Thursday, October 07, 2010

An Outside Source Confirms Purdue Alumni at Ross-Ade Kind of Suck


Okay, well, there's more to it than that. Paul at Stadium Journey visited Ross-Ade for the debacle against Toledo. Here is his report.

Kudos to the students, band, tailgaters (even the alums) for giving Paul a good showing and helping him come away with an overall very positive impression of Purdue. These are the things we like to hear:

Purdue, and Ross-Ade Stadium may not be on most college football fans must see list, but there is a great value to be found here. This may be a basketball state, but northern Indiana definitely appreciates its football too. If you have the opportunity, don’t miss out on a great experience: Ross-Ade Stadium.


And I find it very interesting that Paul also noted what we've all been observing for years now:

The Purdue student section is something special. Seeing the thousands of young men and women cheering and gesturing “Boiler-Up!” in unison, is really an impressive sight. The alumni, on the other hand, are rather tame, and sure seem to have a penchant to give up on their team quickly if things don’t go well. I think they love Purdue, and being on campus, I just don’t think football is all that important to them.


Obviously, we all know there are many Purdue alums who love the football program and want nothing more than for it to succeed. But there is a signifcant portion of alums -- who we still can't figured out why they even go to games to sit on their hands and shoot dirty looks at fellow Boilermakers -- who have sullied the name of Purdue fans. So congratulations, miserable old people. You're now being noticed for how pathetic you really are. Thanks for that.

16 comments:

H. Jones said...

No surprise here. The alumni does have a tendency to have a "wait and see...then cheer" approach when it comes to the athletics at Purdue. Hopefully with more fans graduating from the Paint Crew and coming back to WL for many functions we can instill some vigor into the West Side of the stadium. Carry on guys and boiler up.

H. Jones
Class of '07

chevys10 said...

I agree that our student section typically does a great job. But, I do wish they would stop adding "B*&%$" to the first down chant. I'm not using the "family environment" argument or anything, I just don't think it's very classy. It's unnecessary and just seems stupid. I don't mind a good "bull-s$^%" chant every now and then for a blown call, but the first down chant is getting old. That started right around my junior year ('06) and I think it sounds terrible now that I'm watching more games on TV and such.

Daniel Kirkdorffer said...

Here is what I've observed: empty endzones. Isn't that, in part, a student section?

Ryan F said...

The student section extends to where the edge of the band is, and all the sections above it. But the very end of the north endzone and the south endzone are not the student section at all. The first two home games had a remarkable student turnout, especially the Ball State game. Toledo was lacking a little, especially when a third of those who came left by half.

H. Jones said...

South Endzone is totally general seating: The very eastern corner of the North Endzone is the student section, The AAMB has basically the lower central part of the North Endzone. Everything else is general.

H. Jones said...

@David the first down chant is not something I'm a fan of either, even more because of the fact that we can't score TD's from it... (and we give up MORE first downs on defense) but whatever could be worse, the fans in Madison are raucous and they say much more vulgar words during a football game. So to any student or alum that doesn't like saying B*tch after the first down... I understand... but that shouldn't dissuade you from being loud and raucous during a CRUCIAL stop or actually applauding this teams effort... or even getting on them to make a tackle...I dunno. I'm done

chevys10 said...

@Handel....trust me, I've never not cheered at out of our games. Whether we're up by 20 or down by 40....and it's not the language that "bothers" me...it just seems pointless and ignorant. The "B&^%$" at the end makes us sound arrogant or something....and then we turn around and don't score like you said. I dunno, I guess it's just the spirit of it that gets me. It's like we think we're so bad-ass, but then we turn around and get trampled.

Anonymous said...

I've been in section 127 for several years now. What frustrates me too, is the fact that the university gives out tickets to the lower rows that sometimes NEVER are used, or when they are used the athletes or their friends leave by half time.

Even at the Toledo game when the Hall of Famers were recognized at halftime they all left right after or shortly after to go tailgate. Now do I blame them? No, but our guys need support whether winning or losing, and butts in seats is a way of support.

I'm a younger person in an older section, and I say BOILER UP!

Even though our season is in the tank, I'm still looking forward to the game day atmosphere I'll encounter next week. These guys need support, whether winning or losing. After all they are still juggling classes and going to practice so we can watch them play. GO BOILERS.

Unknown said...

The alumni suck. I remember going to the first Alamo Bowl, being GEEKED that we're in a bowl, and when the team came on the field before the game, I stood up and screamed. Some fossil behind me actually shouted, Goddammit, sit the hell down!" After the first quarter I stood in the hallway behind the lower section because I got tired of waiting for the moron to die so I could enjoy the game. You know, if you don't want to stand up and make noise, fine, but don't crap on those of us who DO.

Plang said...

Boilerdowd, Tim, and J were in school around the same time I was. In the early to mid-1990s, it was typical for the stadium to be half full and a lot of the students to leave at halftime. I left at halftime a number of times (other than breakfast club mornings). It sounds like, and looks like on TV, that things are reverting back to those days. That is sad. But, how the team plays sort of dictates that. But for those that do go to the game, there is no reason to sit on your hands. And anyone that tells you to be quiet or not stand to cheer from time to time, needs to leave and be asked not to come back.

Daniel Kirkdorffer said...

John said... "The alumni suck."

I don't think you really want to make such a statement.

People have different ways of supporting the school and team.

Anonymous said...

When I started at Purdue three years ago, I used to hate the B!tch too and thought it was juvenile. Now after three years of conditioning, I say it all the time and don't give a damn what people think about it. It's college, it's a tradition, the students won't stop it until the band stops playing the song.
Get over it.

Orracle said...

Did you ever stop to think that maybe the alumni have seen MORE than their share of sucky teams? I was a freshman in 1969 when the teams were good and have had season tickets most of the years since. If you didn't sit and suffer through the Agase-Akers-Coletto years, you have no idea what miserable is. I'm a few weeks shy of 59 and believe me, I yell plenty.

Anonymous said...
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Unknown said...

It's not just football....

Was on campus from 1993-1995 and, even though the John Purdue Club got the prime seats and benefits, rarely stood to cheer on the Boilers, either at Ross-Ade or in Mackey.

In my opinion, if you have the seats of influence at a venue, then you need to let the team know they are supposrted!

Unknown said...

I've been going to Purdue football/basketball games for 30yrs. The Tiller years were the best as far as attendance, football, ect. in my time (love the Akers/Colletto comment!) Basketball obviously has been good or sometimes awesome most of the years. But there is one thing that hasn't changed in either experiences......OLD PURDUE ALUMNI SEASON TICKET HOLDERS SUCK AS FANS!! PERIOD. They have collectively sat on their asses enough to prohibit a truly crazy atmosphere that our teams and university as whole needs. The students have pulled them out of their coffins time and time again. The students have been outstanding!