|
Post by LizziebethHoya on Feb 13, 2006 16:49:27 GMT -5
I sat in the middle of the non-band side of the student section for the first time yesterday, and now have a different perspective. The band is VERY hard to hear back there. This is not really their fault...it is because of the way the way sound travels in MCI. However, MCI's constant "let's get loud" music on the sound system is not helping. Possibly better coordination in the future will help that, but, if the band is playing the fight song and the people near the front of the non-band student side hear it, they REALLLLY need to get loud about it so the people in the back know what's going on. I'll def keep that in mind whenever I'm up front. Same thing with the other songs. I'm pretty sure we can get the student sections singing if people know what's going on.
This whole year is a trial period for the double sides and I really like it. The student section has improved and will continue to in the future.
And for anti-Cuse cheers, I have a few....or more than a few. We just need to get people using them. On the cheer sheets, we need to clearly define 2 or 3 team-specific cheers AND use them. Last night the "wheres your tractor" went well...but the team-specific cheers haven't been too effective this year.
|
|
FLHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Proud Member of Generation Burton
Posts: 4,544
|
Post by FLHoya on Feb 13, 2006 17:27:53 GMT -5
Also something that hasn't been suggested yet - SINGING. It sounds really good when everyone does the Hey Baby ... song, if we could get the band to play songs everyone knows like Sweet Caroline or something like that we could do more of it. You've got two home games left until Murph graduates. Otherwise it's just not worth it. Can't do it without a competent...whatever the singing equivalent of a Yell Leader is. And that man is the gold standard.
|
|
|
Post by ilovescruggs on Feb 13, 2006 17:39:37 GMT -5
I think "It" has been brought on.
RB, suggestion for the HB coordination...ditch the talkies and use text messages. Whatever the form of the cheer-government, I still think the idea of a "cheer-seminar" at the start of next season is a good one.
|
|
FLHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Proud Member of Generation Burton
Posts: 4,544
|
Post by FLHoya on Feb 13, 2006 17:40:37 GMT -5
007 does not lead cheers. He is cheers. Well you got that first part right there, Tbird. ;D (It's to the point that 007 doesn't even listen to my jokes any more so it's not like he'll be offended by that). This year really is a trial for what Hoya Blue is capable of doing in the student section. There isn't really a precedent in the history of the club for a). a two-sided student section; b). a student section as big as the one we've got this year. There's been some good things and some not so good things this year that they've done. I think the cheer sheets on the whole are far better than last year. I agree that a focus on "the basics" is most appropriate (nobody goes to a game to study stuff anyhow). That being said, I was really impressed that the girls behind me at the Duke game reliably did every single cheer on that sheet the entire game. And several of the more creative ones do get a lot of play. The big task is still getting everyone on the same page. And it's a tough one. That section goes pretty far back. And lemme tell you, everyone sitting around me was having a good laugh last night whenever CAHoya would get up with his megaphone and do cheers. Cause we were no more than 5-6 feet to the left of him...and he was completely unintelligible, sounded like Chewbacca with marbles in his mouth. Now that's cause we were off to the side. But the point is...you can't get by unifying an entire half of the student section with ONE megaphone per side, and that megaphone being in the front row. Cause that sound...dies around the 14th row. It takes a lot of coordination and a lot of people. The Yell Leaders thing was pretty much a bust this year--I guess no one really wants that job enough that they'll stand near the back of a section and turn away from the game occassionally--but that's a program HB should really go back to next year now that they know what works and doesn't work. There's just too many times you'll look across the court and see two halves of the student section clapping different beats or at least a second off on the same cheer cause they're not on the same page. And please, for the love of Lee Scruggs, somebody get on this singing thing!
|
|
FLHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Proud Member of Generation Burton
Posts: 4,544
|
Post by FLHoya on Feb 13, 2006 17:42:47 GMT -5
I think "It" has been brought on. RB, suggestion for the HB coordination...ditch the talkies and use text messages. Whatever the form of the cheer-government, I still think the idea of a "cheer-seminar" at the start of next season is a good one. Oh they already had a great idea a few games ago. It was a joke of course, but I think the solution for HB cross-court communication is to adopt Craig Esherick's play calling signals. FINALLY the "fist" and "that O shaped thing" will be put to good use at MCI!
|
|
|
Post by ilovescruggs on Feb 13, 2006 22:59:23 GMT -5
HAHAHA, that's classic! At least now those calls will probably result in more points.
|
|
|
Post by Coast2CoastHoya on Feb 13, 2006 23:23:16 GMT -5
What an excellent use of the fist and the o-hands! A bunch of us in section 121 saw that last game and were cracking up.
As a 6-year member of the student section (thanks, Go Card) and current member of the A-Team (Young Alum Section) it's so great to see what HB is doing with cheer awareness and coordination. Well done, gentlemen and ladies.
|
|
CAHoya07
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,598
|
Post by CAHoya07 on Feb 14, 2006 2:22:01 GMT -5
The big task is still getting everyone on the same page. And it's a tough one. That section goes pretty far back. And lemme tell you, everyone sitting around me was having a good laugh last night whenever CAHoya would get up with his megaphone and do cheers. Cause we were no more than 5-6 feet to the left of him...and he was completely unintelligible, sounded like Chewbacca with marbles in his mouth. Now that's cause we were off to the side. Well, laugh all you want, my friend, because we're doing the best we can. I guess the yell leader thing has been a "bust," as you said. Murph and I tried being in the middle of the student section once, for the South Florida game. I'll tell you, it was so frustrating because we were trying to get students involved, it wasn't working, and turning around/using the megaphone in general took me away from the real reason I was there: to watch the friggen' game. Honestly, that's why cheerleaders get all those perks such as uniforms, food, and travel to do their jobs. It IS a job, and that job entails facing the student section and in turn not being able to watch the game 90% of the time. I prefer to watch the game, and that's why I don't think I'd make a very good yell leader. A lot of good stuff being tossed around in this thread, let's keep it coming. Coordination is key, and that's tough with split student sections at a huge place like the MCI Center. I never want to be a cheertatorship though, cheerocracy is much better.
