1/29/02- YOST CHANTS...STUDENTS HAVE FORGOTTEN THE POINT

TO: Current UM Student Hockey Fans

FROM:  Former Michigan Student Hockey Fan

Much has been made over the last few weeks about the request from Athletic Director Bill Martin that the UM student section 'tone-down' their antagonistic chants directed at opposing fans and players.

As a former student who put in three years in the student section during the early 1990's I thought that I'd give you my .02 cents on the issue.

I'M NOT TELLING YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.  I realize doing that would only make me the target of some post C-YA expletives.  I do want you to consider the ramifications of not cleaning up the chants/behavior and make a plea for students to remember why the chants came about in the first place.

Possible Ramifications-  Let's go through a little exercise. 

PROBLEM:  The athletic department isn't happy about the abuse directed at opposing fans sitting in the midst of the student section.  The abuse has led physical altercations between opposing fans and Michigan students.

GIVEN:  The athletic department is ALWAYS looking for ways to generate additional revenue.

SOLUTION: Move the the students to the top of the opposing end zones.  Sell former student seats (which were formerly discounted) for full price.

DISCUSSION:  Do you really think that the athletic department would pass up the chance to sell sideline seats at full price?  The athletic department has already shown that student seating is not a big priority to them- have you seen the obstructed view seats created in the student section from the new premium balcony? 

Current students ask yourself this question- how will you feel if in five years you return to Yost only to find that the students have been moved back off from the ice because of the chanting that you do now?

While the possible ramifications should be considered more importantly it's time for students to reconsider the motive behind the cheers.

THE PURPOSE OF THE CHANTS

As someone who began going to hockey games in 1990, it seemed to me that the chants were a way to keep constant pressure on the opposing team.  It started with reading newspapers and ignoring the other team during introductions...Starting at Center for Michigan State Anson Carter- WHO CARES!!  Every few minutes there a was a chant usually initiated by something happening in the game.  A Michigan goal  "1, 2, 3, 4, We want more goals followed by the ever popular- GOALIE...SIEVE, GOALIE...SIEVE"  a great save by a Michigan goalie would start the student doing a series quick bows to the Michigan net minder.  During a time-out if an opposing goalie removed his mask a chant of "UGLY GOALIE" would break out.  Quiet times in the game were broken up by a cow bell and "Let's Go Blue Chant" or my favorite the "Black Hole chant- Hey Goalie...You're not a goalie, you're a sieve! You're not a sieve, you're a funnel! You're not a funnel, you're a vacuum! You're not a vacuum, you're a black hole! You're not a black hole, YOU JUST SUCK!"

The worst you could expect to hear back then was infamous PG rated word 'suck'. 

Over the years the C-YA chant has grown to include a number of expletives.  I ask you- why do you go to Michigan hockey games?  To cheer for the Wolverines or to scream profanities at opposing players?  I have news for you- they've heard worse.  If anything, opposing players are amused at best.  They are impressed by the constant cheering and enthusiastic support that the Wolverines have at Yost.  Unfortunately the student section has distanced itself from many of the other fans by adding profanities to the C-YA chant.  Look across Yost arena during the next C-YA...How many other fans are joining in?  During the early to mid 90's most fans would be standing and waving...Not now.  Many fans don't want to be associated with the profanity-laden conclusion of the chant.

If the chants are cleaned up I think that even more hockey fans would participate and support the Wolverines. 

BUT OTHER SCHOOLS ARE DOING IT

I've been to see Michigan on the road.  I know the kind of abuse that other student sections direct at our fans and players.  So what?
 
WE ARE MICHIGAN...THE LEADERS AND BEST

For anyone to suggest that we should lower ourselves to match the boorish behavior of Ohio State, Michigan State, or Ferris State fans shows that they don't truly understand what it means to be Michigan Man or Woman.

Go Blue!

Phil Callihan
UMGoBlue.COM- By Fans...For Fans
phil@umgoblue.com

Return to UMGoBlue.COM Send Page