STUDENT SECTION, CHECK IT OUT

[Brewtown Andy]

Thelower bowl is usually full in the student section. I would think more would go if their was more opportunity to sit down there

While I realize that we're talking about games against the Longwoods of the world, the university is NEVER going to open up a new section to students when there are open seats at tipoff in the lower bowl for games.

Especially when the entire rest of the lower bowl is virtually sold out to full price season ticket holders.

[Coleman]

But the PA announcer at the Bradley Center said WE have the best student section in the country!

[warriors1991]

I don't know how much I liked the Winning/Losing team chant but the I Believe that We Will Win was unbelievable. I can't believe I've never seen that before. And I don't think it's "high school" at all. The problem is getting the entire student section to participate. Maybe save it only for the biggest of big games so they'll actually do it.

It would be great if the entire stadium knew they were going to do it and go along, but we all saw how well the 'gold out' night went at the Bradley.......

[Djames4president]

In other news...during one of the second half timeouts, 3 students are always picked to open up one of those backpacks to see if they've won the 500$ tution check.  Against Longwood, 3 students were picked like always.  One of the students picked was who I call "Warrior Man" (Sits front row every game, wears Indian headdress that says Warriors across forehead).  So right before they are seen on the Jumbotron camera, one of the suits down there tells him to take the headdress off.  A friend talked to him after the game and he said they wouldn't let him do it if he was wearing the headdress............I would have said fine, not doing it. Warriors for life.   

Warrior Man, if you're out there, NEVER take that headdress off again!

[Coleman]

In other news...during one of the second half timeouts, 3 students are always picked to open up one of those backpacks to see if they've won the 500$ tution check.  Against Longwood, 3 students were picked like always.  One of the students picked was who I call "Warrior Man" (Sits front row every game, wears Indian headdress that says Warriors across forehead).  So right before they are seen on the Jumbotron camera, one of the suits down there tells him to take the headdress off.  A friend talked to him after the game and he said they wouldn't let him do it if he was wearing the headdress............I would have said fine, not doing it. Warriors for life.   

Warrior Man, if you're out there, NEVER take that headdress off again!

Not really relevant to the thread but ok thanks.

[GGGG]

I dont know if this was ever brought up, but I just thought this was so cool. Thought some people in the student section should see it because the student section needs some more life.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARpzavb7PQk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44YUnOoye58&feature=related

There used to be a very similar chant at UW hockey games in the early 80s.

The idea of meetings of student leaders is OK, but honestly that stuff is generally more organic than it is organized.

[bleedbluegold03]

I'm currently an Intern in the Marketing department for Marquette Athletics and have always been intrigued with the idea of infusing new cheers into the student section or starting a new cheering tradition. I also will be in charge of the student section "superfan flyer" this year so I think if we came up with a good enough idea for a chant and people to start it could possibly grow by putting it in the flyer.

I would love for anyone's suggestions and to those who are currently students please message me and I am more than game for setting up a meeting to talk and have a brainstorm. For alums who have tried in the past I would love your input as well.

Thanks ahead of time

[Ari Gold]

honestly thought back in the day some of the chants during the women's games were entertaining.
But i guess you had to be more creative to make those games entertaining (oh burn)

[rugbydrummer]

honestly thought back in the day some of the chants during the women's games were entertaining.
But i guess you had to be more creative to make those games entertaining (oh burn)

"Pursue them, pursue them, make them relinquish the ball!"

or because generally more genteel people attend the women's games?? j/k.  AG, the women's team has won a national championship in the last 30 years, can the men's team say that??   and yes i realize it's the (W)NIT, but all the same ^_^

[77ncaachamps]

I BELIEVE MU WILL WIN!
I BELIEVE MU WILL WIN!
I BELIEVE MU WILL WIN!
I BELIEVE MU WILL WIN!
I BELIEVE MU WILL WIN!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlKD2de-xTg

[mugrad2006]

I'm currently an Intern in the Marketing department for Marquette Athletics and have always been intrigued with the idea of infusing new cheers into the student section or starting a new cheering tradition. I also will be in charge of the student section "superfan flyer" this year so I think if we came up with a good enough idea for a chant and people to start it could possibly grow by putting it in the flyer.

I would love for anyone's suggestions and to those who are currently students please message me and I am more than game for setting up a meeting to talk and have a brainstorm. For alums who have tried in the past I would love your input as well.

Thanks ahead of time

If I were you and you really want to make this happen, here's a couple of thoughts.

