Letter to the Editor: Kickoff chant obscene

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Fans and supporters of the University of Kansas, your school’s reputation has been hijacked during our home football games. Perhaps some believe that too much attention has been given to this topic. However, the same vulgar, inappropriate phrase continues to sound loudly from the student section during kickoffs.

Although KU supporters should be feeling great pride in a football program that has finally reached the status of being television-worthy each and every game, we allow a relative few people voice obscenities loudly throughout the stadium and into the homes of everyone watching on television or listening on radio.

While families should be enjoying beautiful fall weather at the stadium on Saturdays, those of us with children must stay away because of what our children will hear. While we should be enjoying the banter with fans of Kansas State, Missouri and others about our academic and athletic superiority, we must ultimately listen to fans from other schools chide us for our slip into classlessness with the use of and the acceptance of this phrase.

What am I asking you to do? I am asking you to boo! I’m not a fan of booing and particularly not a fan of booing one’s own. In this case, however, I believe that the best thing we can do is to let the voice of the masses be heard. Every time the inappropriate phrase is uttered, boo it. Boo it loudly. Boo it passionately. Boo it every time. Administrators, put it on the scoreboard. Print shirts that say, “Just boo it!”

Let not only the perpetrators, but the rest of the college football world know that true supporters of the University of Kansas do not accept this kind of behavior.

When television and radio audiences hear 45,000 people booing the actions of 3,000, they will know what KU fans stand for.

— Duane Mellenbruch is a University of Kansas alumnus from Lawrence.

Comments

KUChiefsFavreFan (anonymous) says...

They blast that kick-off song for seconds right after the kick-off now, the intention being to drown out the chant. I guess the KU student section is so loud, and such great fans, that we are able to be louder than that obnoxious music. I am proud of that, I didn't realize our student section was so loud and so united.

You're right, this topic has received too much attention. But I'll give you this, you have a good idea. Instead of simply whining about the chant, which is a very trendy thing to do nowadays, you propose a solution. The thing is, the alumni section will never "boo" during the kick-off. The blue-hairs are a non-factor during the game, they add nothing to the atmosphere. The alumni section will never do anything in unison or to make Memorial Stadium more intimidating.

October 27, 2009 at 12:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mconstant (anonymous) says...

I'm so tired of hearing parents crying about their poor children being exposed to cursing when they're taking them to see one of the most violent sports this country has to offer.

Reminds me of a boss a had who loved Steven Segal movies. Wouldn't let her kids watch anything with the slightest bit of nudity, or anything more than a few of the tamer 'bad words,' but they could enjoy all the on-screen violence they wanted. F**ked up values...

October 27, 2009 at 9:49 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuparent (anonymous) says...

I am not a prude and I do cuss. I try not to cuss when it is inappropriate and aware who my audience is. I don't see the relationship between the alumni chanting in unison and the students yelling "Rip their f'ing head off." KU prides itself on tradition and class. That chant misses by miles. How can you have pride in the Rock Chalk Chant and still hang your hat on the kickoff chant? It is a real stretch.

I do the Rock Chalk chant in unison. I sing "Go Jayhawks" when the band plays the song. I just don't think "Rip their f'ing head off" is cool, clever or worthy of perpetuating. I don't challenge your "right" to yell it. I just challenge your maturity in doing it. I guess that is why you are still in college, to try and distinguish the difference between being able to doing something and the maturity to decide not to do it.

Look, I love KU, went to KU and have two KU students. I drink beer in the parking lot with my kids and have a blast. I just think the chant is stupid and you guys do it to buck the system and flex your muscles. I don't expect you to get it yet. You are a bunch of kids and acting like it. Someday it will make sense and maybe when you get older you won't do it.

As odd as it may seem, you may be 40 years old, at the game with family or friends and not think it is cool to yell the f bomb just because you can. Maturity has a way of creeping up on you. Not for everyone and not at the same time.

So, if you need to yell it, go for it. In my opinion you guys look stupid and drag the rest of the KU fans down with you. Some day that will make sense. Just don't criticize the alumni because they choose not to yell your childish chant during the kickoff. Those same old people have your back with the RC Chant.

October 27, 2009 at 5:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

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