Dawg Sports: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Around SBN: The 2008 Big East in fives Bar-right-arrows



BlogPoll Roundtable Responses: Shakeup Saturday Edition

The idea of incorporating "Crank That" into the Sanford Stadium experience is starting to build momentum. Although I mentioned the second-half dance, I did not know at the time that Senator Blutarsky had referred to it, as well. It energized the student section and the band apparently is considering working it into the repertoire, which would be the wisest expansion of the Redcoat Band's play list since the addition of the "Glory, Glory"/"Ode to Joy" arrangement in the 2000 Outback Bowl. (I have left instructions for that to be played at my funeral, by the way.)

I want this to happen, so much so that I am willing to put my money where my mouth is, much as Vince Dooley did when he told the 1976 Bulldogs that, if they won the S.E.C. championship and beat Georgia Tech, he would shave his head. (They did and he did.)

I'm not going to shave my head, but I will make this promise. If, at the next Georgia home game (against Troy on November 3), the Redcoat Band plays "Crank That" and the crowd participates in the dance as part of an orchestrated effort, I will learn this dance, tape myself doing it, post it on YouTube, and publish the YouTube clip here at Dawg Sports.

Write your band director. Write your athletic director. Write your Congressman. Make this happen.

(Please bear in mind that I have danced publicly exactly twice in my adult life. Once was at my wedding ten years ago. The previous occasion was at the wedding of two friends of mine. I was a groomsman and I was called upon to dance with the bridesmaid whom I escorted up the aisle, who was as awkward and uncomfortable with the whole thing as I was. When a table full of mutual friends of ours dared me to dip her, I did . . . and dropped her. In short, seeing me dance would be well worth it for its comedic value.)

You don't want to see me dance. Which really means you do want to see me dance.

That said, I now turn to the matter at hand. The latest BlogPoll roundtable questions have been posted, to which my answers are these:

The Battle for #1 - USC and LSU are separated by one vote in the AP poll. We made the switch in last week's blogpoll by putting the Tigers in our top spot. State your case for who should be the top team in the country.

I should acknowledge from the outset that a national championship game showdown between Louisiana State and Southern California would be as competitive and exciting in January 2008 as I believe it would have been in January 2004. However, at the moment, it is clear that the Bayou Bengals are more deserving of the top spot in the polls.

L.S.U. opened the season by obliterating a Mississippi State team that subsequently went on the road and beat an Auburn team that since has gone on the road and beaten Florida. The Bulldogs' only other loss was to the Gamecocks, whose only defeat was suffered at the hands of the Fighting Tigers in Baton Rouge. South Carolina went on the road and beat what has proven to be a solid Georgia team.

In non-conference play, Les Miles's squad destroyed a pretty decent Virginia Tech unit, which also has not lost to any team other than Louisiana State. The Trojans, on the other hand, already have had a bye week this young season, which was followed by U.S.C. wins over Nebraska, Washington State, and Washington, respectively.

Pete Carroll's squad went on the road and defeated by a scant three points a Husky squad which lost to Ohio State at home by 19 points and fell by a double-digit margin against a U.C.L.A. squad that was embarrassed by Utah. The Cougars suffered a 47-14 setback in the Coliseum, but they also fell by a 42-21 margin at Wisconsin, which has not posted a similarly convincing win against quality competition. The Cornhuskers struggled with Wake Forest, barely beat Ball State, and gave up 415 total yards to Iowa State.

Southern California is an elite football team and the Men of Troy will have ample opportunity to prove their mettle against Oregon, Cal, Arizona State, and U.C.L.A. between October 27 and December 1. At this point in the season, though, L.S.U. has played, and beaten convincingly, a higher caliber of competition, so the Bayou Bengals deserve the top ranking . . . for now.

Of course, as long as Les Miles is calling the shots in Baton Rouge, there's always a chance I'm overrating the Tigers.

Oklahoma, Florida, West Virginia, Texas and Rutgers were all upset this weekend. Of those teams, who has the best shot of getting back into the national title hunt?

It's pretty hard to argue that the Gators couldn't claw their way back into the race for No. 1, since they lost to Auburn last year yet still managed to capture the national crown, but lightning seems unlikely to strike twice for a team that proved it belonged when it got to Glendale but needed lots of luck just to get there.

The Mountaineers and the Scarlet Knights absolutely are out of the picture. Fairly or unfairly, the Big East is perceived as a weak league in the aftermath of Miami's and Virginia Tech's departures, so the conference's only shot at producing a national title contender is to have its champion go undefeated.

It is difficult to believe in the Longhorns as a contender, since last Saturday's result was but the culmination of a month's worth of poor play. Texas hasn't played 60 solid minutes of football against any team other than Rice and the Owls still are searching for the season's first win.