1) As stated above, these things tend to be 'organic'.  I would figure out who the 4-5 MU fans who are always in the front row(s) who seem to have some pull and talk to them.  They're the instigators of this sort of stuff and if you're going to make it happen, they're the ones that can influence the crowd to pull it off.  Because the student section is effectively segregated by the way the seats are laid out, getting that small section right behind the basket is key.  Get them organized and you might actually have a chance that it will spread. 

2) One of the problems with these things at the BC is its too big and any new cheers can't be heard by the students in the upper deck.  If you can swing it, make use of the new awesome jumbotron to lead the crowd.  They had tweets up during the longwood game, why not a new MU chant?

3) Start with new cheers generic to MU, not an opponent.  Too often the superfan sheets have new cheers for each game, which inhibits the ability that they will catch on game to game.  If this works and a large majority of students start to actually look at the sheets, then you might be able to move onto opponent specific cheers.

Given the size of the BC, if you could actually get the student section organized it would make it one of the toughest places to play in all of college basketball, bad acoustics or not.  I'd love to see a Utah St.-esque coordination, and there's no reason it shouldn't happen.

[MUCrew]

If I were you and you really want to make this happen, here's a couple of thoughts.

1) As stated above, these things tend to be 'organic'.  I would figure out who the 4-5 MU fans who are always in the front row(s) who seem to have some pull and talk to them.  They're the instigators of this sort of stuff and if you're going to make it happen, they're the ones that can influence the crowd to pull it off.  Because the student section is effectively segregated by the way the seats are laid out, getting that small section right behind the basket is key.  Get them organized and you might actually have a chance that it will spread. 

2) One of the problems with these things at the BC is its too big and any new cheers can't be heard by the students in the upper deck.  If you can swing it, make use of the new awesome jumbotron to lead the crowd.  They had tweets up during the longwood game, why not a new MU chant?

3) Start with new cheers generic to MU, not an opponent.  Too often the superfan sheets have new cheers for each game, which inhibits the ability that they will catch on game to game.  If this works and a large majority of students start to actually look at the sheets, then you might be able to move onto opponent specific cheers.

Given the size of the BC, if you could actually get the student section organized it would make it one of the toughest places to play in all of college basketball, bad acoustics or not.  I'd love to see a Utah St.-esque coordination, and there's no reason it shouldn't happen.

+1  Well said.  Make it happen. 

I've noticed more chants added on since I graduated from MU.  I'm glad that the basketball culture at the BC is evolving. 

[bleedbluegold03]

my hope is that with using the Utah State Cheer of "I Believe That We Will Win" I can get the student section to pick up I believe MU will win. I'll be contacting the front row usuals but as stated before, any students please contact me

[reinko]

Yo bleedblueandgold,
Can you crack some skulls on who's responsible for that reprehensible stream on Saturday?

Thanks!

Regards,
Every fan who attempted to watch the Longwood game.

[rocky_warrior]

Regards,
Every fan who attempted to watch the Longwood game.

You know, this isn't the right thread for this, but since you brought it up...the MUTV/GoMarquette exclusive streams stutter horribly, and end up lagging by several minutes (10?) by the end of the game.  I learned that via the exhibition, and then even worse the South Dakota game.  For Longwood, I decided to skip video altogether and stick with Homer and Mac on the radio stream - much more enjoyable.  It's old school, I know, but until the MUTV/GoMarquette streams can handle the load, it's just not worth it.

/rant

[brewcity77]

I'm currently an Intern in the Marketing department for Marquette Athletics and have always been intrigued with the idea of infusing new cheers into the student section or starting a new cheering tradition. I also will be in charge of the student section "superfan flyer" this year so I think if we came up with a good enough idea for a chant and people to start it could possibly grow by putting it in the flyer.

I would love for anyone's suggestions and to those who are currently students please message me and I am more than game for setting up a meeting to talk and have a brainstorm. For alums who have tried in the past I would love your input as well.

Thanks ahead of time

My advice is to look to borrow football chants. Just scour English football clubs for quality chants and you can borrow them. Some of the easiest are ones where you have a leader starting the chant, and the rest of the fans repeat what the leader says. Here's one we use for Team USA national team matches:

Leader: Everywhere we gooo-O!
Chorus: Everywhere we gooo-O!
Leader: People want to know-O!
Chorus: People want to know-O!
Leader: We are Marquette (Or "the Warriors" )
Chorus: We are Marquette
Leader: Mighty Mighty Marquette
Chorus: Mighty Mighty Marquette
Leader: We are Marquette
Chorus: We are Marquette
Leader: Mighty Mighty Marquette
Chorus: Mighty Mighty Marquette

Also good is to use popular songs that everyone knows, altering them slightly, such as "When the Saints Go Marching In"...

