cyclone alley

[Aldude505]

Cyclone Alley was made to make all students get together and to add atmosphere to Hilton Magic...if you want a vital part of that to be taken away I suppose you can make all the students seperate...apparently we are not going to agree here so the students will have their view...and the 'grown-ups' will have theirs. I think it will be interesting to see what happens from this!

[Flag Guy]

My thoughts:

None of this stuff is exclusive to, created by, or endorsed by Cyclone Alley. Chanting "Bull****" and "We're going to beat the **** out of you" I knew of in High School.

Don't know the words to this stupid ****ing song was quite popular at football games when I was a freshman... to be honest it's been a lot less pronounced the last year or two... except when e-mails go out (It tends to get louder then). Of course it's a bigger issue for basketball as has already been discussed, but people are making it out like Cyclone Alley is the root of all evil and is responsible (directly or indirectly) for all of this swearing - and it's not. Cyclone Alley itself has been trying to cut back on the swearing, and was doing a decent job for a while. I don't know what got people back on the swearing bandwagon, but I'm thinking the e-mails probally hurt more than they helped. Maybe people were just pissed at the refs yesterday but yesterday was the loudest I've heard people sing those lyrics in a long time.

I thought Cyclone Alley handing out booklets with words for chants and stuff was a good idea, though the note about "We're chanting this insted of the profanities we have used in the past" was probally an invitation for 90% of students to skip over that section, assuming they read it at all (Not approving, just stating the way it is)

You want people chanting something different? You have to teach it to them first and get a good group of people to understand it.... when they play "Go Cyclones Go" I think I've only ever heard 3 or 4 people that sing that... or For 'I' For 'S'... I didn't even know the words until Cyclone Alley made that booklet (I now generally sing those lyrics insted of Don't know the words, but I'm one of very very few)

I think it could be taken a step or two further though... to start with - Orientation. They teach a few cheers/the Fight Song at orientation, the rest you pick up at games. And if all the upper classmen are used to swearing, thats the way the freshman are giong to learn it and the cycle continues.
In addition to maybe getting CA to teach the proper lyrics at orientation, maybe have cheer practice or a pep rally or something... a non-game environment where you do the cheers.... it'd be easier to get people to do it properly in a controlled environment. Once more people know the proper words then presumably more people would sing it right at a game. Now I'm a realist so if you want people to show up to something like that you'd probally have to bribe them (maybe make it part of a practice watch/meet and greet or something... or have prizes/food I dunno)


Point is - you need to educate people, because I doubt 90% of Cyclone Alley knows there are words to Go Cyclones Go, or that the song is even called that. Even fewer know that the alternative lyrics used to be "and I don't care". I know I didn't until I had a lady ask me what kids say now and explained to me what they used to say (That was last month)

[KneeGusto]

In the early 80's (Stevens, Virgil, Hornacek, Grayer years) we had tons of cheers that conveyed rather direct and condescending thoughts that never included swearing. Of course our crowds back then were growing from 5k to 14,125 during that span so we had a lot of influence on the people who had recently bought tickets.

Maybe today's kids just don't know any better - nor strive to be any better.

It may be the parents - but the boob-tube (HDTV with DirecTV for those under 29) sure hasn't helped. I don't know who to blame but it is embarrassing at family reunions. Hearing little Johnny drop a half dozen F-bombs in front of 80 year old Aunt Marcie makes me sad.

On the other hand - people should be able to express themselves as they please.

So it's basically the children we have a problem with - but they've been so media blitzed and desensitized to swearing... and who do we have to blame? We should reinforce our respect for others a bit more... or at least acknowledge it.

Here's a great example : In the traffic that leads to Cyclone Football and Basketball games - think about the people you cut off or swear at - because they don't give a hoot on the way or from the game. They are the same people you try to hi-five after a dunk or touchdown while at the game.

Weird, huh?

I don't know what the answer is - but a little creativity could eliminate a lot of the swearing... and establish a new (old) tradition at ISU sporting events. Think up something clever - and tell a dozen friends... it'll either sink or swim from there.

We are a university community in a time of change. The tradition of swearing in unison is not a long-held tradition. This is something that has not been done for decades upon decades. How about doing something different than every other craptastic fanbase in college sports?

Wouldn't being *different* put the biggest mothereffing middle finger upon our opponents and/or refs? We can blow their mothereffing minds by NOT swearing and have 10k people chant something clever. To quote a tired phrase - "Think outside the box, people!"

If students are not determined to be different from every other Northern Illinois and UNLV, the same lame vulgarity will continue.

