Don't Roosta Like You Use ta

[CajunConnection]

_ I wasn't going to respond to this, but feel it's necessary given what I feel is some misrepresentation.

First of all, everyone has an opinion and I respect that.

Let me say, first, I am a member of the Krewe de Chew and proud to be one. The Krewe was started many years ago and has grown to nearly 40 members. We have three tailgaiting spots. All of us are season ticket holders and RCAF members.

Every home game we have four or five members who are responsible for cooking entrees. Everyone else brings sides, nibbles (including homemade cracklin) bread or desserts.

Each game we go to message boards for our opponents and invite them to come and eat with us. In fact, any fan who is tailgaiting and who is hungry is welcome to come and share a meal with us.

One of our members has a computer with nearly 30,000 songs. We have plenty of recorded music at each game.

The "Roosta" dance is not done 24 times a game. It is done twice, at specified times AS REQUESTED by many Cajun Fans. It started with a zydeco song called "You Can't Roosta Like You Useta." Many of us are age 40 and up...in fact, Le Grand Chew (Charlie Daigle) is nearly 80. And, none of us can "Roosta" like we "Useta."

The "Roosta" is not intended to be a mascot or anything like that. We're just some old farts that like to have fun before the game. We're folks that enjoy spreading the word about Cajun Tailgaiting.

Most of the visitors to Cajun Field have come by to share the "joie da vivre" with us. And many, many visitors participate in the "Roosta."

We are feeding the entire 75 person ESPN crew this Friday. ESPN specifically asked to film some unique tailgaiters. It was folks from UL who suggested the Krewe de Chew and spefically, the "Roosta."

If your embarassed by Cajun fans tailgaiting, enjoying the atmosphere of good friends and dancing to zydeco music (albeit with some wearing rooster heads or noses) then by all means don't come by.

If you want to enjoy yourself, come and have a bite with us.

But there will come a time in your lives when you can't "Roosta like you useta." _

Agree 100%. All kind of antics go on at tailgaiting events. If anyone viewing take things with a negative perception, so what. It is all in fun and that is what we are all there for.

CC

[ManAboutTown]

I personally love the Krewe. Been by several times as a matter of fact. And I'm not 'embarrassed' by anything concerning the true uniqueness of Cajun culture. My point is, this is an establishment of higher learning, and it should be recognized as such. I'm not suggesting we all go out to the game is tuxes and bifocals, but don't you think this area has enough of a battle with these age old stereo types? Don't you think our name takes enough punishment? Don't you think our athletic history is comical enough?! Why would anyone want to compound these things? Why is this University and the people who support it such glutans for punishment? We pee and moan about respect and unrecognized progress, but when given the platform, we botch it everytime!

And using Jersey Shore as an example is a joke in and of itself. The reason that show is a hit is because ppl are mocking these idiots.. Do you want to be the laughing stock of D1 football? We'll be known, but not for something worthwhile.

igeaux.mobi

[tetragrammaton]

I also don't really see what's offensive or embarrassing about a few folks getting together to dance. Is it the chicken element? Nope. Plenty of chicken songs out there. Is it the zydeco element? If you're embarrassed about that... Well, I think you might want to stay home instead of being anywhere near Cajun Field that day.

As a member of the Krewe, I see no difference between what we do and a Mardi Gras "Second Line." The rest of the country misunderstands that, too.

Considering the comraderie and good will we foster, as pointed out by BirdofParadise, I think this is something to be boasted, not ridiculed.

But don't expect us to just sit down quietly, drink martinis and discuss our 401(k)s until gametime (granted, when the occasion calls for it, we do!).

The Rooster dance is an act of defiance, of telling the world that counts us out that we will not "go gentle into that good night," but will continue to endure.

I, for one, will Rooster proudly on Friday.

If you want to share in the good fun (which tends to be rather family-friendly, by the way), come on by. If you don't, that's fine.

