In-Game Atmosphere Discussion

[FrancoPizza]

I have an idea.
Every time we are kicking off, we make a Native American chant while extending our right arm out repetitively, while getting faster and faster until the kicker finally kicks the ball?

Oh wait...

Until someone complained that this was offensive, the fans loved this. The players loved it. Next thing you know, the Florida Cirtus Coalition will complain that Otto is giving the fruit industry a bad rep and we'll become the Wolfpack like it was proposed a couple decades ago.

 

[JRHEETER]

I preface this by saying I'm not a chant/tradition guy personally, I'm more of a watch the game guy and yell on 3rd down.

However, to the traditions point: I think the problem is a lot of the organized traditions/chants that are tried just aren't bought into. Not sure if it's a cultural thing (southern schools have way more traditions than any northern school) or the 'event town' someone else mentioned, which I agree with 100-percent.

Credit to West Virginia - country roads is great, but they have the unique benefit of having a popular sing along song mentioning them... Penn State has a white out and 'we are,' wisconsin has one song, Michigan has the Mr. Brightside (which dozens of pro/college stadiums have and act like they invented it), Ohio State 'dots the i' but that's about all I can think of and pretty lame. For Pitt, rutgers, minnesota, BC, Maryland, I legitimately can't think of anything.

Pitt does Sweet Caroline but they have changed the words to it so its about Pitt plus an impressive light show.

It is actually quiet impressive to see it in person.

I have not been to road games at the other locations that you mentioned.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Gary Glitter was a pedo. Leave that one for State Penn.

Did the lyrics molest kids? We're always throwing out the baby with the bath water, and the fan experience is worse off for it. The music industry would be DOA if songs were banned any time an artist was found to have a rap sheet. I'm not on board with the idea that some crimes are acceptable while others require cancelling. Let the justice department handle justice instead of the kangaroo court we call social media.

 

[DoubleDee]

Did the lyrics molest kids? We're always throwing out the baby with the bath water, and the fan experience is worse off for it. The music industry would be DOA if songs were banned any time an artist was found to have a rap sheet. I'm not on board with the idea that some crimes are acceptable while others require cancelling. Let the justice department handle justice instead of the kangaroo court we call social media.

It was a joke.

 

[Eric15]

I have an idea.
Every time we are kicking off, we make a Native American chant while extending our right arm out repetitively, while getting faster and faster until the kicker finally kicks the ball?

Oh wait...

I always loved that back in the day. I'm all about not disrespecting Native Americans with cartoonish mascots, etc. but that personally seemed harmless to me.

 

[JarHeadJim]

Free gummies!

 

[Eric15]

Not trying to be mean, but does Mike Veley really have to be our PA guy for the next 10-20 years?

Is it common for P5-level schools to have an Associate AD also be the public address announcer? That seems high schoolish to me, where like the PA person is also a social studies teacher.

 

[CNYGuy]

Pitt does Sweet Caroline but they have changed the words to it so its about Pitt plus an impressive light show.

It is actually quiet impressive to see it in person.

I have not been to road games at the other locations that you mentioned.

Interesting on the light show. Would imagine sharing a stadium with the Steelers probably helps.

I guess my overall point is stuff like singing sweet caroline does nothing for me personally (I know full well I could be in the minority here so don't shoot the messenger if others feel differently) - I'd be curious to what effect it would increase butts in seats or engagement in the game itself.

My cultural point was more aimed at going to football games is just an expected thing in the south and when you go for years and years then these things happen and everyone knows the cheers, etc. At least in Syracuse it feels like a larger percentage of fans are not regulars and it's something they pick as a weekend activity rather than something you plan your fall around.

 

[Offthedome]

My wife says at every game that the schtick should be that the Orange truck never loses the race. It can win in different ways, but it never loses. When we played Pitt, who was wearing all white, the white truck won. When we played the Blue Devils, the blue truck won. I mean, come on. (forget that the Orange literally lost both games; that is not lost on me)

 

[JRHEETER]

My wife says at every game that the schtick should be that the Orange truck never loses the race. It can win in different ways, but it never loses. When we played Pitt, who was wearing all white, the white truck won. When we played the Blue Devils, the blue truck won. I mean, come on. (forget that the Orange literally lost both games; that is not lost on me)

If the same truck won every single time, wouldn’t it get a bit boring?

 

[NineOneSeven]

If the same truck won every single time, wouldn’t it get a bit boring?

No because 60% of the time.. it works every time.

 

[OrangePA]

How about $1 hot dogs for everybody !!!

And bring back the Hofmann Coneys!!

 

[FrancoPizza]

If the same truck won every single time, wouldn’t it get a bit boring?

Not if the fun is seeing all the different ways it comes from behind every time. Don't get excited chip.

 

[EuclidBred]

Believe it or not, back in 2015(ish) HCSS brought in an outside consultant that helped build Penn State's game day environment into one of the best in the nation to help the SUAD make the game-day experience more exciting and entertaining. I personally met this consultant before a game. He stated to me that day that the Dome production staff and members of the SUAD were too comfortable in what they had always been doing to really make the changes. He was disappointed as he truly saw the Dome in-game atmosphere as having the potential to reach those PSU level atmospheres. That was 10 years ago so I am sure a lot has changed since then (or maybe not).

