Random question about kicking off & historical arm movements

[FreakTalksAboutSU]

So...I attended every home football game from 95-99 and then 1-2 games annually from 2000-about 2003. Then came a loooong 10 year gap until this season, when I bought seasons again...

One thing I noticed that is gone...the strange, inexplicable chopping motion from fans when we are kicking off.

I never knew what it meant but when we were kicking off, everyone in the stadium who werent shaking their keys were doing a Tomahawk Chop-esque motion with their right arm. Now, no chopping at all.

Where did the chop go? When did it go? What was it anyway?

 

[mountaincuse]

I'm game to start doing it again and see if others start following suit

 

[TDTOrange]

Need the song the band played back! Brings back memories of Pat O'Neil bombing another one through the endzone after a big SU TD!

 

[FreakTalksAboutSU]

I somehow missed the mention of this in the SW thread...doh

 

[Jeremy L.]

I always noticed that when I was growing up. I LOVED when they were doing chopping that matched with the band. They need to bring that back.

 

[RF2044]

It was a cool tradition that I was sorry to see go away.

Would love to see Cuyahoga Cuse or other band types chime in to shed light on what the song the SUMB played during kickoffs used to be.

 

[CuyahogaCuse]

It was a cool tradition that I was sorry to see go away.

Would love to see Cuyahoga Cuse or other band types chime in to shed light on what the song the SUMB played during kickoffs used to be.

SUMB member 1987-89 ... Not a bad time to be in the band.

We played "The Chop," as you guys are calling it, before all kickoffs. The SUMB was doing it before I arrived on the hill, so I can't comment on its origin, but it makes sense that it be tied to our "Saltine Warrior" moniker, since it was not unlike the war chant played at Florida State or Atlanta Braves games. It would start very slowly and speed up through the moment the ball was kicked.

As for "The Saltine Warrior" song itself, I posted earlier to see if anyone had a recording. We did play it in per game in a medley with Down The Field. I think CUSU posted that medley elsewhere. I remember playing the song, but it's been 20+ years since I've heard it. Seems it has been systematically removed from all aspects of Syracuse University culture and history as we've moved into a politically correct society. And it is too bad, as it is a lost connection with our storied past.