I had the pleasure to be in a good seat in the Upper Deck last night. Just wanted to send a note to congratulate the students on a creative, vocal and energetic start to the season. When the Crazies are in top form, I get chills that remind me of my time in face paint. Last night was one of those occasions. The entire student body was great, but especially the group of students sitting directly across from the Duke bench and into that corner. I could not make out all of the taunts and cheers, but several that I did understand made me smile and cheer all that much lounder.
Nice job last night, Crazies. Class act all the way. One question: is there an effort to extinguish the "O" in the national anthem? It seemed so from my seat.
Before anyone reignites this discussion or an outsider tries to use this post as incriminating evidence, let's be clear that they're not really "cheer sheets."
It was just a printout of the Princeton roster, along with the words to the Duke fight song and a couple notes (one of which reminded students not to use the "O"). It was not a list of pre-planned cheers.
YES! Last night you guys were terrific! Especially good were the robust,sarcastically innocent and cheerful welcoming "HI"s to the Princeton players....sans the "you s**k". Much funnier and more effective this way.
I'm a Cameron Upper Crustie who hasn't seen the Crazies rock like that this early in years and years. Congratulations.
Love, Ima
PS Sure wish I could hook up two tin cans and a string between my next-to-the-top row seat and some Crazie down there so we could make out more of the chants up there!
Were the Crazies chanting T-Shirt Time at a Princeton player who was wearing a black tee under his jersey. If so, bravo.
Krzyzewski said it was the best opening day for the Crazies since he's been at Duke.
Much fewer Os. But still too many. IMO.
aha yes. I was a little bit to the left of the main section that was doing all of that, and even then some of the cheers were hard to make out. I still think we should cut the real music during pre-game to make it easier for the opposing players to hear us...much easier to tune us out when you're rocking to a hit hip-hop anthem in your head. Plus, encourages more heckling...I like that.
"SAFE-TY SCHOOL" came in loud and clear on tv.![]()
Glad to hear that many noticed how great the Crazies were last night. They were loud, they were engaged in the play, and they vigorously supported a fantastic team. Also, great to hear that we might get rid of the "O". IMO, it has never fit for what Duke basketball is about, as it is clearly un-original, and is arguably disrespectful to our National Anthem. Reverting back to "Hi _____" without the second part, also puts the Crazies back in the irreverant and witty space, instead of the boring use of foul language area. We have often been obnoxious, but should strive not to be boring.
Nice to see that princeton has supplanted unc as Duke's safety school. We must have upgraded the enrollment criteria.
Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things. - Winston Churchill
President of the "Nolan Smith Should Have His Jersey in The Rafters" Club
Not to highjack the thread but people have been complaining about the O's for years. Personally, I always thought it was fun. Also, speaking only for myself, I never intended any disrespect for the national anthem.
I will say this once however - and I'm sure many of you will vociferously disagree - I don't like the idea that Coach K gets to control every last cheer that gets done in Cameron. He can express his input (freedom of speech and all that), which considering the source should be very valued, however I've never liked calling certain cheers off limits (I seem to recall a St John's player that K asked for special respect from the Crazies turning around and specifically dissing the Crazies after they won).
Are there limits to what people should be shouting? I think so (though my personal limits are probably rather different living in NY and going to games here than some other folks on here). But I'd rather have more cheers than less and I'd rather not have authority figures tell fans what they shouldn't be saying, absent, say, vulgarity. Fans should police themselves.
Last edited by monkey; 11-16-2010 at 11:12 AM. Reason: typo
Coach K rarely says anything about what is cheered or yelled at the games. I do think it is appropriate for him to make requests once in a while.
I don't see it so much as a freedom of speech issue as is it a matter of his being something of a mentor for the students as well as the team.
Well, K has been expressing his opinions about what the Crazies say and do for at least the last 15 years, probably longer. It just so happens that you're now hearing more about it because of the interwebs.
Things K dislikes:
Cursing by the Crazies
GTHC
Speedo Guy
The O
You Suck
Generally focusing your energy on jeering the other team instead of supporting Duke
What else am I forgetting?
What?!Well, clearly (and thankfully) the students listen to him more on the "O" than GTCH. I hadn't heard Coach K specifically talk about that cheer. Although he's against vulgarity in general, but don't think Hell really qualifies. "Eat Sh*T" in the song certainly does, though...