Monday, February 2, 2009
The Kansas men’s basketball team has the nation’s longest home court winning streak. The 36-game streak is the product of great teams, and also great fans and great tradition. The new basketball pregame, however, breaks with our appreciation for tradition.
The Athletics Department has changed the order of the pregame activities that are intended to whip Allen Fieldhouse fans into a frenzy as tipoff approaches. Now, instead of methodically building excitement, the pregame schedule jolts its way toward an unnatural, forced apex.
Reader poll
What do you think of the new pregame lineup?
- I like it 7% 5 votes
- I don't like it 84% 54 votes
- I don't attend home basketball games 7% 5 votes
64 total votes.
“It really kills the momentum going into the game; there’s too much downtime,” said Wes Gapp, Clinton, N.Y., graduate student.
The new pregame starts with the alma mater followed by the Rock Chalk chant, which is a break in tradition. Then there’s downtime with bored fans listening to the pep band play pop tunes. Next, the players come out and the excitement builds only to be slowed again by the national anthem. By the time the countdown starts, people are no longer pumped for the game.
The old pregame tradition involved a buildup for 12 consecutive minutes beginning with slower patriotic and school songs and climaxing with the countdown into the game.
The reason for the change stems from wanting both teams on the court for the national anthem, according to Jim Marchiony, associate athletics director. The change was “recommended unanimously by the coaches of the league,” Marchiony said. That makes sense. But that’s no reason to remove the buildup from the original pregame tradition.
“Counting down gets the crowd ready to go, but now we have to wait a long time,” said Shane Lennon, Branson, Mo., junior.
This new pregame schedule hasn’t any flow to it. It breaks tradition at what is supposed to remain a tradition-rich school.
Fan support plays a major role in the home court advantage in which this university takes pride. What may seem an insignificant alteration could actually diminish that advantage. Certainly, it destroys a beloved KU tradition.
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Comments
Editorial: New pregame spoils momentum, tradition
Actually I'm pretty sure the Big 12 changed it. KU just had to obey.
Editorial: New pregame spoils momentum, tradition
"New pregame spoils momentum, tradition"
True.
Editorial: New pregame spoils momentum, tradition
We didn't really have a choice, new rules state that both basketball teams have to be on the court for the national anthem.
And don't dog on the band, we're just doing our job. How would you feel if you couldn't sing along to Bon Jovi or they piped I'm A Jayhawk through the speakers. As a member of the band it still seems that the fans are getting as excited as ever.
Editorial: New pregame spoils momentum, tradition
I don't think anyone is blaming the band.
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