Leader: Oh when Marquette!
Chorus: Oh when Marquette!
Leader: Goes marching in!
Chorus: Goes marching in!
Leader: Oh when Marquette...
All: Goes marching in / Oh how I want / To be in that number / Oh when Marquette goes Marching in!

You can also go with a few stock chants, again, you need a good leader to get the rest of the section to follow. Single line things, similar to the "Winning Team, Losing Team" that USU uses.

All: Can we play you every week? Can we play you every week?

All: The Butler did it! The Butler did it!

For that, just get the leader to shout it out once in rhythm, then the mass joins in as he repeats it over and over. In general, children's rhymes are great to use too. Everyone knows them and it's easy to modify them to suit most any occasion. How about calling out the next opponent? Say it's January 10th and we're thumping Notre Dame by 17 in the final minutes, start up with "Oh my darling Clementine", instead singing...

Are you watching?
Are you watching?
Are you watching, Louisville?
The Irish lost, they're gone forever
We're coming for you, Louisville!

Or use songs that everyone knows, like The Ramones "Hey Ho, Let's Go!"

Hey, Ho! D-J-O!
Hey, Ho! D-J-O!

Scoring from the three-line
Quick to dish off a dime
Dunkin' on you every time,
He's D-J-O!

Bottom line, you need some easy source material that everyone knows, some creativity, and some leadership. If you've got regular vocal leaders in the front rows, it's a good start. Then just figure out some songs all the fans will know and lead them. If you're really ambitious, print out a couple hundred song sheets and have the leaders pass them out at games. After a few games, people will get to know what songs are coming and won't need the sheets. In addition, if people do join in, it should increase how much fun they have at games and could increase student attendance, especially during cupcake games. After all, if you get to join in the kicking an opponent when they're down, it's that much more fun to be there, and I have a feeling the players will appreciate it as well, especially if you get songs that recognize them. I have to imagine some of the other guys would be easy to get songs for too, especially Blue...there have to be dozens of songs with Blue or a word that rhymes with Blue in the chorus.

[PaintTouches]

I've said it once and I will say it again, the student section/everyone should sing the national anthem as loud as possible. Nothing gives me the chills quicker than that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SZiLlvstZA

And if any of the student commenters are serious about getting chants going, start a separate section and give yourselves a name. It starts with a few and grows "organically." Personally, I think Al's Army would be a killer name for a fan section.

Finally, I'm no 'Pool fan but when they sing "You'll never walk alone" at Anfield, it's quite a sight to see. That would definitely take time to master as well as help from the jumbotron but I think its feasible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7xvegPH_Lw     

[brewcity77]

Finally, I'm no 'Pool fan but when they sing "You'll never walk alone" at Anfield, it's quite a sight to see. That would definitely take time to master as well as help from the jumbotron but I think its feasible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7xvegPH_Lw

YNWA is absolutely epic. It always reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend of mine who's a 'Pool supporter that lives in Manchester. We were talking about booing, and he simply didn't get it. The crowd at Anfield never boos one of their own. Never. Never ever. Their belief is that anyone wearing a Liverpool shirt will always give their all, and even when they come up short or make a mistake, that player is still playing for the Mighty Reds, and deserves their respect. That's why YNWA is so amazing, because they sing it win, lose, or draw, and with all their hearts, they mean it.

That being said, I think it would take a lot of work and effort to get our student section to sing YNWA. For those that don't know, here are the lyrics...

When you walk through a storm
hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm is a golden sky

And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone,
You'll never, ever walk alone.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone,
You'll never, ever walk alone

One that's pretty easy that we always have fun with is using "We all live in a yellow submarine". Liverpool fans started using the song for "We all dream of a team of Carraghers", but we US fans have nicked it for "We all dream of a team of Altidores". Pretty much any name with three syllables works. "We all dream of a team of D-J-O's", "a team of Jae Crowders", "a team of O-tul-e's"...any name with three syllables. Easy to remember, easy to learn. That's the key, it should be something that's familiar, which is why as much as I'd love to hear You'll Never Walk Alone at the BC, I don't expect I ever will.

[Ari Gold]

My advice is to look to borrow football chants. Just scour English football clubs for quality chants and you can borrow them. Some of the easiest are ones where you have a leader starting the chant, and the rest of the fans repeat what the leader says. Here's one we use for Team USA national team matches:

Leader: Everywhere we gooo-O!
Chorus: Everywhere we gooo-O!
Leader: People want to know-O!
Chorus: People want to know-O!
Leader: We are Marquette (Or "the Warriors" )
Chorus: We are Marquette
Leader: Mighty Mighty Marquette
Chorus: Mighty Mighty Marquette
Leader: We are Marquette
Chorus: We are Marquette
Leader: Mighty Mighty Marquette
Chorus: Mighty Mighty Marquette

Also good is to use popular songs that everyone knows, altering them slightly, such as "When the Saints Go Marching In"...

Leader: Oh when Marquette!
Chorus: Oh when Marquette!
Leader: Goes marching in!
Chorus: Goes marching in!
Leader: Oh when Marquette...
All: Goes marching in / Oh how I want / To be in that number / Oh when Marquette goes Marching in!

You've got to be kidding me.

[brewcity77]

You've got to be kidding me.

Simple and easy is the way to start. Things everyone knows. Nursery rhymes and traditional songs are always easiest, and usually easy to morph to fit a school, and once a crowd gets the simple stuff, it's easy to get them to follow along to chants that either support the team or mock your opponent.

Or we could just stick with a student section that struggles to get "We are Marquette" in unison, and doesn't know any of "Ring out Ahoya" other than the Go! Go! Go Marquette, Go! Go! Go! Go!" (despite it being a painfully simple song). Which in the end is inevitably what will happen.

[PaintTouches]

Very true Brew, I will have to keep dreaming on that one.

How bout "I'm forever blowing bubbles?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5daD7gjQUdo&feature=related HA, like that would ever happen.

Personally, I'm fond of a lot of the Section 8 chants and a few could translate well.

Marquette, Marquette, Marquette Marquette Marquette
la da da da, la da da da, la da da da da da da http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni0XrIucLuM&feature=related

If you love Marquette, stand up
If you love Marquette, stand up
Repeat until everyone is standing
Then do the same with if you love Marquette, sit down

[MUfan12]

I think these ideas would be awesome... for soccer games. And as a Liverpool supporter I appreciate that video, I almost forgot what a European night at Anfield looked like.

In all honesty, the issues to tackle are in this order-

1) Get students there.
2) Get them to stay til the end of the game.
3) Get them to make a lot of noise.

The section is too spread out for anything elaborate. But with 4,000 of you behind that basket in the second half, making a lot of noise would make life more difficult for the opposition than organized chants.

[Ari Gold]

One word:

Vuvuzelas

[brewcity77]

I think these ideas would be awesome... for soccer games. And as a Liverpool supporter I appreciate that video, I almost forgot what a European night at Anfield looked like.

In all honesty, the issues to tackle are in this order-

1) Get students there.
2) Get them to stay til the end of the game.
3) Get them to make a lot of noise.

The section is too spread out for anything elaborate. But with 4,000 of you behind that basket in the second half, making a lot of noise would make life more difficult for the opposition than organized chants.

Quite frankly, this is the biggest problem. Not just for Marquette basketball, but for sports in general in America. There's no creativity, no real fan passion. The best you ever get is a loud crowd. Guess what other crowds can get loud. Every one of them. Making noise wouldn't hurt, necessarily, I just think that if you want to create an atmosphere like the Utah State videos, you need to aspire for more than that. I mean, before seeing those USU videos, the most intimidating atmosphere I ever saw at a stadium in this country was Virginia Tech taking the field to "Enter Sandman". Trying to compare that to YNWA, Tiny Bubbles, or any of the other major European themes is laughable.

Honestly, if there's any song we could get the student section singing, I'd most like to see "As One" by Dropkick Murphys. I think the only reason it hasn't been adopted by some team is because we don't really do that on this side of the pond. But having the BC shaking to that song would be awesome. And personally, I just don't think that music piped in on a sound system has the same effect. Yeah, "Jump Around" is great and all, but nothing beats an entire stadium singing in unison. YNWA proves that better than any other. Anyway, "As One"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pr6Au9_DZg

[downtown85]

Each song should either:

a) build up our team, or
b) deride the other team.

The question is whether you can do b in an effective way given how politically correct the program is nowadays.  Take a look at the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMQtog1uiSU

Celtic vs. Rangers is one of the great rivalries of all time.  There is a lot of background with the Northern Ireland troubles (even though both teams are in Scotland).  Some of these songs are classic, if not completely offensive to the other side.  I mean, "F___ the Queen!" is pretty politically incorrect.  

My point is that if you don't have some edge, then you end up sounding like high school.

( you could do a song near the end of the Wisconsin game "Bye Bye Badgers"   Celtic has one called Bye Bye Rangers,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeMNa9l7p_M)