That leaves us with the Sooners, who would appear to be in the best position to work their way back up in the standings. Continued improvement by the Buffaloes is a good bet, so losing to Colorado by a last-second field goal on the road will appear increasingly forgivable as time passes, and a solid win in the Red River Shootout (of which Oklahoma undoubtedly is capable) would get Bob Stoops's squad right back into the mix. Yes, they'd need a little help, but the likelihood of Big Ten, S.E.C., and Pac-10 teams continuing to beat up on one another gives the Sooners a halfway decent chance at the brass ring.

Relax, Bobby; you still have a shot!

Looking at the current AP Top 10, who is grossly overrated and who should be in there that isn't?

The sportswriters' top ten teams aren't all that different from my top ten teams, so my only major quarrel with the upper tier of the current Associated Press poll is the fact that Florida is ranked ninth. Yes, the Gators are good, but what have they done to warrant retention in the top ten after losing to an unranked opponent at home?

Florida's wins have come against Western Kentucky, Troy, Tennessee, and Ole Miss, respectively. Those four teams are a combined 9-10, with their wins coming against Arkansas State, Eastern Kentucky, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Oklahoma State, Southern Miss, and West Virginia Tech (yes, West Virginia Tech; drop either the first or the last word from that nomenclature and you've got yourself a team, but together? . . . forget about it). The Gators struggled with the Rebels one week before Georgia hung 45 points on Mississippi in the Classic City.

I will grant that the Gators may be better than their record, but, right now, there is little in the Big Lizards' ledger to justify their top ten ranking.

Don't take it personally, Urb; it's just my opinion.

Although I wish I didn't have to do so, I must admit that Arizona State is the team that was omitted and shouldn't have been. Dennis Erickson's squad stands at 5-0, having beaten at least decent Colorado and Oregon State squads by double-digit margins. The Sun Devils are tied with Cal at 17th in the nation in scoring offense and A.S.U. ranks sixth in the land in scoring defense.

What is the worst coaching mistake you've seen this season?

Every decision Charlie Weis has made is tied for dead last . . . but he's still a genius.

All right, seriously, perhaps the greatest upset in college football history very nearly was ruined when Appalachian State head coach Jerry Moore elected to kick a 24-yard field goal on first down at the Michigan five yard line with 26 seconds remaining. By leaving time on the clock when he could have bled it down, Coach Moore allowed Chad Henne to complete the 46-yard pass to Mario Manningham that set up a 37-yard field goal try on the final play of the game.

When Corey Lynch blocked the attempt and returned it 52 yards as time expired, the game was saved and the mistake forgotten. However, Coach Moore's boneheaded call easily could have squandered the greatest regular-season victory in his program's history.

All right, Lloyd, you're entitled to be ticked that I picked the play that beat you as the worst call of the year. I'll give you that one.

Those, at least, are the answers as they are apparent to me. Your mileage may vary and your views are welcome in the comments below.

Go 'Dawgs!

0 recs | Comment 14 comments

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

Display:

Crank That
While the tune is admittedly catchy, I can't help but wonder if it isn't hip hop's version of "Achy Breaky Heart" or "Macarena", both of which inspired their own dances and were wildly popular for a time.  I dare say both would now inspire more embarrassment than pride.  

Playing a popular song on the loud speakers is one thing, but a peformance by the band is another matter entirely.  Before a song is deemed worthy of the Red Coats, perhaps we should wait and see if its lifespan is greater than the proverbial 15 minutes.

by Marshal J Duncan on Oct 1, 2007 11:49 PM EDT   0 recs

I'm not necessarily talking about . . .
. . . making it a permanent tradition, but, if it helps get the team and the crowd fired up, I say let's give it a whirl.

I'm sure you're right that the song won't age terribly well, but the electric slide and the macarena never energized a stadium and emboldened a defense; this little number already has.

If we want to tell the band to take five and play the song over the loudspeakers at the start of the fourth quarter, fine, but let's get some energy going in the stadium.

by T Kyle King on Oct 2, 2007 12:06 AM EDT   0 recs

Ahhhh [breathing in deeply]...
...the sweet smell of a reasonable compromise.  This particular song probably sounds better over the speakers anyway.

by Marshal J Duncan on Oct 2, 2007 12:28 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

um
if the band played it. it would definitely not have the same effect. I dont even think the players know half of the songs or anthems that are played in the first place (krypton and so on).

