Big 12 basketball coaches change pregame ritual

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The men’s basketball pregame ritual in Allen Fieldhouse looks a little different this year.

Big 12 coaches voted before the season to change the starting time of the national anthem. The anthem, which has traditionally begun when 12 minutes remain on the pregame clock, will now begin when the clock hits zero. In past years, some teams remained for the anthem while others left the floor. Coaches voted to change the time of the anthem so that both teams would be on the floor to participate.

“The coaches recommended it unanimously,” said Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director.

But while the coaches like the move, several KU fans do not. The KU Alma Mater and Rock Chalk chant used to follow the anthem as part of the build-up for tipoff. Now the Alma Mater starts at the 12-minute mark when the teams leave the floor.

“It’s stupid,” said Doug Tetreault, Herndon, Va., senior. “There’s no build-up at all... It used to keep building all the way ‘til tipoff, but now we have to calm back down for the anthem. It makes no sense.”

When the horn sounds at the 12-minute mark, PA announcer Eric Danielson tells fans to join in with the singing of the Alma Mater. The Rock Chalk Chant follows, as do the rest of the traditional cheers and songs leading up to tipoff. Another small change to the pregame routine is the cheer led by the cheerleaders after the Rock Chalk Chant. The chant used to be “Rock... Chalk... Jay... Hawk... Go... K... U... Wooooo!” Now the chant is “Rock Chalk... Jayhawk!”

Once the clock hits zero, the anthem is played before the introduction of the starting lineups.

“I think it was great how they had it before,” said Sam Zerger, Wichita junior. “Honor your country straight into honoring your University; then into honoring your team. I’m sure the students won’t have a problem getting amped back up, but why not just have it flow like it has in years past?”

— — Edited by Andy Greenhaw

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