Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Athletics Department is again asking the student section at football games to end a vulgar chant that has become a kickoff tradition. Fans watching Saturday's nationally televised game could clearly hear all words of the chant.
If a student section chanted “Rip his fucking head off” and no one was around to televise it, would people make a fuss?
The cheer has become a student section tradition over the past few years, and during the national TV broadcast, people watching the Jayhawks’ 29-0 victory Saturday night could clearly hear it coming from the stands.
But with the added media exposure that the football team has received after a successful season and an Orange Bowl victory, Athletics Department officials are again asking students to find a different way to support the team.
“The support that the students have given the football program has been great,” said Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director. “But this is one instance where we would hope the students would give it more thought and try to come up with something else that is meaningful to the students but yet not offensive to so many others in the stadium. It doesn’t take any intelligence. It’s embarrassing.”
After unsuccessful pleas last season, the Athletics Department is again attempting to improve Kansas’ image in the stands. Last year, families complained about the same vulgar chant. The Athletics Department wasn’t able to do anything to stop the chant last year, and this season is looking just as bleak, with record attendance bolstering the student section.
Coach Mark Mangino said he had never heard the chant because the headphones he wore blocked outside noise.
“I am not aware of any profane chant during the games,” Mangino said. “If there is, I would respectfully ask the fans not to do that. I have always asked our fans to cheer responsibly, and the overwhelming majority complies.”
Media outlets have not threatened to stop broadcasting games because of the chant, despite ESPN’s decision not to televise students wearing Muck Fizzou shirts to Kansas basketball games.
Although Mangino and Athletics Department officials wish the chant would stop, some Kansas players say they like it.
Sophomore defensive tackle Jamal Greene said that he loved the chant and that his grandmother yelled it louder than some of the students. Senior linebacker Joe Mortensen said he didn’t think it was that offensive.
“It’s nothing new to me,” Mortensen said. “I’m a Raiders fan. I’m from Oakland, California. That’s a little PG. I’ve heard more than that.”
Mortensen said when he takes the field, he hoped to achieve what the chant said.
“When I try to hit people,” Mortensen said, “that’s what I try to do.”
Athletics Department officials know that they can’t force students to stop chanting any type of profane chant during games, but they hope the solution will come from the students who decide to stop the chant.
“We have certainly let our feelings be known about the chant,” Marchiony said. “I think that this has to come from within.”
— — Edited by Lauren Keith
Students ignore Mangino’s request
Students refuse Coach Mark Mangino’s plea to stop the vulgar kickoff chant. ...
Student-led initiative tackles kick-off chant
Student leaders are looking for an alternative to the offensive phrase.
New kickoff chant fails
Students yell both old and new chants at Saturday’s game against Texas ...
Vulgar kickoff chant draws criticism
‘Muck Fizzou’ is on its way out, and the Athletics Department thinks ...
KU students enjoy varied sports traditions
Game days and Traditions Night anchor the school’s sport history.
Gridiron Club expansion still on track
Despite Coach Mark Mangino's departure and the six-game losing streak, plans for ...
Fearless Joe Mortensen
The All Big-12 linebacker came to Kansas after breaking all of his ...
Fans get sneak peek of football practice
The football team’s new practice fields offer passers-by a view of the ...
Mangino's University parking history
Mangino has a rough past with the University's parking department that includes ...
Alumni group bashes new font
This summer the KU Athletics Department decided to adopt the official KU ...
Mangino talks more about investigation
Associate athletics director in charge of gathering, evaluating information.
Vosburgh: No second chance in first impression
For Gill's premiere, students should reconsider kick-off chant.
Basketball student attendance drops over break
How student support at basketball games waned during winter break.
Athletics Department reaches NCAA graduation goal
The Athletics Department released Graduation Success Rate data for its athletes on ...
Basketball games to be played without "The ...
Allen Fieldhouse will no longer be filled with the chants of "We're ...
Game day goes smoothly despite construction
The Athletics Department said navigating construction was not a problem for most ...
Memorial Stadium gains new cheering section
Students have a new section dedicated to traditional songs, cheers and chants.