Just some thoughts.

[isucyfan]

Originally Posted by Dormeezy

that's called parenting. you can't shield your kids from everything, but it's your job to teach then what's right and wrong.

That's true, and that is what I do, but I was trying to impress upon the "pro-swearing" faction that said booing isn't classy either that I would much rather have my kids boo than drop an F-bomb.

I teach them not to do either one, but I would rather not have to explain to them why a great number of people are acting moronic. I guess I expect more out of people smart enough to choose to go to ISU.

I go to St. Paul Saints games, T-Wolves games, Twins games, etc. and hardly ever have to worry about this issue, except for 1 or 2 people that swear that are usually chastized by someone else in the crowd for swearing around kids.

[CyAggie]

After reviewing all the posts you have to love the reasons given to not try and change things.
-They are just kids, leave them alone,
-Don't attend the games, or bring kids if it bothers me
-Be a better parent, and explain to your kids that what college kids do in public
-It my freedom so speech
-The Athletic Department asked me to tone it down, I am just going to do it more

This sounds like a succesful recipe for someone to flunk a course in how to win friends and influence people.

Sorry, there is no way I should keep my kids home from a family event and let those who are being vulgar, bad sportsmanship and giving the school a bad reputation.

-The "you suck" chant is not classy, and makes us look like idiots. Lets see, we may or may not beat the team. So, to start it off, we get it going by saying they suck. Nice way to fire up the visiting team, coach and fans. And if they win, how do we look?
-The organized cussing is from a section representing ISU. This is different from the random reaction chants and what goes on. I am tired of my kids having to hear it.
-I am not the one breaking the rules of the university an public behavior. I am not the one who should not be able to use the tickets I bought to cheer on the Clones.
-I am not the one defying a polite request from the Athletic Department to clean it up a bit.
-No one is arguing for it to be church. All those who have raised the point have praised what the student section contributes to the success of Hilton. They just do not want it as bad as it is now.
-If the students will not listen to request, then maybe some sort of sanction notice is in order. I do not know what will happen, but this defiance could certainly cause a real escalation that no one really wants.

[tee1up]

How about some members of CA actually display some leadership and clean it up from within? Watch Duke sometime, their students make more noise and have more fun than anyone, and I don't hear "you suck" and things like that from them.

I promise you when we get on TV, and people around the country hear those chants, that is their first and sometimes only impression of the University. People from around the country have stereotypes of those of us from the midwest, we do not need to act in a way that justifies those stereotypes.

[IcSyU]

Originally Posted by Klubber

Censoring Cyclone Alley is absurd. We have a great home court advantage because of Cyclone Alley, not because of old farts sitting on their hands, or bratty little kids running around. Also, I really don't remember seeing many little kids at games when I attended ISU in the early/mid-nineties. So I have a hard time with the argument that "it's primarily a family event."

Were any of you crying about bad language also for censoring Johnny Orr when he coached? If you ever had a chance to be within earshot of Johnny, there were many times, maybe most of the time, when every other word was the F-bomb. Oh, the humanity! When I went to Bears games as a little kid in the seventies with my dad, I saw and heard much worse.

JP needs to leave a good thing alone. The last thing we need is to muzzle Cyclone Alley.

A coach is one thing. Not everyone in the entire place can hear that...when you have Cyclone Alley, everyone can hear it.

If and when Cyclone Alley is eliminated, it's going to be because there are STUPID kids like some posting in this topic that are too stubborn to follow extremely simple requests. I love Cyclone Alley as much as the next person, but if it needs to be kicked to the curb in an effort to clean up Hilton, I'm all for it, because the image of the university is terrible for anyone who sees a game on TV. One of the loudest chants and most appreciated of the entire season, "Free Lucca," was a great chant that didn't use any cursing, but drove home a point.

Some people can say that they should just warn over the PA, but what does that accomplish? Yes, it makes us look like a bunch of morons because we can't refrain from doing something that has no place in college sports unless we are directly addressed. Really makes the intelligence level in Ames seem high.

[IcSyU]

and here's the next thing that doesn't require vulgarity...Why so quiet?

[d4cy]

Alright people, I can see both sides of it, because I am caught between being a normal college student and being a parent.

When I hear people having a conversation in public (or anywhere) and every other word is a swear word, it sounds like trash. When I am talking passionately about something and am swearing a bunch, it doesn't sound like trash to me. I think that is what is going on here. Also, you have to realize that the student body cycles every 4-5 years. So just because you've been going to games for 30 years and KNOW that these things aren't Hilton traditions, doesn't mean students know that. If it has been done since a student was a freshmen, it appears to be tradition to them.