 

[anomander]

We need a chant. Every school has some sort of chant. If we ever did get a college gameday what is Pat Macafee going to stand on his chair and say to those in attendance …. “Let’s go Orange”?

I liked the ’ em up ’ em up go SU, we’re gonna kick the bleep out of you, but i understand why it was banned.

So there are 2 things to improve in-game atmosphere.

1. Have a school chant that you can do randomly multiple times a day.

2. Have the DJ replicate what they do down in LSU, Clemson, and most of the SEC, where there is a mini rap concert in-between every snap. I know hip hop isn’t everyone’s thing. It’s really not mine, but there was something about the energy and rhythm it brought when i was at the Clemson game this year. These are traditional schools, who are loyal to their bands, but they’ve mostly been relegated to post TD and pre-game, halftime performances now. Watch videos from an LSU game and the crowd is having a great time singing along to songs i’ve never heard of. I know this won’t be everyone’s favorite request, but it’s what most the kids playing on the field, the recruits at the game, and the college kids in the stands listen to.

 

[690West]

Looks like SU is reaching out to schools. All West Genny students, teachers and staff just got an email for 1 free ticket to the Boston College game. It'll be interesting to see how many districts they do this with.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

If the same truck won every single time, wouldn’t it get a bit boring?

Are the Globetrotters boring?

 

[HRE Otto IV]

We need a chant. Every school has some sort of chant. If we ever did get a college gameday what is Pat Macafee going to stand on his chair and say to those in attendance …. “Let’s go Orange”?

I liked the ’ em up ’ em up go SU, we’re gonna kick the bleep out of you, but i understand why it was banned.

So there are 2 things to improve in-game atmosphere.

1. Have a school chant that you can do randomly multiple times a day.

2. Have the DJ replicate what they do down in LSU, Clemson, and most of the SEC, where there is a mini rap concert in-between every snap. I know hip hop isn’t everyone’s thing. It’s really not mine, but there was something about the energy and rhythm it brought when i was at the Clemson game this year. These are traditional schools, who are loyal to their bands, but they’ve mostly been relegated to post TD and pre-game, halftime performances now. Watch videos from an LSU game and the crowd is having a great time singing along to songs i’ve never heard of. I know this won’t be everyone’s favorite request, but it’s what most the kids playing on the field, the recruits at the game, and the college kids in the stands listen to.

Can't have chants if it gets drowned out by advertising. Chants don't pay the bills.

 

[JRHEETER]

Believe it or not, back in 2015(ish) HCSS brought in an outside consultant that helped build Penn State's game day environment into one of the best in the nation to help the SUAD make the game-day experience more exciting and entertaining. I personally met this consultant before a game. He stated to me that day that the Dome production staff and members of the SUAD were too comfortable in what they had always been doing to really make the changes. He was disappointed as he truly saw the Dome in-game atmosphere as having the potential to reach those PSU level atmospheres. That was 10 years ago so I am sure a lot has changed since then (or maybe not).

And those same folks are still in position.

 

[cusefan88]

I can't remember if it was Duke or Pitt but the team entrance and video that plays before hand was horribly timed. The video was still playing when the team came out and the band played.

There's literal sheets made for games that have each moment timed to the clock. To mess it up is malpractice.

 

[anomander]

Can't have chants if it gets drowned out by advertising. Chants don't pay the bills.

i could be wrong, but i don’t recall hearing any advertisements in-game at Clemson this season. I can barely remember what i did last week, so i can’t say for sure what other road venues did in previous years?

All i know is i came away really enjoying the upbeat music in-between almost each play. Thought it brought a lot of energy to the crowd. I think that would be beneficial at Syracuse home games where i feel half the fans are having their own conversations and not paying attention. Definitely A+ in-game experience.

 

[Stevenson]

I only care about the product on the field, the replay boards, and the audio.

Product on field post-Angeli is a D-
Replay boards are an A+
Audio from the PA remains a

Wish the band sounded better. But it’s a small band.

I don’t eat stadium food.

Beer selection is fine.

just win, baby.

Also, a team named the “Orange” should NEVER do a white out.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

I only care about the product on the field, the replay boards, and the audio.

Product on field post-Angeli is a D-
Replay boards are an A+
Audio from the PA remains a

Wish the band sounded better. But it’s a small band.

I don’t eat stadium food.

Beer selection is fine.

just win, baby.

Also, a team named the “Orange” should NEVER do a white out.

I only notice when things are so bad you cannot ignore it. It seems like this year they finally figured out the speakers. There haven't been many cringe moments this year. I do remember a chant one game that got drowned out by the PA system.

Personally I think the best things for fan interaction are the band, cheerleaders, and Otto. They have all been unfortunately minimized.

The band rarely plays. If you need music, can they not play the same songs that are played? Can they not provide background music to whatever is on the big screens? Instead of piped in music?

Everybody loves Otto, should he not be up to antics all game?

 

[Offthedome]

If the same truck won every single time, wouldn’t it get a bit boring?

It's not exactly riveting entertainment now, is it? Maube kids like it?

I used the word shtick. Orange always wins.