Football traditions?

[TuffGuy84]

I love that damn cannon, except the first time I heard it go off, I must have jumped 6 feet over. Fire marshal canned it for us. I do appreciate the players comming around to high five the loyal fans that show support every game. I guess I wish for more, EX: throw an incomplete pass in denver, 60-70 thousand people screaming in-com-plete! Something to rattle the opponents.

I dont know how close you get to the students, but I know when we get a first down, we always do a "1, 2, 3 FIRST DOWN!" right behind the opposing team, thats always fun. I would love to see more myself, but I think that will come as the program is built.

Tuffguy

[RCAJUN90]

I have been thinking a while about the lack of tradition here at Louisiana. I have seen many college in my lifetime, almost all of the successful programs have deep lines of tradition. I think now is the time we have to start a true tradition here. Something that makes people go into awe when they see it. I dont know what this could be but we need to build this program before it fades away yet again. It all starts with the fan base. Anyone have ideas about what we the true fans can do to build this program? Besides attending the game of course.

I would like to see us get rid of the respect song after a touchdown and replace it with a Cajun tune. Even when I was a student I hated and never understood why we played respect as a fight song. Surely the creative people of Acadiana can come up with something better.

[DestinCajun]

I would like to see us get rid of the respect song after a touchdown and replace it with a Cajun tune. Even when I was a student I hated and never understood why we played respect as a fight song. Surely the creative people of Acadiana can come up with something better.

The band began playing "Respect", an incredibly popular tune, when I was a student. My opinion is we need to play "Respect" as often as the band feels like it.

[rhineaux]

The band began playing "Respect", an incredibly popular tune, when I was a student. My opinion is we need to play "Respect" as often as the band feels like it.

I don't really like it, never really have. but, it is better than if the band started playing some of the "incredibly popular tunes" running over radio's airwaves today. I like the cajun tune thing. It could work. It would have to be something popular from the olden days. There is no way it could be one of those new-fangled cajun songs that are popular today.

The high-fives at the ends of games...I like it, kinda. I was thinking about ti the other day after the lost. I was thinking it was kinda dumb, something that we are maybe outgrowing, but it may actually turn out to something cool in 15-20 years if we continue to grow. Now if we can only get all of these losers that were acting like there wasn't even a game played Saturday, much less a loss, that would be good.

[ragincajun4life]

I dont know how close you get to the students, but I know when we get a first down, we always do a "1, 2, 3 FIRST DOWN!" right behind the opposing team, thats always fun. I would love to see more myself, but I think that will come as the program is built.

Tuffguy

Yeah, everyone really liked the canon, I wish we could bring something like that back. What about an AYEEE after a first down or something like that. Something people can get into and remember and want to be a part of. Just throwing out some ideas. I think its great that fans stay to shake hands with the team, but I wish there were more people doing it.... it isnt many. We need tradition!!!!... A WINNING Tradition!!!

[Just1More]

The band began playing "Respect", an incredibly popular tune, when I was a student. My opinion is we need to play "Respect" as often as the band feels like it.

I have to say that RESPECT needs to stay. The one big problem with "tradition" is that... it can't keep changing... I do see a lot of good fan involvement concepts thrown around. It isn't a matter of continuous ideas, and continuous change... "traditions" have to STAY to be a tradition.

No offense to anyone, but the first thing we should do is dig into our past for anything that has been popular among our older alum, take what may stick with the past, present and future... challenge those with any new (few) ideas, implement them, and hold on to it like it was your first born. That is the only way to make a tradition. Otherwise, what everyone keeps doing is just another optional activity.

[ragincajun4life]

I have to say that RESPECT needs to stay. The one big problem with "tradition" is that... it can't keep changing... I do see a lot of good fan involvement concepts thrown around. It isn't a matter of continuous ideas, and continuous change... "traditions" have to STAY to be a tradition.

No offense to anyone, but the first thing we should do is dig into our past for anything that has been popular among our older alum, take what may stick with the past, present and future... challenge those with any new (few) ideas, implement them, and hold on to it like it was your first born. That is the only way to make a tradition. Otherwise, what everyone keeps doing is just another optional activity.

You are right, that is what a tradition is. Do you have any ideas? I think people focus more tradition on the tailgating aspect. What can we do to get more people excited about the Cajuns?

[Rebel02]

How about we get everyone to enter the stadium BEFORE the band hits the field for pregame! It's sad looking at all those chairbacks and see them empty until mid-way through the 2nd quarter when those alumni realize there is a football game.

Now theres a tradition.

[Choppie29]

I would like to see us get rid of the respect song after a touchdown and replace it with a Cajun tune. Even when I was a student I hated and never understood why we played respect as a fight song. Surely the creative people of Acadiana can come up with something better.

It would not be a Ragin Cajun football/basketball game without "Respect". I don't have a memory of Ragin Cajun Football game without hearing "Respect" or "Hey Baby". I even had the band at my wedding play "Hey Baby" and the wedding party danced to it.

[Just1More]

You are right, that is what a tradition is. Do you have any ideas? I think people focus more tradition on the tailgating aspect. What can we do to get more people excited about the Cajuns?

Traditions and Fan Excitement Drivers:
The ideas posted are solid. The students now, as opposed to when I was a student, do stand the entire game, they chant the opposing team. Those chants can evolve into something stadium-wide for all to join in. There are ways to signal to the crowd, including kids who go to the game (our future) to join in on chants. I think C-A-J-U-N-S Cajuns at the end of a score would be good. Ragin - Cajun battles between the stadium halves would be good. I think we should all hold up the UL hand signal at kickoffs and other times and have some chant UL, UL, UL or something like that.

Whatever these chants are, they need to stick, and spread in whatever means possible. That is not just building some tradition, but builds fan involvement, fun and excitement. There are many females who are completely into the football, but many females and children want the atmosphere to be fun and entertaining. I would like to see the band stay in the stands in their seats, and play some fan-engaging tunes, those that start with our cheerleaders, dancers, and our diehard students to start and grow in the stadium.

I want to hear the T Train whistle for Fenroy. The AYEEE wouldn't be a bad yell. The canon, if it can be reinstated, would be good (or a shotgun, if that works, cause afterall you can't shoot a duck with a canon). I would like to see the Cajun Chicken back, if at all possible. I think that guy ought to choose a successor, work out something with the University, and get that going again. I think we should invite high school football teams, cheerleaders, bands to sit in our empty sections on the student side and things like that, and have local restraunts get free advertisement for feeding them. I would like to have a big screen added to the stadium by local businesses that runs continuous, silent advertisement during the game, and it would show other football games being played up to our gametime... that might get a few more people into the stadium.

Most of the above is not necessarily tradition issues. We probably need to make a separation of what we are trying to instill as a tradition, and what we would promote for fan excitement/involvement. But, if it is rinky dink and it keeps changing... it isn't a Tradition.