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Students ignore Mangino’s request

By Joe Preiner

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

An offensive line showed up again for last Saturday’s game against Colorado, but it wasn’t the one on the field.

The chant, “Rip his fucking head off,” continued.

Video

Students share their reaction to football game attendees refusing to stop using the expletive-laced kickoff chant.

Students share their reaction to football game attendees refusing to stop using the expletive-laced kickoff chant.

Coach Mark Mangino’s video plea fell largely on deaf ears before last weekend’s football victory. His message graced the Megavision video screen as he asked students and fans to come up with something more classy and unique. Despite the respect Mangino garners from the KU community for his success with the program, no one seemed to listen.

When the game began, more than 49,000 people were able to hear the chant that had been receiving so much media attention. Thanks to an unresponsive majority of the student section, many families and children subjected their unknowing ears to the profane kickoff line.

Matt Erickson, editor of The University Daily Kansan, attended the Kansas-Colorado game Saturday. Trying to gauge the effect of Mangino’s message, he said he listened for the chant. Although nearly as loud as before, Erickson said he thought fewer people were engaging in the cheer, but the ones who were did so wholeheartedly.

Gabe Bloyer, Wichita senior, said the chant showed disrespect for more people than just fans.

Reader poll

What do you think of the kickoff chant?

  • I don't have a problem with it, but I've never done it. 5% 4 votes
  • I don't like it, but don't think anything can stop it. 9% 7 votes
  • I don't like it; it makes the University look bad. 67% 50 votes
  • I participate in it enthusiastically. 17% 13 votes

74 total votes.

“Not only are you going against the coaches now,” Bloyer said. “But you’re also going against the players who want to be a classy team and want classy fans.”

Josh McCullough, O’Fallen, Mo., senior, has participated in the kickoff chant since his freshman year. He said he refrained from joining in during last weekend’s game.

“I used to do it before this last game,” McCullough said. “But I was sober for this last one, too. I don’t know if that’s a coincidence or not.”

McCullough said he didn’t think anything regarding the chant would change until students find an alternative kickoff tradition.

The Kansan continues to work on creating a game plan for replacing the chant. Though nothing significant has been proposed to this point, Erickson said meetings between student leaders and the University were tentatively planned for next week.

The football team travels to Norman, Okla., to play No. 4 Oklahoma this Saturday. Although the chant is not expected to cease overnight, Mangino, student leaders, the Athletics Department and the University Daily Kansan management hope that it will change sooner rather than later.

— — Edited by Andy Greenhaw

Comments

jhawks1234 (anonymous) says...

Did they expect anything less? Did the University really think a video before the game would put an end to the chant?

October 15, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Abita (anonymous) says...

This is a perfect example of how many college students fail to understand the relationship between freedom and responsibility. No one can make the students stop using abusive language, but the students owe the courtesy to everyone to behave appropriately. No one is oppressing them. We are just asking the students to participate in society and adhere to some fundamental guidelines that have been established.
The people engaged in this profanity probably do not hesitate to complain that their freedom is being trampled or censored. But, they also probably do not think of the families whose ability to bring their children to the game is also being infringed on.
Have some courtesy for the young children and families. I hope the students understand the world does not revolve around them and they do own respect to other people. It’s not their right to take it from others.

October 16, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mma (anonymous) says...

The best way to stop this is to come up with a new chant and get it up on the scoreboard during kickoffs. It doesn't have to be anything spectacular or original.
How about 'Go KU stop Wildcats!" or Tigers, Huskers,...?

October 16, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ShortyAsian24 (anonymous) says...

Why can't we do the same thing at the stadium that we do when an opponent's trying to shoot a free throw at Allen Fieldhouse? I'm thinking of the one where students are jumping up and down while going "oh" and then go 'AH!' when the ball's released. Imagine an entire student section at a football game doing this during kickoff... It's both distracting to the other team and it gets the crowd riled up listening to the thunder of thousands of feet hitting the ground.

October 16, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ehengel (anonymous) says...

Solution:

I propose that we show “300” on the jumbo-tron before each kickoff and show the scene where Leonidas screams:

“SPARTANS, WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION???”

and then the whole crowd responds with:

“HA-OOH! HA-OOH! HA-OOH!"

That’ll get you jacked up right there. And if Mangino is serious about stopping the ripping heads off chant, he will let someone videotape him in a Spartan costume and scream "Jayhawks, what is your profession!?" for them to show on the Jumbo-tron.

Let's hope Michigan St. doesn't already do this.

October 17, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

HMadera (anonymous) says...

Oh my God…… that is the smartest thing I have ever heard anyone say about anything….. ever.

October 17, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JKMill (anonymous) says...

Sounds like something I might be interested in.

October 17, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

orangehead_83 (anonymous) says...

Sorry, ehengel, looks like it's already taken:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oFa_Q...

Clever idea though! I say that a bunch of KU students submit a phrase or chant to the Kansan and we have a contest and then have something or someone to lead us during the kickoffs.

October 18, 2008 at 12:13 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

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