UMassHoops.com

[KahunaK]

Some schools have great traditions surrounding their football programs while we may be a bit lacking. Wardy brings up a great idea with a Minuteman (maybe not Sam) carrying a Don't Tread on Me flag. This would be consistent with the history of the state and the Minuteman mascot. Perhaps we could have some cannon fire as well. The "Don't tread on Me" could become the Refuse to Lose for the football team.

FSU has a great tradition and for those who went to the Army game, the bagpipes and cannon fire were memorable. Virginia (Cavaliers) have a cavalier who rides around the stadium on a horse ride to get the crowd going. With our equestrian program I'm sure we can get something interesting going.

The walk ons for the Army and Navy game was cool as were the jets flying overhead. We need some kick ass traditions that will make the games fun and memorable.

Your ideas? Are you listening AD?

[Rocks22]

[jjmc85]

In his defense, those cannons are pretty small...

[BostonBert]

I'm just thinking that these "just thinking" threads are pitiful. This one especially. You know the "kick ass tradition" that I want to see year in and year out? Winning football games. Keep your fireworks for the 4th of July.

[Rocks22]

[Wheeler]

The West Virginia Mountaineers have a Mascot with a musket ride out onto the field on horseback similar to FSU. The minuteman and Paul Revere come to mind but I think what is more important is more people who bring more financial support who support traditions i.e. bigger cannons, horses. How about an increase in ticket prices.

[Berkman]

While none of us want to pay more for the games, the ticket prices for FB have been reasonably low for quite a few years. I think that an increase of a few bucks a game would not be unreasonable.

[CrooksisRhyming]

I still think UMass should invest in T-shirts that have the school fight song on the back... CU does it, and it is the one and only reason why I know their verbatim and not ours.
_________________
"Wherever I go, I’ll never be bashful about being from UMass, baby.” -Victor Cruz

[Rocks22]

[Jackman]

I believe we are tied for the lowest ticket prices in the conference, and the while idea of an increase wouldn't be offensive to me, I think in the long run it'd be better to keep pushing towards capacity crowds before increasing prices. We've had increases in average crowd sizes every year since the last losing season other than last season, when brutal final home game weather and missing the playoffs tucked us just under the preceding season's average.

I agree with KahunaK that "something more" to add to the atmosphere would be appreciated, but I don't think you can force a "tradition". Instituting something new is the opposite of a tradition.

I've seen the t-shirts with our fight song, and I don't think singing the official words is ever going to catch on. I love the tune, but I think the lyrics are really uninspired. "The stars and the stripes will gleam" is completely non-school specific, and "fight fight for ol' Bay State" is a reminder that Western Mass (which has no bay) can be an afterthought in this state.

Adopting some unofficial chants and songs is a possibility, but I don't think you can do that through the school. This is a crowd that generally thinks it's too cool for the "Go - Go U - Go U Mass" chant. What we need is a group of dedicated soccer hooligan types who are just going to sing and not give a damn if nobody is singing with them. Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands.

[ShadesOf96and98]

No need to keep creating more "just thinking" threads. if you're "just thinking" then do it in the same thread.


look, the bottom line is that we are FCS. No flag or horseback rider or giant cannon or whatever you want to propose is going to do ANYTHING about the lack of interest in the program. Going FBS is the only thing thats going to spark interest and passion beyond the best levels we've seen in recent years, and thats not happening anytime soon. Plus, the only thing thats going to help us reach those levels of recent years again is winning, not a "dont tread on me" flag.

Tailgating was the only thing we could start up to garner more interest and thats done. theres no reason to waste time thinking about gimicky traditions that will look stupid in a half-full, 18,000 seat stadium anyways. stuff like that is just like when Yellin went apeshit on the PA at basketball games and it was a laughingstock...it only adds to the effect of full, huge, raucous stadiums and arenas and looks lame, forced and overdone in facilities our size and filled only partially like ours are.

Fill the place with students and enthusiasm like hockey does and then you can turn the lights out, put sam on skates with a flag and go nuts. otherwise, just play the fight song and win the game until you get to that point.

[Mark 80]

[CrooksisRhyming]

[nighttrain777]

[jjmc85]