Who dat? and Who dey?

[Jackknifed_Juggernaut]

NFL fans probably recognize the two terms above, used by the New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively.

I’ve always wondered if the terms are meant to be used to refer to themselves or their opponents.

I would assume that, if referring to themselves, the terms would translate to: Wow, those guys are good. Who are they?

If referring to their opponents, the terms would translate to: We’re the best team. Who the hell are they, thinking that they can beat us?

So which one is it? I suppose they could have different answers.

[Tom_Scud]

The full quote for the Saints is “Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?”, with the implication that there is no one who can.

Wikipedia looks good on this.

[steronz]

I remember “Who dey think gon’ beat dem Bengals?” as a kid growing up in Cincy. Wiki agrees:

“Who Dey” is the name of a chant of support by fans of the Cincinnati Bengals, in use for over 30 years. The entire chant is: “Who dey! Who dey! Who dey think gonna beat dem Bengals?” The answer screamed in unison, “Nobody!” Sometimes fans will instead shout “Who Dey” to represent the entire cheer. “Who Dey” is also the name of the team’s mascot, a Bengal tiger.

[Jackknifed_Juggernaut]

I see. So it seems the Bengals basically ripped off the Saints by changing one of the words. The Saints, of course, stole it from Southern U!

It’s kind of like the Braves stealing the Tomahawk Chop and related chant from Florida State.

[Typo_Negative]

I lived in Dayton, just north of Cincinatti for a good part of my life. Never heard ‘Who dey…’ before.

[Jackknifed_Juggernaut]

@spooje

I lived in Dayton, just north of Cincinatti for a good part of my life. Never heard ‘Who dey…’ before.

And you never learned how to spell Cincinnati?

[Jas09]

@Jackknifed_Juggernaut

And you never learned how to spell Cincinnati?

S’alright, he’s not the only one: http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal01/2010/4/8/10/enhanced-buzz-11603-1270735958-4.jpg

[Typo_Negative]

@Jackknifed_Juggernaut

And you never learned how to spell Cincinnati?

I’m from Dayton. I never learnt to spell lots of stuff.

[Chronos]

It’s kind of like the Braves stealing the Tomahawk Chop and related chant from Florida State.

And the Indians in turn stole it from the Braves.

[Omniscient]

Of all the dumb things in sports, I’ve always found these two to be the dumbest ones going. For some inexplicable reason I find the Bengals version slightly more daft.

[Oakminster]

@Jackknifed_Juggernaut

I see. So it seems the Bengals basically ripped off the Saints by changing one of the words. The Saints, of course, stole it from Southern U!

It’s kind of like the Braves stealing the Tomahawk Chop and related chant from Florida State.

I first heard it used in reference to wildly popular pro wrestler Junkyard Dog. Patterson High School stole it from him as well…I played against them back in the day.

[MentalGuy]

@Jackknifed_Juggernaut

I see. So it seems the Bengals basically ripped off the Saints by changing one of the words.

This could very well be true, I don’t know.

I have never been to a Bengals game, but when I was younger, I went to several Reds games and the vendors would sell Hudepohl beer (a local Cincinnati beer). The vendors would yell “Hudy!” as they walked up and down the steps. But the way the vendors yelled it, it would sound like “Hoo - day”. When I first heard about the “Who dey” chant for the Bengals, I just assumed it started from the vendors. I have not seen anything that indicates that this is the case, though.

[ZipperJJ]

@Chronos

And the Indians in turn stole it from the Braves.

Never seen this at a Cleveland Indians game, except for maybe a handful of youngsters doing it here and there. Do you refer to some other Indians?

[Pork_Rind]

@Jackknifed_Juggernaut

I see. So it seems the Bengals basically ripped off the Saints by changing one of the words.

According to this site, it was the other way around. Of course, it’s a Bengals fan site, so grain of salt and all that.

I can confirm they Bengals ‘Who Dey’ chant 1981 claim, as when I cleaned out my parents’ house for sale last year, I tossed the last couple of cans of Bengal beer (with chant printed on the can) from the '81-'82 season.

I have no particular opinion about the site’s claim that the Saints didn’t start ‘Who Dat’ until 1983.

The chant started (Fall1981), Who They think is going to beat them Bengals. ( Cincinnati was on a roll.they were 7-3 a season after they finished 6-10 and prior two seasons 4-12) When some hollered, “Who They think is going to beat them Bengals” Other fans would reply with “Nobody”
A week or two later. The whole chant started to grow, and the nobody was stretched out to Noooo Boooooooody. Coming from an old car commericial of (Red Frazier Ford ) who was out of business at the time. But had a very popular commercial, Who’s going to give you a better deal than Red Frazier? Nooo Boooody.

Following that, the chant put was on a 45 record. Recorded by Cincinnati’s WLW weatherman Who’s first name was Zip.

Below you will see that in 1983 Steve Monistere marketed the Who Dat Chat for the first time.

In 1983, I heard two guys yelling “Who Dat sey dey gonna beat dem Saints?” in the Superdome…it was the first time the Saints had ever won 8 games in a season. I went to my recording studio that very night and recorded the original “Who Dat?” song with Aaron Neville on lead vocals and the entire Saint offensive line yelling the Who Dat? chant.

The record was a local and national hit and I entered into a deal with the Saints and the N.F.L. to market Who Dat? T-Shirts and over 30 other items ranging from soap on a rope to Who Dat? Root beer. We also wrote many other Who Dat? songs over the years

[unwashed_brain]

@Chronos

And the Indians in turn stole it from the Braves.

No, that was actually Braves fans during the '95 WS.

[Chronos]

There were Braves fans during the '95 World Series? I had understood that the games in Atlanta still had tickets available at the gate.