it again" cadence. It at least sounds better on TV and radio.
Not to sound like a copycat of aOSU or uND, but why don't we put an emphasis on the other Purdue songs...and the Purdue Hymn being sung after huge wins and not being just relegated to Glee Club events (Heck, even O$U fans know the words to Carmen, OHIO and play it before the game). I graduated in 2007 and I remember that they did play the "Fighting Varsity" song in the b-ball games along with "Hail Purdue". From what I remembered, nobody ever knew the words to that song (then again most of the students can't even sing the first verse of Hail Purdue...with some sorority girls butchering up the chorus of Hail Purdue ;) ). I think there is tradition and enthusiasm @ Purdue to be had but we need to dig it up a little bit. Alumni needed to pass those songs down to the students and students need to take to heart the history and the tradition of their future alma mater.
Sorry I know I just wrote an essay. Keep up the stuff Dowd, J-Money and Tim. I truly appreciate the blog.
A couple notes (and if my memory is as bad as everyone elses, they could be wrong, ha!):
1: No free tickets during the Colletto era. They were $9 or so, so they may as well have been free compared to what it costs nowadays to get in the stadium.
2: First down cheer goes as far back as the Brees Era. I seem to remember the students doing it in '98 or '99. I KNOW it was happening in '00.
3: My first recollection of the Bitch was 3 years ago against IU. I thought it was humorous. The following year when I heard it during a blowout of Eastern Illinois..... CLASSLESS. Save it for IU and ND and I'm OK with it.
My 2 cents. Bitch. ;)
Tickets were free when I was a freshman in '85. Not long after that, we were informed that blah blah blah keeping up with the Big Ten blah blah, and they became half price. I would guess that was '88 or so?
Sometime around then the marshmallow wars died down. I'm sure it was coincidence. Women were still being passed up the sections, but not as many, I think, and perhaps some were willing participants, although fewer I'd guess than I thought at the time.
I don't see anything wrong with expecting at least slightly better behavior out of students today than we engaged in ourselves. Certainly if it went the other direction, the school would be rubble in a decade or so. (I like to think I'm something of a respectable person now, but sadly in my college days I was not quite that.)
I would rather hear the students use something other than bitch, and I don't mean something Samuel L. Jackson would say, either. I would rather leave such things to schools that couldn't be expected to know any better (say, OSU) and hear something a little more inventive from a fine school like ours. If they can make it opponent-specific, great.
"First down, Charlie" against Notre Dame wouldn't be bad. "First down, fat, arrogant, overpaid waste of space" would be better, but perhaps a little too long.
So, do Purdue Alumni talk shit to Purdue fans who attend games but didn't attend Purdue? There are plenty of those at the games too. It's not just ND that has fans who didn't attend the school. Every school has this.
Just off the top of my head, I know of at least 10 people who are die hard Purdue fans but didn't attend Purdue. Does that make them any less of a fan? Absolutely not, in my book.
A couple questions-
-what's their connection to the university?
-What percentage of the stadium and the greater-viewership have a connection to the university?
Being Catholic is a horrible reason to root for UND. The same Catholics usually don't root for Xavier in Basketball or BC or any of the other Catholic universities.
Do Protestants root for Syracuse? If you don't know what I'm talking about, and it's over your head, don't worry about it.
Being Irish is a horrible reason to root for UND. In fact, I'd argue (since I'm Irish, and was raised Catholic) that UND is an embarrassment to "my people" on both fronts. I'm just saying.
Now back to the Purdue thing. There are (percentage-wise) so few Purdue fans who just root for Purdue "just because" that it's really not even an issue. Most that didn't go there live in Lafayette...others have kids who went there. Now, a family member attending a university seems to be a pretty legit reason to root for said school's teams.
What else you got?
I generally don't chant the "bitch" part, except for OSU and Notre Dame, because I don't think it's necessary (and I'm a person who has no qualms with cursing whatsoever). However, I don't see how it's a big deal either. Hell, you can hear "bitch" on friggin' "Everybody Loves Raymond".
I'd venture to say that crotchety alums (if they're alums weren't they IN the student section at one time?) who sit on their hands are more embarrassing than students chanting a slightly less than pristine word which most people can't understand anyway.
Boilerdowd-
I think you may underestimate the amount of people that are Purdue fans "just because". Granted, it's nowhere near the same as IU Basketball and ND football, I'll give you that.
I see no problem with people being fans of a school's teams if they went there or didn't as long as they are a true fan.
For example, people who are fans of IU basketball or ND football and sat through every painful game of the last few years of the Mike Davis era or ND fans who were glued to the TV or at the stadium for every Bob Davie, Ty Willingham, and Weis 2007 game...those are real fans whether they went to the university or not. Same for Purdue, if you've been living and dying with every game every though the team has been mediocre to brutal the last few years, I don't care if you are an alum or not, that makes you a real fan in my book.
Problem is, AJ, many of those people are the same people. These aren't professional sports, it's still a school. Rooting for UND's football team while rooting for IU's basketball team is bushleague garbage. I don't care how many games those people watched as they weren't winning.
Mike Davis' last season at IU, by the way, IU finished in the top-third of the league and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tourney. Bob Davie went to a bowl three of five seasons, including a BCS bowl, ending the season in the top-15. Willingham had a 10-win season in his short stint at UND. That doesn't sound too tough to me, honestly.
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