[rgncjn12]

_ I personally love the Krewe. Been by several times as a matter of fact. And I'm not 'embarrassed' by anything concerning the true uniqueness of Cajun culture. My point is, this is an establishment of higher learning, and it should be recognized as such. I'm not suggesting we all go out to the game is tuxes and bifocals, but don't you think this area has enough of a battle with these age old stereo types? Don't you think our name takes enough punishment? Don't you think our athletic history is comical enough?! Why would anyone want to compound these things? Why is this University and the people who support it such glutans for punishment? We pee and moan about respect and unrecognized progress, but when given the platform, we botch it everytime!

And using Jersey Shore as an example is a joke in and of itself. The reason that show is a hit is because ppl are mocking these idiots.. Do you want to be the laughing stock of D1 football? We'll be known, but not for something worthwhile.

igeaux.mobi _

We have been the laughing stock of D1 football for a long time running! The perception of our program can't get much lower. The star's of Jersey Shore are laughing all the way to the bank because everyone watches. It would be nice if our program could laugh its way to the bank, instead we have to hitch hike to the bank because we can't afford crap!

To each his own!

GEAUX UL!

[ManAboutTown]

I don't think anyone is being critical of the KdC, what it represents, what it accomplishes, or the simple fact that a bunch of older people are acting like older people. I've been by there and it all seems like great fun...when you're there. Pretend like you aren't a KdC member and don't live around here or aren't from this area, and pretend like you're on your couch on Friday night watching this game. Now go to that YouTube link and watch it. The meaning, the atmosphere, the joie de vivre...none of that comes through on TV. I'm sure there are some OSU fans that are coming down for this game that have or will see that video and think "where the hell are we going?" However, once they get down here, experience all of the tailgating, actually go to the KdC area and experience that, then they will get it. The problem is that it will be shown for about 5-10 seconds, mostly in passing, without explanation, followed by two goobers in the booth making fun of it for the next 5 minutes.

Again, I think that the KdC is great and it's great that all of those people can stay organized and do all that they do. However, there are a lot of other things that can be shown to a national audience that will represent what our unique culture and tailgating atmosphere is like, and still not potentially negatively effect the perception of the school and/or the culture. We are a proud culture and part of what makes it great is our independent spirit and living without cares and so forth, and the Rooster Dance fits into that. But I guarantee that when it comes time for this to be shown on TV, all of that meaning will be lost and we will be portrayed as something that we're not.

I think it sucks because I understand that a few people are just wanting a few moments in the sun and wanting to show how much fun that they are having, and there are a few people in the KdC who deserve a moment in the sun for all the their personal time and money they spend, just to make others feel warm and welcome...I just don't know if this is the proper avenue to do it.

Extremely well said. Couldn't agree more.

igeaux.mobi

[RaginWaldo]

The washington redskins has a group of guys that wear dresses and pignoses. everyone has characters that follow a specific team. To make this an argument is pretty irrelevant in my eyes.

[MissingMandy]

_ Cajun football and tailgating should be showcased as a unique event. We, as Cajun fans, should embrace those individuals and groups that make Cajun tailgating completely different than anywhere else. _

Well said. I can't really express how incredible the Krewe has been to myself and my family. They have made us feel welcomed everytime we come. We look forward to seeing them and have made many friends. They make player's families feel like they have a place to go. They go out of their way to make everyone feel special. As a University you should celebrate these unique people. What a treasure they are. Rooster on my friends!!!

[tetragrammaton]

If ESPN wants to show how much FUN we have, I welcome it.

Like I said, I don't expect the rest of the country to understand it.

Those that come and hang out with us will enjoy it.

[zephyr]

I would have thought that the members of the "Krewe" were actually in the game to support the team. Doing this dance throughout the game would obviously mean they are not.

[raginsaints]

I have to go stop by to see da Roosta

[CajunCharlie]

_ This is my first post. I like to follow the up to date news which is given here most of the time. I really hate starting my raginpagin's 1st post like this, but I have to do it in order to save humiliation!