The way "Crank that" was used on Saturday was perfect and i have always been a vehement supporter of using outside music once or twice a game to really fire up the players/ students/ crowd. I think this would present the best balance for not only Redcoat play time but also appease the younger crowd (ie- the players) since they feed off that type of music (im pretty sure their ipods have nothing but rap and hip hop. not sure how many would have a Redcoat playlist haha)

By the way everybody, start practicing- http://youtube.com/watch?v=sLGLum5SyKQ

by loran smith on Oct 2, 2007 12:39 AM EDT   0 recs

I'm already working on it
It's the third step that's giving me trouble.

by T Kyle King on Oct 2, 2007 7:29 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh I see . . .
I go away to a fascinating conference on emerging issues in insurance litigation, come back, and suddenly Kyle's getting crunk . . .

by MaconDawg on Oct 2, 2007 1:14 PM EDT   0 recs

Call me Tipper...
... or call me Sipple, but I just can't see how sanctioning this song is a good idea.  Have you listened to (or read, in the likely event you have difficulty understanding the vocalization) the lyrics?  

"Crank that robocop?"
"Crank that hoe?"
"And if we get the fightin den I'm cockin on ya bitch ass?"

I don't even know where to start with the misogyny, disrespect for civil authority, advocacy/approval of violence, and glamorization of ghetto culture.  I don't want anything to do with this kind of music, language, and message. You may as well put crack in the baby bottles.  

by 34hawk on Oct 2, 2007 2:30 PM EDT   0 recs

lyrics
thats true about the lyrics. its unfortunate but that just the way things are today.

I posted a comment in a separate thread with a video link to the entire Texas sideline doing the "Crank That" dance during their game at UCF. Well, apparently the epidemic has spread to many other stadiums as well. http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/?p=3932.

Why not UGA? (Granted one of these is the OB. Would you really expect anything else? But look, even our premier service academy uses it!!!! That alone makes me feel a lot better about using it.)

by loran smith on Oct 2, 2007 4:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

That ship, I believe, has sailed
Just before kickoff, the scoreboard shows a montage set to the tune of "Baba O'Reilly," the story of a "teenage wasteland" in which the youth of America "fight for [their] meals" and "[t]hey're all wasted!"

At the behest of Erk Russell, because the chorus of the song contains a line about being "meaner than a junkyard dog," the Redcoat Band has for more than 30 years played "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," the lyrics of which celebrate "a gambler" who carries "a .32 gun in his pocket for fun" and has "a razor in his shoe." While shooting dice in a bar, Leroy Brown made romantic overtures towards a married woman, resulting in a fight with her husband that ended with "Leroy look[ing] like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone."

James Brown, a beloved musical figure in Bulldog Nation, had more than his share of run-ins with the law.

You are right that the lyrics to the Soulja Boy song in question fall more than a little short of constituting a musical ode to clean living; you are equally correct that the words to the song largely are unintelligible. Surely, though, "Crank That" is on the iPods of several of the Georgia players, who do not appear to have been led astray by the songs to which they listen, as their brushes with the authorities almost always involve minor traffic violations and open container ordinance violations. Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno, who were seen dancing to the anthem on Saturday afternoon, have been model citizens, so far as I am aware.

If an edited remix of the music sans offending lyrics is advisable, then, by all means, make such deletions as are prudent. Once again, I am not suggesting that we set this in stone as a sacred tradition for the next three decades; my point, in fact, is that "Krypton Fanfare" is outdated and has become nearly useless as a method for firing up the crowd and the team.

"Crank That" is apt to have a shelf life no longer than "Achy Breaky Heart" or "The Macarena," although I have to say that I thought "Achy Breaky Heart" and "The Macarena" were crappy pieces of music from the moment I first heard them, so I doubt whether Soulja Boy ever will be, or ever will deserve to be, as reviled as Billy Ray Cyrus.

For the moment, though, we know that the song first was played in Sanford Stadium while the Bulldogs clung to a seven-point lead and the officials were reviewing a purported fumble. Although the call did not go Georgia's way, the momentum palpably shifted . . . and Georgia won by four touchdowns.

If judicious excisions of objectionable lyrics are warranted, it is easy enough to make them. That some listeners will know some dubious sentiments are expressed in the original words of the song appears not to be a consideration that has hampered our musical selections in the past.

Energizing the team and the crowd is a critical aspect of home field advantage and game day atmosphere, however. If the greater part of 92,746 fans and 85 scholarship athletes join in a common dance at a predetermined point in the game, the Bulldogs will be motivated, the visiting recruits will be impressed, and the spectators will have fun.

Add in a Georgia victory on top of that and you have yourself a win-win-win-win situation.

by T Kyle King on Oct 2, 2007 9:14 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

exactly
When warranted, there's no doubt in my mind that a few choice songs can be played over the PA to fire up the crowd. Obviously this song's popularity will wear out by the end of the season but you know what? Next season it will be a different set of songs and so on and so forth.

