I've always been taught to control the things you can control. We as fans cannot control what plays are called, what defense we run, or who plays Left Tackle. We cannot get our starting safety's head in the game or help him study the opposing team's film. We can second-guess, hindsight, complain, and cast blame. But, it's really just wasted energy. So what can we control? Our game-day performance.
It's past time for the athletic department, spirit groups, band, and admistration to take a hard look at our game performance. We as supporters got beat in all phases of the game yesterday. No, not in numbers, but in organization, unity, passion, and participation.
Something has to change. I don't claim to have the perfect plan or answers, but I do have enough sense to know that when all entities (fans, band, spirit groups, marketing, Jumbotron, PA) are not working together to produce an imposing atmosphere, some things need to change.
I'll begin with a few suggestions: increased band size and expectations (full band at every home game and drivable away games); organized crowd cheers; reevaluating every video and song played on Jumbotron for effectiveness; emphasizing student attendance in freshman orientation and at on-campus pep rallies; coordination with Greek groups to emphasize attendance at all games, not just half of the homecoming game; and reestablish fan expectations (being loud, standing, engaged).
Feel free to make your own suggestions. It's time to take our fan-hood to another level. "We are Bulldogs" once or twice a game got us beat yesterday.
It's past time for the athletic department, spirit groups, band, and admistration to take a hard look at our game performance. We as supporters got beat in all phases of the game yesterday. No, not in numbers, but in organization, unity, passion, and participation.
Something has to change. I don't claim to have the perfect plan or answers, but I do have enough sense to know that when all entities (fans, band, spirit groups, marketing, Jumbotron, PA) are not working together to produce an imposing atmosphere, some things need to change.
I'll begin with a few suggestions: increased band size and expectations (full band at every home game and drivable away games); organized crowd cheers; reevaluating every video and song played on Jumbotron for effectiveness; emphasizing student attendance in freshman orientation and at on-campus pep rallies; coordination with Greek groups to emphasize attendance at all games, not just half of the homecoming game; and reestablish fan expectations (being loud, standing, engaged).
Feel free to make your own suggestions. It's time to take our fan-hood to another level. "We are Bulldogs" once or twice a game got us beat yesterday.