Let me say first and foremost. I am a HUGE CAJUN FAN! I do not miss games (Football, Basketball, Baseball) and I am a member of the RCAF. I am a graduate of UL and will support this school until the day I die.

Please tell me that the news I am hearing this morning isn't true!?!? According to numerous sources, Jay Walker stated on his show that ESPN will televise the "Rooster Dance" which is done by the Krewe de Chewe.....

I hope to God this isn't true! With all due respect, this would be a devistation to our team, the fans and our tailgating atmosphere viewed by the nation. For those of you not familar with this dance, it's done about 15 times a game and people from this Krewe dress in rooster costumes a peck around like they're eating corn and kicking dirt while flapping their wings. This is only humerous and entertaining to the people directly under the tent. The rest of the tailgaters awe in disbelief that this so called ritual now has an itinerary on what times it will be done and has a bell to start the festivities..... Look, I understand this is all in fun, but really??? Do it once a year for homecoming. Do it once a game, some may still not be able to tolerate it....but PLEASE DON'T DO THIS ON ESPN!!!!!!!!!! We will be the laughing stock of college football. Can we vote for ESPN to show the cutting of the Boudin, the Cajun walk, the general tailgaing atmosphere, the live band....anything but the Rooster! I tailgate close to the Rooster Tent and I speak for about 100 fellow tailgaters when I say this non sense has got to stop. The 1st corn eating, dirt kicking mating dance was ok, but now there are costumes, make up, bells, schedules............draw the line and come back to normality.

Comments are now able to be heard.............................



Prediction for Friday:

Louisiana's Pecking Corn Eating Rooster's 31
Oklahoma State Cowgirls 30

Attendance: 17,500

ESPN 2 may lose it's college football rights after this debacle.


WITH ALL DUE RESPECT! _

Fortunately our good ole USA permits freedom of speech, and I respect that anyone is free to express their opinion. In that light I am going to express my opinion.

For your first post you picked a "doozy" to comment about our dancing to the tune, "You Can't Roosta Like You Used To". First and foremost we will continue with this dance until WE feel that it is no longer appropriate, or the University issues and edict to quit performing the dance!

I find that your opinion, that it is embarassing to UL, is not the same opinion of visiting fans who come to our taigating site to enjoy our hospitality, food, and good times. As stated earlier most of these visiting fans wind up participating in the dance, and having photos/video taken as mementos to their having fun at the Krewe de Chew tailgating site.

Is the Roosta dance an embarrasment to UL? I don't feel that it is. If it were I feel that the Administration would have long ago asked that it be stopped.

Personally, I believe what the "naysayers" are expressing is that if the public sees this it will confirm the "naysayers" opinion that Cajuns are uneducated bumpkins. I find this rather short sighted. Have you ever attended a Cajun Mardi Gras run? Some of the antics performed at a Run are a little off the wall, but they are an expression of our Cajun joie de vivre.

As a Cajun I am going to have my fun. Or as much fun as a 79 year old Cajun can have.

I cordially invite anyone to come and visit us. The food, I think, is top notch, and so is the Cajun hospitality. You may get a bit of the Cajun joie de vivre.

Incidentally, the Krewe is not one dimensonal. We have fed some of our athletic teams, and will continue to do so.

To learn a little more of the Krewe de Chew visit our website, http://www.krewedechew.net

Charlie Daigle

[reddot]

_
Please tell me that the news I am hearing this morning isn't true!?!? According to numerous sources, Jay Walker stated on his show that ESPN will televise the "Rooster Dance" which is done by the Krewe de Chewe.....

It couldn't be any worse than Zachary Richard doing the "Who Stole My Monkey" song on David Letterman's show.

This is a football game pete's sake. Have FUN!

Maybe ESPN could do an Outside the Lines documentary on the hazards of golf carts at tailgating.


PS...when our friends were the reddots we never did anything as silly as the Rooster Song