I am writing for the second time this season regarding concerns about the loss of tradition and stifling atmosphere being created at Lane Stadium.
Recently, the banning of the "Stick It In" cheer and the actions of stadium security have been cause for concern, and going back through the last few years, tailgating restrictions, the banning of "na na, Goodbye," the well conceived but ill-executed "Hokie Respect" campaign and the "Jerk Alert" all come to mind as other prime examples.
I would like to take a moment before I take on these subjects to say that I think the athletic department has done a good job in a number of respects. Recent out of conference match ups with the University of Southern California in the Black Coaches Association game, the recently completed series against LSU and of course the upcoming series against Nebraska are all great match ups, provide balance with games against other quality programs from mid major conferences, though I'd like to stop seeing I-AA (FCS) teams on the schedule. Gaining entrance into the ACC has also provided a boost in recognition to the Hokies, especially in Basketball, where I hope Seth Greenberg will continue to have the support of the Athletic Department. I am also quite impressed with the expansions to Lane Stadium, although I would be pleased to see "Home of the Fighting Gobblers" returned to the building.
Game days at Virginia Tech are a special time, when fans, alums and friends can come together, tailgate, watch and support our favorite team, and generally have a great time. Part of this is enjoying the traditions created by fans and students from before our time, and carrying on what the started. Skipper, Key Plays, Enter Sandman, Stick It In, shouting "block that kick" and students spelling out "VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY" across their chests in November are all part of the great game experience at Lane.
However, I have seen some troubling things recently. I have witnessed, as I wrote last time, stadium security threatening students with arrest if they continued to do crowd push-ups. This was selectively enforced, and numerous other instances were happening in plain view of everybody, including said security staff. I have also noted that the Corps of Cadets regularly participates in the activity, as do many students not just at Virginia Tech, but across the country.
This leads me to the Hokie Respect campaign, which I assume will also cover the ban of "Stick It In" and the "na na Goodbye" song. "Hokie Respect" is a good idea with poor implementation. It has been run as though we have a stadium full of jerks and hooligans. At the same time, it seems to be driven by the few puritanical and sheltered people who have not yet realized that this is football, and not figure skating. Please stop treating the Hokie Nation like children and stop the embarrassing commercials. The Jerk Alert commercials are the biggest offender, as they only encourage fans to become less enthused with the Hokie Respect campaign, and quite frankly, feel insulted by you.
And yes, we should be respectful of our opponents and visiting fans. Being respectful is inviting them for BBQ and beer before the game, playing some catch with them (also now banned) and being genuinely friendly. For the ECU game, having them enter at the same time as us, I thought, was a fitting tribute to the support they have show the Hokie Nation. However, this practice generally makes the entrance of the Hokies less intimidating, and should be discontinued for further games.
As for banning college students from doing the "Stick It In" cheer, it's college. These are young adults, and I think that innuendo and humor combined with rooting for the team is just fine. Yes there are children at the game, and no, they don't know what it means. There are jokes far more racy than a little pelvic thrusting in most children's movies, because they make the adults laugh and the children are ignorant of the implications. I suspect that with innuendo banned, flat out obscenity will be the replacement.
I guess what I am trying to say is this: Hokie football is supposed to be fun, and my order of season tickets and donation to the Hokie Club will wait until there is a new course of action from the Athletic Department. In the mean time, I will continue being the best Hokie I can be, and will avoid bringing guests with me to the unfortunate atmosphere you are creating in Lane Stadium.
Michael Sperry
B.S. physics, Virginia Tech class of 2005
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Amen! It's way out of hand and there is no excuse for it considering Hokie fans haven't been that ridiculous in the past. It's very undeserving.
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Well said Michael. If our students are old enough to fight for our country's freedom and free speech, they should be allowed to have some fun! This is what happens when we put people in power who have forgotten where they were once young.
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Here here!
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Well written and I could not agree with him more!
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Stick it in is a trashy cheer. It was an embarrassment when I brought my friend to the game and I'm a 25 year old Hokie alum/grad student at Brown, not some stodgy old timer complaining about the change from VPI to VPI&SU (not that stodge old timers are bad, they're actually awesome because they're the backbone of our schools fund raising efforts). The writer of this article is obviously not offended by the cheer, but others are, including Tom Tillar, Jim Weaver and those who, in my opinion, have class (and probably money). Sperry's argument is tantamount to Mississippi's flag fiasco - where individuals have said the confederate flag on the state courts doesn't offend most so it should remain there. That argument isn't logical and neither is Sperry's. And also, Michael, I just don't think the withdrawl of your financial support to the University's department of athletics is going to make Jim Weaver all that distraught.