Jayhawk fans a bunch of followers
The basketball team is not the only KU team drawing fans to ...
Plans for stadium expansion on hold
Athletics department didn’t receive the expected donations up front.
Kansan, Senate encourage students to vote online ...
At kansan.com, students can vote for an alternative to the ‘rip his ...
Mangino’s sideline rant goes public
At the end of his 77-yard punt return touchdown against Central Michigan, ...
ESPN comes to campus
The television network will film segments of SportsCenter on campus.
Football schools improve basketball programs
Athletics Department hopes to follow the lead of other schools and make ...
Football facility architect reportedly selected
Get to know your game day
Learn some of the rituals associated with KU football and its long ...
Looking at both sides of the scalp
The Athletics Department has begun to take legal action against ticket scalpers ...
Addition to Memorial Stadium approved
Board of Regents approves proposed plan for new section in Memorial Stadium.
NBA referee scandal affects Big 12
Officials’ performance is already evaluated on every single play. New security measures ...
University responds to investigation
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo began investigating the Kansas Athletics Department ...
Meier to return to practice
Dent: Let’s leave the chant behind with ...
NY Attorney General investigating department
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced in an August press release ...
Senior moment
Kansas' seniors rise to the occasion and end stellar careers with a ...
Varitety of colors find their way into ...
As a rainbow of greens, pinks and oranges seep into the usually ...
Sophomore defensive tackle balances football and fatherhood
When Jamal Greene discovered he would be a father, he knew his ...
Broadcast your university
The site is catered for posting college videos, but some videos of ...
Brown: Different season, same chant
Vulgar chant does not measure up to valued traditions.
Mortensen rises to stardom
Joe Mortensen made 13 tackles against Florida International University players on Saturday. ...
Mangino breaks silence, discusses future
After a year and a half, Mangino reenters the public eye for ...
Former linebacker signs with New York Sentinels
Mortensen will begin playing in October.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Athletics Dept. wants to get that $*@#ing chant out
I can understand the concern about the chant. I was at the game on Saturday, and as it was my first game since graduating, I sat in the general admission seating surrounded by little kids and could clearly hear the chant. It definitely does make KU seem classless when something like that is broadcast on TV. And beyond that, it has nothing to do specifically with KU or Jayhawks in anyway. I'd be really interested to know the origins of the chant though... it just kind of came out of nowhere.
Athletics Dept. wants to get that $*@#ing chant out
The chant comes from The Waterboy with Adam Sandler. His girlfriend grabs a player on an opposing team with a knife to his neck at a pep rally and one of the guys in the crowd yells, "cut his f---ing head off."
On another note it needs to stop. It shows a lack of class by our students. I sit in the student section and refuse to participate in the chant.
Athletics Dept. wants to get that $*@#ing chant out
How about we make a deal, KU Athletics Dept.
We stop the chant, you give us our parking spaces, our $20 a semester for womens and non-revenue, and our funny t-shirts back. Sound good to you?
I'll keep yelling "rip his f***ing head off" and keep wearing my Muck Fizzou T-Shirt. Jim Marchiony can't keep me down!
Athletics Dept. wants to get that $*@#ing chant out
How about Marchiony gets the stick out of his a** and give back the money he took from Joe College and maybe we will stop the chant
Athletics Dept. wants to get that $*@#ing chant out
mortensen's quote is classic!! "when i try to hit people, that's what i try to do."
Athletics Dept. wants to get that $*@#ing chant out
agreed, that Joe College thing was BS. Just because they sell funny t-shirts at a decent price doesn't mean ya need to sue them.
Athletics Dept. wants to get that $*@#ing chant out
KU claimed copyright infringement on the "our coach can eat your coach" t-shirt someone please explain how this shirt was in violation of the copyright laws.
Athletics Dept. wants to get that $*@#ing chant out
Let's be serious. The KU student section isn't exactly an "elite" student section. In fact, it borders on the line of being pathetic. For those of you who don't think so, you've obviously never been anywhere else.
We have 2 chants: "Lets Go Jayhawks" (very original) and "Rip His F------ Head Off". If you take that chant away you've taken 50% of our cheers.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID