Vuvuzelas and the AK-Rowdies

[ZachTheZip]

I'm kind of disappointed that vuvuzelas are now firmly planted in the nation's mind when they think of soccer. Last year, the AK_Rowdies had the same thing, on a smaller scale and only during certain times of the game. They worked wonderfully against the opposition. But now if they tried to break them out for a game, everyone will falsely assume they got the idea from the World Cup. Now they have to come up with something original and unique once again.

Dr. Proenza getting into the spirit:

[tbozeglav]

I see your point, but I respond with this:

Who cares?

I can totally understand why people would assume this, but if they want to just assume we took the idea from the WC without realizing we've been using these things for at least a year prior to that event, then so be it. We can't base our student's section noise makers off of the public opinion. The vuvuzelas worked great last year and I expect us to continue to do so. That does, however, go without mentioning that Im sure we'll be bringing out a new noisemaker this year just to keep things fresh, not to appease the public opinion.

[Z.I.P.]

I see your point, but I respond with this:

Who cares?

I can totally understand why people would assume this, but if they want to just assume we took the idea from the WC without realizing we've been using these things for at least a year prior to that event, then so be it. We can't base our student's section noise makers off of the public opinion. The vuvuzelas worked great last year and I expect us to continue to do so. That does, however, go without mentioning that Im sure we'll be bringing out a new noisemaker this year just to keep things fresh, not to appease the public opinion.

Ummmmm...Okay. But, answer the out-of-towners' question: Where did you GET those things? Did Yoram Mwila bring them along from Zambia? And where can I get my own? You know, after last year's idea with the scarf to season ticket buyers, we could keep pace by offering our own Zipuzela in appropriate colors with Zippy's image or a "Fear The Roo" sticking out the top. Now, if Waddell were still around, the idea would already be stolen, but can someone pass this along to the brilliant Akron marketing folks? You know Caleb's #, don't you?

[plowerman78]

dont worry Zack im not to worried if people think that.

[ZachTheZip]

dont worry Zack im not to worried if people think that.

I guess it doesn't matter what they think. But what if watching the world cup gives other fan groups the same idea? NIU fans are trying to organize 20,000 of them to be handed out at each of their football games.

[g-mann17]

One word....

[Dr Z]

I'm kind of disappointed that vuvuzelas are now firmly planted in the nation's mind when they think of soccer.

I filtered them out when I watched Akron soccer on tv last year with this. I may have accidentally put on some kind of goal filter also, I'm not sure.

[bobbyake]

I can not stand hearing the vuvuzelas constantly during the World Cup. I hope it doesn't become a tradition here.

[skip-zip]

For those of you who are old enough to remember "The Wave" at sporting events, the debate went on forever as to where it started. Some claim that it was at a Seattle Seahawks game. But oddly enough, it appears that it may have been at Detroit Tigers baseball games.

Anyway, I think that if the use of these sound-makers for soccer DID start at Akron games, it would be a benefit to us to get that information out there as fans. But, it might be a real challenge to find out if this actually is true.

[ZachTheZip]

For those of you who are old enough to remember "The Wave" at sporting events, the debate went on forever as to where it started. Some claim that it was at a Seattle Seahawks game. But oddly enough, it appears that it may have been at Detroit Tigers baseball games.

Anyway, I think that if the use of these sound-makers for soccer DID start at Akron games, it would be a benefit to us to get that information out there as fans. But, it might be a real challenge to find out if this actually is true.

It almost certainly started in Africa, but never gained mainstream recognition anywhere else until the World Cup. But there are plenty of pictures available that show the Rowdies using the horns last year and the year before.

[Wally B]

[OldZipper]

A lot of schools had them last year, including Indiana. Everyone saw them last summer when the US made its run in the Confederations Cup in South Africa and starting using them in the fall.

[RootforRoo44]

For those of you who are old enough to remember "The Wave" at sporting events, the debate went on forever as to where it started. Some claim that it was at a Seattle Seahawks game. But oddly enough, it appears that it may have been at Detroit Tigers baseball games.

Anyway, I think that if the use of these sound-makers for soccer DID start at Akron games, it would be a benefit to us to get that information out there as fans. But, it might be a real challenge to find out if this actually is true.

It almost certainly started in Africa, but never gained mainstream recognition anywhere else until the World Cup. But there are plenty of pictures available that show the Rowdies using the horns last year and the year before.

Actually....(history lesson here):

There is strong evidence supporting Moises Garcia of Spain inventing the cheer at a bullfighting arena in the 1930's. Where it gets fuzzy is how it spread everywhere else. Some say he brought it to Cuba when he relocated there and due to baseball being popular there it spread to Mexico and the United States.

Though, there are other stories with it originating in Mexico as well, most likely the reason why it is called "The Mexican Wave" in the UK.

[Dr Z]

I like the Ole Ole Ole cheer much better than the horns. I hate air horns, thundersticks or any other prop. I even liked when the Hab's fans sing it in the NHL. It sure made a lot of hockey fans (including me) find out the origin. The sports singing tradition that I despise most is when Boston fans sing Sweet Caroline in the middle of the 8th at every home game.

[Captain Kangaroo]

This thread reminds me of the story I posted some time ago regarding a Marshall fan who saw a Penn State fan driving down the street with a "We are Penn State" bumper sticker. The Marshall fan was incensed that someone would rip off the "We are Marshall" slogan, and he tracked the PSU fan down in a shopping center parking lot to let him know how he felt.

I'm sure there are Ohio State fans out there who are angry at The Village People too.

Unless your name is Al Vuvuzela, inventor of the Vuvuzela... you aren't an original.

[ksu sucks]

The sports singing tradition that I despise most is when Boston fans sing Sweet Caroline in the middle of the 8th at every home game.

I can't stand that stupid accent. I'd kill myself if I had to listen to 40,000 of them at once.