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I understand that some are offended by the cheer. But my point is much broader than one cheer. I was try to build a case that there has been a systematic crack down on tradition and fun at the games. And I recognize that one person not joining the Hokie Club will not amount to much, but one drop in the bucket is a start, and for some of us, it is all we can do beyond witting a letter to Mr. Weaver, the CT and Dr. Steger. I also think comparing the Cheer to the Confederate flag amounts to Godwin's Law.
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Very good point! I completely agree. It's not just this cheer being banned, it's everything that has happened before to limit the behavior of fans/students. I am proud of the way we, as fans, treat opposing teams. I have never disrespected fans from another team, nor have I seen anyone else doing that. To treat fans and students as if we are poor sports or WVU fans is an insult to everyone that actually behaves themselves. If you can't see the fun and silliness in this cheer, we'd rather you stayed at home and watched the games from the safety of your own couch.
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Mike, Thanks for your great letter! It is not just about the one cheer... but a culmination of restrictions and bans that the athletic administration has imposed on gamedays in Lane. Hokie Respect is a novel idea, but its growth to encompass new restrictions is irritating and maybe we are now seeing a growling response from the fans it presides over. Fans want to come and enjoy the atmosphere in Lane and not have to be constantly reminded of how to act & behave.
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I totally agree with Michael. I've even noticed all of the changes and I have only been going to games for the past 3 years. My husband and I are Hokie Club members and season ticket holders. We enjoy tailgating, but not that we are forbidden to toss the football back and forth it has become a little boring. I have noticed more and more people installing TV's in their vehicles to watch the pre-game shows and other football games in progress to make up with other tailgating restrictions. I am not a VT Alum, but my husband is, and he tells me it is totally different now than it was when he was in school there. I hope things change, or I fear the attendance will drop drastically.
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I'm pretty sure the Highty Tighties aren't funded by the athletic department. Someone should get them to start playing "Stick it in"
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I think you are right "hokie" and I think it's a great idea.
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I totally understand that Weaver will be more likely to listen to the big donor alumni than he would the students - it makes sense. But it doesn't make it right. I believe the university has forsaken the students for the almighty dollar. This university needs to remember the current students are the FUTURE donors to the Hokie Club. If the university continues to cater only to alumni, it will be very sorry in about 20 years when those alumni are gone and the students of today are not interested in writing a check. Michael Sperry is just one voice of many who share his beliefs.
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Just to correct something really quick. What the Corps does shouldn't be considered a "crowd Push-up" What they are doing is actual push-ups on someone shoulders...I would assume there is less risk involved than someone being pushed into the air by 6 or 7 neighbors...I do have a question though...why don't the cheerleaders come down to the southend Zone? Is there something wrong with the alumni and students there that our own cheerleaders won't venture down?
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When I first heard about the banning of my favorite cheer, I was infuriated. I love when we get into the red zone and the band starts to play and we all start to chant Ooh, Ooh... Stick it in!!! I, myself, do not participate in the thrusting portion that so many now do, but I dont see anything wrong with it. Its not degrading or demeaning in any way. Its a gesture! Nothing personal. So why are so many uptight alums/boosters so offended. This is COLLEGE football people and it seems that everyone is waaaaaay too hypersensitive these days about everything and about nothing. What's next? Will the AD ban us from cheering on our team because it might hurt the other teams' feelings because that's where this is headed. We go to the games to cheer on our team and even though this cheer hasnt been around that long, its a great new tradition that was unique and something no other school has. We are HOKIES, we are unique by nature and this just stiffles that uniqueness. I remember when football games were fun, now I feel like Im 5 again and Im being told how to act. Where does our right to freedom of expression come in? I may not donate as much as the older, wealthier alums, but this rubs me the wrong way. Money shouldnt be able to buy you this type of censorship. Like a few others have mentioned, one of these days those alums are gonna be gone and more recent alums, like myself, may have already made the decision to stop investing in a school that cant let student express themselves at a football game for fear that some old fart might get offended. You cant please everyone, so why limit everyone? GO HOKIES!!!!! STICK IT IN! STICK IT IN! STICK IT IN! Stephanie ISE Class of 1997
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There seem to be two extremes in today's society: Either complete vulgarity or a "fuzzy lovy teletubby" type of world. I guess a few people with too much money and too little sense have decided that Tech football should be one of these extremes. Of course “STICK IT IN†is harmless. No “children†in the West stands with their parents can see or even hear what the student sections are saying, let alone understand the harmless innuendo. I wonder if these people that care so much about these fun and harmless college acts know what their children are watching on TV right now. Hmmm. I doubt it. They are too busy looking for other people to blame. I think the world….no I KNOW the world saw last Spring firsthand what a great student body we are. No one can change that, no one can deny that. However, in the end…money wins. (I am sorry marching band! I think you should make a new chant…one with “quiet words†and “loud beats†to help us keep time with our self-led “STICK IT IN.â€)
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