Cheerleading

[shaunguth]

Chico is right. Some of those "old folks" that don't stand and cheer all the time donate thousands of dollars to Bradley and have done so for years. We should be thanking them because they more than anyone have helped make Bradley something special, and not just another midmajor struggling to draw fans and compete. We have to find ways to raise spirit and increase the home court advantage that encourages and includes all the season ticket holders.

Agreed....but at the same time those "old folks" should not spend the entire evening telling any current students to sit down.

[amckillip]

I think this would be a good place to start for getting the crowd into it: http://www.buscout.com/ver5/sportsar...ate=2007-10-26

Adam's got a point in this column, I often felt weird just standing and clapping. The only exciting part was chanting B-R-A-D-L-E-Y. Maybe the AD could really let students create lyrics to a new song, they opened it up for t-shirt design for the Red Sea.

This is really a terrible idea, to be honest I don't know all the words, but to change the fight song would leave us with a song that has no tradition or history... so what's the point. And if we're talking about the 'less-young' fans that support BU, they would really be upset if we changed it.

Please don't start again on the people who don't go wild at the games. If it wasn't for the community we wouldn't have a Bradley basketball program. Let everyone do their own thing. I know I make up for some that won't, or can't stand ad cheer.

This goes both ways too, I really got irritated when I brought my dad to the SIU game this January and I was repeatedly told to sit down and quit getting in the way. The game was crazy I'm gonna stand up and I'm gonna cheer. If anything this is more ridiculous than others saying fans should stand up.

[real fan]

I was not putting the old people down that cannot stand up but was sticking up for the cheerleaders as they try to get everyone involved but on the other hand just because you donate a lot of money to the university does not make you a great fan as I know some of those people and they are younger then most of us but only go to the games to be seen and usually are gone way before the end of the game.

[Chico]

Real Fan, I agree there are a few, very few, who do what you say. It was that way at the Fieldhouse too and is probably the same at every Arena. But overall Peoria and the surrounding communities are very supportive of the team and without that support we wouldn't have the program we do. I also agree with posters who complain about being told to sit down. That's what college basketball is all about, being loud and rowdy. I'm lucky though, I sit in front of dog and he would be the last one to say sit down.

[abesimpson]

Andy, if you and I and about 95% of the fans don't know the words to the song, then its not a tradition, its more like trivia. And history-wise, it refers to a different sport. The bottom line is clapping to a beat is pretty lame, the only exciting part is chanting BRADLEY at the end.

I would support keeping the song and just writing new lyrics or maybe altering the melody slightly for new lyrics, I think that would balance keeping some history and getting a new fight song. For example, Purdue's slogan "Boiler Up" is newer and their students/fans add it in to sing in their fight song in a brief gap in the traditional lyrics.

Besides "Charge On" I know there is another song "Hail, Red and White", but I also have no clue of its lyrics. Does anyone know if that was ever sung at games? Maybe the cheerleaders could try to bring that song back. I just think singing a fight song a few times a game would really motivate the crowd.

[Da Coach]

At nearly all schools, most people, including students, do not know the words to the school fight song. That may not be a reason to write new ones, since people won't learn or know those either.

Remember, there were grads who threatened to stop donating to the school if they changed the name Braves. I suspect those people would be just as upset if the words to the school fight song was changed.
I have no problem with developing a new song that is appropriate for basketball.

The Hail Red and White song is usually played just after the game ends, and fans are filing out of the arena.

[Beninator]

I like the BU band playing Hail Red and White at the end of the game.
But... I dont think that the lyrics to Hail Red and White will inspire the masses.

Hail Red and White can be heard at the beging of the Victory Honor and Glory dvd.

I lifted the lyrics and I am sure that there are a couple of minor mistakes... But, even with a couple of potential minor errors, we can get an idea.

Let all your voices ring
hail red and white
red for courage strength and might
white for purity
shining as a beacon light
for the university
go onward there onward
let courage and truth prevail
to Bradley University
all hail.....hail......hail

[Chico]

If you listen to Hail Red and White, you know it's not meant to be a fight song. IMO the band doesn't play Charge On Bradley enough during the game. Every time the other team has to call a time out because of a Bradley run,that song should be played. Nothing else they play gets the crowd, young and old, going like that song does. I used to think Splish Splash was the fight song.

[MacabreMob]

I agree with ya Chico...

it's just like for example... an opponent of say Michigan's football doesn't know UM's fight song, but after every score, they get to hear it... and by game's end... it is still ringing in their ears.