The Upstate Life

Thursday, September 02, 2004

Rock and Roll (Part II) is Dead

Try naming one of the University of Maryland's traditions. Having a hard time, are you? Well, you can knock off another one on your extremely short list since as of today, the chant us Terps love to grace Byrd Stadium with has been put to rest, at least for football games. The Student Sportsmanship Committee elected to cease the Maryland band's performance of Gary Glitter's Rock and Roll Part II at Coach Ralph Friedgen's request, citing that the song basically pumps up the opposing team. Interesting rationale, especially ever since The Fridge took over we've only lost one home game. For all of you out there in the blogoshpere that are unaware or are simply confused of why Mr. Glitter's song is so insulting, it's because whenever the band starts playing the arena rocker, the student section chants in unison "You Suck!" repeatedly to the tune, capped off with a graceful finale of "We're gonna beat the hell outta you, and you and you" while pointing each time to the opposing side. I was proudly one of many classy individuals to partake in the glorified diss.

"That's a form of taunting in my opinion," Friedgen said. "I love the song; don't get me wrong. I'm a graduate from this school, and I'm pretty proud of it.

We have decided that the university will not endorse it, and the band will not play it," said Spates, the Student Government Association's athletics liaison. "There's no ban on that song and there will be no penalty. If students want to start it and the whole stadium sings it, we don't care."

I've attended a few football games where that has happened, but the outcome isn't something anyone really wants to hear. It start off promising in unison, but of course some asshole gets off rhythm that causes a chain reaction throughout half the student section, resulting in one audible clusterfuck. Oh well, all I can say is it definitely sucks for those just starting at College Park, but I guess it's their own fault for not being born four years ago when UMD was actually fun (aka when I went, of course).

"I don't think students are going to be happy, but it is important they understand that this decision was made with the poignancy of Ralph Friedgen's words," Spates said. "Fridge's opinion is important because he is one of few people students will listen to."

What, you don't think they would listen to Special K instead?

Posted by Brett at 3:37 PM |