Now my opinion - I would love to clean up the organized chants. Do I participate in them during football games? yes, but i still would like to clean them up. I think that all students will realize someday that swearing does sound pretty trashy and does look bad. Some chants are a lot of fun (left right left right) and most things cyclone alley does is awesome. I just can't see how you can argue that the swearing shouldn't be cleaned up. I guess all I can say is that someday, you will see what we're talking about.

I have no idea where to go about beginning to clean up the chants. Good luck to whoever wants to try.

[clonefan98]

Originally Posted by Klubber

Censoring Cyclone Alley is absurd. We have a great home court advantage because of Cyclone Alley, not because of old farts sitting on their hands, or bratty little kids running around. Also, I really don't remember seeing many little kids at games when I attended ISU in the early/mid-nineties. So I have a hard time with the argument that "it's primarily a family event."

Were any of you crying about bad language also for censoring Johnny Orr when he coached? If you ever had a chance to be within earshot of Johnny, there were many times, maybe most of the time, when every other word was the F-bomb. Oh, the humanity! When I went to Bears games as a little kid in the seventies with my dad, I saw and heard much worse.

JP needs to leave a good thing alone. The last thing we need is to muzzle Cyclone Alley.

You're saying that the excessive/organized profanity gives us a home court advantage.

Yeah, I bet our opponents absolutely get weak in the knees when they hear CA sing Go Cyclones Go, tell them "you suck", etc.

If CA continues to instigate this kind of crap, I say disband it. Hilton Magic preceded CA, and will live on without it.

[Cyclone62]

Originally Posted by clonefan98

You're saying that the excessive/organized profanity gives us a home court advantage.

Yeah, I bet our opponents absolutely get weak in the knees when they hear CA sing Go Cyclones Go, tell them "you suck", etc.

If CA continues to instigate this kind of crap, I say disband it. Hilton Magic preceded CA, and will live on without it.

Just ask some of the people here. CA was created to give Hilton "atmoshpere" (apparently there wasn't any before CA).

[travman23]

I will let you know that thanks to Cyclone Alley yesterday a friend's 2nd grader learned 2 things that he really shouldn't have. The BS chant and whoever it was that did the shocker during the Delta Dental smile cam that was caught on the big screen. The whole way back to the car and for part of the car right home he wouldn't stop asking what the shocker sign means and once said something about he was going to tell as his friends at school what was chanted.

I've said before I've been guilty of saying/do some of the things that going on the game and to the average adult it seems pretty harmless and somewhat funny but yesterday I got to see first hand the result of it and how why it wouldn't hurt to clean it up a little at times. I was just as frustrated with the refs as everyone yesterday but I wonder just how many kids like our friend's 2nd grader learned a couple things that I'm sure their parents were not too happy about. It is a family environment wether you like it or not and in fact I have no problem with children coming to the games because they probably yell more than some of the old people do. Kids are like sponges at a young age, I see it with my fiance's nephew and nieces who pick up the slightest of things sometimes wether it was accidental or not.

[cys_av8r]

I can't tell you how proud I was when I was listening to the BS chant live on TV yesterday

</sarcasm>

[travman23]

Originally Posted by Cyclone62

Just ask some of the people here. CA was created to give Hilton "atmoshpere" (apparently there wasn't any before CA).

I disagree, while I like CA and I think it was a great thing I think there were more students attending games before it was created. I went to school from 98-02 when we had arguably 2 of the best basketball teams ever at ISU and there were games I waited out in the cold at 7am in the morning in line just to try and get a lower level seat. Hilton was usually much more full and louder than it has been the last few years too.

CA was created to help out some but I don't think that it's louder and more energetic now than it was before it was created. The whole north side of the upper balcony and I think we had 2 or 3 parquet sections on the north side too used to be all student section and during Big 12 season if you didn't show up nearly an hour before tipoff you were probably going to sit at least halfway up in the upper deck. The first couple years we had rotational seating for the lower level and you only got to sit down there for 4 games.

[IcSyU]

Basically it all boils down to act your age and we will have no problems. The BS chant I didn't have that big of a problem with, because as it has already been stated, it was warranted, and it wasn't just Cyclone Alley. That stuff happens everywhere, whether it's Cameron Indoor or Dean Smith Center...the other stuff is what makes me angry. (Go Cyclones Go, You suck, etc.)