This thread on whether NHL teams should start adopting chants much like European football (aka soccer) teams got me thinking about football chants in general. Would you like the “big four” N. American team sports should adopt chants? And why didn’t these chants become a fixture in the “big four” like they did in Europe.
We aren’t Europe, and we do our own thing. Go to Bryant-Denny Stadium and listen to over 100K fans doing ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL! timed to coincide with the kickoff. Or Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the classic “Hotty Toddy” cheer. Or Death Valley for the "GEAUX TIGERS" led by the marching band. Or the Superdome for the “WHO DAT!” chant. Or Turner Field for the the Indian song/Tomahawk Chop thing. Etc.
Well, maybe not that last one; it’s kinda racist and embarassing. But in general, we’ve got our own sports culture; there’s no reason for us to go aping European sports culture. (Though I don’t mind footy chants in US soccer matches; it’s linked up to the sport.)
Yeah, but aside from very, very few examples, most US sports have
- Go (team)!
- De-fense
- A couple of silly tunes on an organ, which are the same for evey team.
- One specific phrase
“Roll Tide Roll” may be impressive, but it lasts 3 seconds.