USC’s First Down Cheer: Celebrating Mediocrity
After splitting its first two games on the road, the University of South Carolina football team kicks off its 2009 home schedule on Saturday night at Williams-Brice stadium against Florida International (Atlantic?) University.
Yawn.
It’s a game that the Shamecocks should win convincingly, and the odds makers have duly installed them as three-touchdown favorites.
That’s why we’re going to spare you a boring analysis of how USC quarterback Stephen Garcia is supposed to match-up against the … wait, what are Florida Internationals anyway … Rattlers?
Wait … that’s FAMU. Ahh … thank you, Wikipedia, they’re “Golden Panthers.” We got it.
(Except we didn’t get it. USC is playing Florida ATLANTIC, as dozens of our commenters have pointed out below).
Anyway, we’re going to spare you an analysis of how Garcia will handle the “Golden Panther” (Owl?) pass rush to focus on one of USC’s most pathetic, self-limiting traditions. And no, we’re not talking about this year’s newest ritual of the team rubbing a giant (game)cock prior to taking the field.
That one pretty much speaks for itself.
No, we’re referring to USC’s ridiculous “first down cheer,” which consists of the stadium’s public address announcer exhorting the Gamecock faithful to celebrate something that real (and educated) football fans recognize is a common occurrence unworthy of such vociferous demonstration.
As we wrote two seasons ago …
This is college football, people. First downs are supposed to happen, and the fact that the public address announcer at Williams-Brice Stadium makes such a big deal when the Gamecocks actually get one is kind of embarrassing. So here’s a thought – the next time the home team gets a first down and you hear the idiot in the press box yell out “That’s another Carolina – (and you’re supposed to yell back “first down!”) how about yell “shut up!” and insist on a touchdown instead.
Damn straight.
Anyway, despite our best efforts to get USC to expect a little more from its football team, it looks like this ridiculous tradition will continue for at least another year.
According to USC spokeswoman Margaret Lamb, the first down cheer “hasn’t been discussed formally” by the school’s Athletics Department, but “it’s a popular tradition that has developed with our public address announcer and our fans,” and one that the school “expects to continue.”
Sort of like Carolina’s perpetual mediocrity, right?
Loading ...Pic: Travis Bell, Sideline Carolina
Comments
By Snead on September 16th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
You crying about this is another example of perpetual mediocrity.
By Tank McNamara on September 16th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
hey sic, the Chickens are playing the Florida Atlantic Owls, not Florida International. if you’re gonna dis ‘em, at least get your facts straight.
By joe-jack on September 16th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
This post may be worth a damn if you didnt muck it up so much. The gamecocks are playing Florida ATLANTIC. I couldnt help pointing out a rare mistake.
By Gamecocks v. Owls on September 16th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
We are playing Florida Atlantic on Saturday. The Owls. Hoot, hoot.
By southmauldin on September 16th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
C’mon. It’s Florida Atlantic. The Owls. Not FAMU. An article obviously written by a non football fan that has never played a down of Pop Warner, middle school, high school or any other football. Stick to what you are best at, which is calling out Gresham Barrett for the pussy he is, or reminding your readers that Joe Wilson was putting ‘Joe Wilson for Congress’ stickers on Floyd Spence’s casket.
By ICEMAN on September 16th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
You dumb@ss, Carolina is playing Florida Atlantic. How hard is it to check a schedule? Aside from that, we’ve already heard an argument for the first down cheer. Ole Miss has one similar, as they sit at number 5 in the AP poll. Quit writing about football, when its evident you know little about the subject. Two weeks ago you wrote how Clemson’s Parker hit 9/20 passes against Middle Tennessee. I do not care if you prefer Clemson to Carolina, you continually show your ignorance about the topic every time you write an article about college football.
Secondly, I’m not just a basher. I do understand the point of a blog is to create controversy which leads to hits, which leads to ads, which leads to money in your pocket. However, many sports fans like myself hate to see this garbage being posted on an otherwise quality site. A good discussion is worth reading, but an article bashing Carolina when you do not even know this weeks opponent…looks foolish.
By dj on September 17th, 2009 at 12:24 am
Florida International!?! Are they like some online school or something? Seriously? Whoever plan that seriously thought that USC would lose to..oh..I dont know…everyone else, and we cant have that at a homecoming. Ah, I see the logic now. it’s like playing against Lonnie B. Nelson elementary. Now we will have to wait two weeks to see if the GA win was a fluk or not.
By ? on September 17th, 2009 at 6:37 am
Aren’t you playing Florida Atlantic?
By Toyota Kawaski on September 17th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Fits i could not agree more what a dumb fitsnews like thing to do and celebrate 1st downs.Noticed in Clarke County Saturday there PA hack gets excited for 3rd down by letting the Mutts crowd know what yardline the ball is on and distant to go.The Weakpack PA Hack was much more tame this year but another team that celebrates 1st downs also.For the love of Big George PLEASE STOP THIS CHEER.Read your dam schedule fits better yet put the jersey on and stay home.We are playing future hall of fame coach Howard Schnellenberger and his Owls.Both he and SOS have national titles at Florida schools.He also is credited with recruiting Broadway (have a drink)Namaith to Alabama.
By Crush on September 17th, 2009 at 8:53 am
This guy is truly an idiot when it comes to sports. He really needs to stick to slinging political mud which is why 99% of his readers tune in to this.
By utah on September 17th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Ole Miss, Arkansas, Miss. St., West Virginia, Minnesota, LSU, Ohio State (among many other college football teams), and several NFL teams all do a cheer for first downs. It’s not a big deal.
By Pat Hendrix on September 17th, 2009 at 11:40 am
A mild chant for the mundane doesn’t seem to suggest an acceptance of the mediocre. (God, that sentence was so Mandeesque) No, letting Dave Odom continue on, that is. Sparky Woods not being fired the second he was defeated by the Citadel, that was. Letting King Dixon wreck the AD – sure. Continuing to play in a stadium that looks like a venue for the Thurderdome, industrial blight anyone?, yessir.
By nfl rumors on December 24th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Hey what was that bro looking at, that’s insane