|
|
FLHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Proud Member of Generation Burton
Posts: 4,544
|
Post by FLHoya on Feb 14, 2006 2:43:34 GMT -5
Well, laugh all you want, my friend, because we're doing the best we can. I guess the yell leader thing has been a "bust," as you said. Murph and I tried being in the middle of the student section once, for the South Florida game. I'll tell you, it was so frustrating because we were trying to get students involved, it wasn't working, and turning around/using the megaphone in general took me away from the real reason I was there: to watch the friggen' game. Honestly, that's why cheerleaders get all those perks such as uniforms, food, and travel to do their jobs. It IS a job, and that job entails facing the student section and in turn not being able to watch the game 90% of the time. I prefer to watch the game, and that's why I don't think I'd make a very good yell leader. I guess a few things: 1. Obviously, I meant laughing at you in a good way. You were up on a chair yelling at the top of your lungs into a megaphone (and doing a great job at it mind you), and we were practically underneath you but getting white noise instead. Just amusing I guess. 2. I think HB gave up on the Yell Leader thing too early. You have to remember that the South Florida game was basically only the second real game for students at the MCI Center, after the Fairfield game (I won't count Vandy even though you and I and others made it back). It was a very well attended but not very loud. And then came the Duke game. And every game since then has been...well, on a whole 'nother level. I think the student section over the course of the year a). got a lot more excited; b). "learned the ropes" as it were--and that really goes for everyone cause we're working with a new setup. I think you'd get a lot of mileage out of a couple yell leaders if the student section stays that big/loud next year. 3. Because you get a decent amount of mileage already out of you and StPete with one megaphone in the front row as it is. And I don't think that's taking anywhere close to 90% of your game-watching time away to do it. Lots of cheers happen during timeouts anyways. It seems like the (lack of) proximity to the front row makes more of a difference in deterring potentially great applicants than the direction one faces every now and again. 4. You are right though, in that there needs to be an incentive for doing what is, in effect, a JOB in the student section. Because really, even asking someone to take 1% of their game-watching attention away to do some cheers is asking something. I thought Hoya Blue had a decent compensation plan going for Yell Leaders when the idea was in the planning stages. And I KNOW the club does a good job rewarding volunteers. I'm convinced there's someone out there who's got the talent and the will to do this, just a matter of searching for them and doing a little convincing/bribing. I'm just saying I think it's worth it, I think it'll work in time, and I don't think it has to be rocket science or on the verge of a thankless job necessarily.
|
|
|
Post by cheerhoya03 on Feb 14, 2006 13:41:30 GMT -5
Here is where the earlier point that I made yesterday will come in handy....I know for a fact that this year the cheerleaders are split on both sides of the court. They have an easier time of communicating with each other since they have the ability to roam almost everywhere in MCI. When I was on the team, it was fairly simple to coordinate both sides. If there is a communication with Hoya Blue that the cheerleaders will lead with their signs on both sides, there can be a more organized system of doing chants (if that is what you're looking for).
Additionally - FLHoya - Thank you. When I was on the team we always did our best to coordinate and get the crowd involved. But believe me....the perks are not all it's cracked up to be -- travel was only for Big East in NY. The perks came with a lot of sacrifice. Give the girls some credit.... they work hard practicing 4 times a week in addition to cheering at the Men's AND women's games. I'm definitely not complaining, -- I would receive all of those bloody noses and twisted ankles all over again to be involved with this season.... but I just want to let you all know that the cheerleaders are definitely your allies and if you need my help in getting in contact with the girls, let me know. ;D
|
|
hoyatables
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,603
|
Post by hoyatables on Feb 14, 2006 13:45:01 GMT -5
Thank you. That one and the "Brokeback Mountaineers" one referenced by Barker were my babies, as the nice folks at Clyde's before the game could tell you. I personally liked "We'll Brokeback YOUR Mountain". Also well done. I don't get why "Brokeback Mountaineers" was funny.
|
|
YB
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 2,494
|
Post by YB on Feb 14, 2006 14:02:07 GMT -5
The homophobic WVU fans who got the reference were appalled by associating them with that movie.
|
|
hoyatables
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,603
|
Post by hoyatables on Feb 14, 2006 14:08:49 GMT -5
The homophobic WVU fans who got the reference were appalled by associating them with that movie. Hehe--the crazy liberal side of me found that poster somewhat inappropriate, but your rationale pretty much makes up for that--very clever!!!
|
|
aggypryd
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 2,419
|
Post by aggypryd on Feb 14, 2006 15:53:18 GMT -5
When I show up for the 'Cuse game, I want to hear 'No Mo' Play in G-A' blastin' over the PA system...and all the students jumpin' up and down screamin' in unison...
WE READY! WE READY! WE READY! WE READY! WE READY!
|
|
|
Post by HoyaLawya on Feb 15, 2006 16:08:26 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by ilovescruggs on Feb 15, 2006 20:47:08 GMT -5
Doesn't exist. Camera keeps breaking. Too much ugly.
|
|