The Bulldogs’ student section has hit rock-bottom
Moran is a senior news internet and math double major and can be contacted at matthew.moran@drake.edu.
Congratulations, Drake. You have earned another distinction.
You have been named one of the Top 10 Worst Basketball Student Sections in the country.
In last Wednesday’s final home contest of the men’s basketball season, the Bulldog bleachers were about half-full as usual. But that’s OK. I’ve grown used to the fair-weather fans that we have at this school (in any sport, not just Drake basketball). So, kudos to all the fans that showed up.
But don’t think that the quality of cheering made up for the lack of numbers. It was atrocious.
“You’re adopted,” Clap, clap, clap clap clap. “You’re adopted.”
Wait … I thought we were playing Southern Illinois? So why are we STILL shouting the same chant that was used against Creighton’s Doug McDermott (whose father is the team’s head coach).
I’m all for chanting against a team’s best player (even though Dougie hung 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds that night). But using the same chant against every team that comes to the Knapp Center for the rest of the season? That’s pathetic.
It’s almost as pathetic as the “start the buses” chant at the end of the game. Yeah, I remember high school football games, too. Real creative.
And what else did the grand Drake student section boast last Wednesday? Frat boys in pink clothes? A dude in a sports bra?
I understand it was 80’s night, but I didn’t know we had to steal clothes from the lockers at Women’s Workout World to attend a college basketball game.
If I were shooting a free throw, however, the sports bra guy might have thrown me off. But, if that didn’t, surely the large posters of random heads would have. Nothing’s more intimidating than a large Veggie Tales or Smurfs head.
If that large Ari Gold head could talk, I’m sure he would berate our student section worse than he treated Lloyd when he asked for a promotion.
So, student section, I ask one thing from you next year: please, for the love of God, have some basketball-related material to chant or to show to the crowd. Random heads and stupid, repetitive chants are not doing the trick. The Southern Illinois players on the bench looked as confused as I was with the student section’s actions.
So, Drake, chalk up another award to add to the trophy case. Hopefully, the Bulldogs will be better next season so that more fair-weather fans show up to games.
Otherwise, make more room on that trophy shelf because we are definitely favored to make the list again next year.
As a Creighton fan who makes the trek to Des Moines every year, I’m disappointed that the “You’re Adopted” chant has been recycled… that and last year’s “You got grounded” chant when McDermott was yanked from the game after his fourth foul had me respecting the Drake student section. The students were also apparently the only fans who got the memo that it was a “whiteout” for the Creighton game. I guess I should be happy to have seen the Drake student section’s best effort of the season!
First of all, it is ‘fraternity men’, not ‘frat boys’. Second, the ridiculous outfits were all in the spirit of fun for 80s night! The sports bra was awesome! If you have a problem with it, go to a different school! Everyone at Drake LOVED it. Third, if you have a problem with the way we cheer, YOU start a cheer next game! There were some guys in the back rows that started a couple of chants and all of us went with it. Do something about it or SHUT UP! Don’t complain about stuff unless you have a solution.
1. You don’t know the difference between Veggie Tales and Gumbi.
2. There was a best 80’s costume contest. The crazy costumes were attempts to win a love sack.
3. I strongly oppose your statement “frat boys in pink clothes”. Instead of this attack against fraternities, maybe you should attack students that don’t contribute to campus, don’t help the community, and wouldn’t have the cajones to wear a pink bra in an attempt to win a love sack.
I understand that sometimes writers need to report in a tough manner, to illustrate a problem. However, I feel that your article is biased against the student section. I would first like to call your attention to the results of our games with large, participating student sections: Wins against Iowa State, Wichita State, and a close loss to Creighton.
Some of the best student sections in the country do the things we do: have themes, have posters of random heads, and say inappropriate things. It is part of the culture of student sections in general, not just ours.
Second, people have fun with themes. At every game, there are guys that dress in blue morph suits, no matter the theme. Should we get angry with them for wearing outfits that aren’t the norm? People even paint themselves at other schools, our section at least is wearing clothes. Even if these clothes are a sports bra, its all in good fun.
Third, I resent your calling of students “frat boys.” As a member of a fraternity on campus, I resent that derogatory comment. Drake and its Greek System works hard to not have that stereotype associated with it, so the fact that you call some students as such shows an ignorance on your part.
Finally, as a member of the student section on most occasions (when I’m not busy with other school events), a majority of the chants utilized are basketball-related and appropriate. My personal favorite is “D-D-D, Defense!” but that’s just me. So while there are a few inappropriate chants, I would refrain from again stereotyping the students involved based upon a few chants.