Besides, anything short of soft rock is better than those dumb ads (what is that advertising anyway? Jeep dealers? There's more that I am forgetting but students don't want to watch glorified "commercials". These stupid things make us bored and restless. I know the UGAA has to make money somehow but surely there are better ways than all those ads taking up time before the 4th quarter, after the first TV TO in the 4th, etc.)

Basically, I am for WHATEVER it takes to make Sanford Stadium the most most hated and feared place to play in the nation. If its a few songs a game over the PA, so be it. But as it is from my seats in section 310, we can BARELY hear the band except when they turn and play "Glory, Glory" in every direction to start the fourth. When I read an article like this, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=feldman_bruce&id=3044646 and don't see UGA on there even though we are the 6th largest stadium in the country but yet eight of those teams have smaller stadiums (all but tOSU and PSU). I know that article is an opinion and im not basing my argument on just that but i just want to do anything possible to make an already awesome gameday experience (tailgating, munson, battle hymn, more munson, ass kicking by Dawgs, munson worrying, and "Glory, Glory" until the Redcoats are blue in the face. Maybe "Crank that" haha.) that much better.

by loran smith on Oct 2, 2007 10:53 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Descriptive versus prescriptive
"Bad, bad, Leroy Brown" is a descriptive song in which the antagonist, Leroy Brown, becomes familiar with one of the Ten Commandments -- Do not covet another man's wife.  It's a universal princple, and a lesson well learned by young men everywhere.  

Likewise Baba O'Reilly is a descriptive song.  And while it may be misinterpreted by stoned teenagers Pete Townsend points out that the song is not about smoking pot, but about waste in general.  

On the other hand, the lyrics of "Crank That" are, at least in part, prescriptive. And the behaviors the song encourages are appalling.  In addition, "Crank That" is part of a widespread cultural glamorization of ghetto life and ghetto behavior that contributes to a cycle of poverty, violence, and moral turpitude.  

"Yo bit*h, get me some motha f'ing sweet tea" -- Bill (Not Baba) O'Reilly

by 34hawk on Oct 3, 2007 2:03 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

My two cents
I've been going to Georgia games for 40 years.  The 4th quarter four-finger "salute" when the Redcoats play Krypton (which hasn't been around that long) is the first and only thing that has even come close to bringing the entire home crowd into unified excitement and response.  I sit in the same place I've sat during those entire 40 years (except for the seven years I was in school), and even the normally staid crowd in Section 130 get into it.

Now, I do want more.  I want noise.  I want the crowd to be excited and loud.  I've always been a little jealous of how the Gators could take the ancient, corny "two bits" cheer and turn it into an ocean of screaming voices.

It wasn't too long ago that the whole "Bulldog Medley" thing with the crowd responses (spelling out Georgia, etc.) came into being.  I was a bit jealous of that, too, since we never did anything like it when I was in school.  I've seen and heard participation grow every year since it was started.

These are things to build on, not replace.  I think throwing in some current popular songs over the PA is fine.  But terminating Krypton?  The one thing that actually gets even the old farts on my side of the field into crowd activity as opposed to just sitting there (albeit with the occasional, shrill "HIT SOMEBODY" from the older gentlemen sitting a few rows back from me)?  No, I don't think that's wise.

Personally, I like "Crank That" (Soulja Boy's from Atlanta (well, born in Chicago, but grew up here)).  And I think they should play it on the PA a few more times this season.  I would venture to say, however, that not too many in the crowd between the 30 yard lines in the south stands share my appreciation.  They found the on-field dancing amusing and exciting, but it's not quite the right button to get them really fired up.  As Boomers age (I'm a Gen-Xer, thank you very much), we start hearing the Stones and the Who in Sanford.  The Redcoats play a little White Stripes.  Frankly, I can't believe they haven't put together a "Begin the Begin" or "Finest Worksong" fanfare for folks my age.

If you want to do something to create the hostile environment for visiting teams that our own team and school deserve, you need to make sure it's something that gets people going on both sides of the field for that true "surround" experience.  Pepper that with things that will appeal strongly to different groups so there's something for everybody.  But don't abandon the one thing that's worked since the Drought ended and the crowd stopped doing the "Wreck Tech" cheer after every home game all season long.  (And yes, kids, that was before my time.)

by NCT on Oct 2, 2007 11:42 PM EDT   0 recs

LSU-USC
So USC's "signature win" at this point is against Nebraska, and the Cornhuskers have been less than impressive which supposedly downgrades USC's road win at Lincoln.

LSU's signature win is over Virginia Tech, which apparently is deemed a better win. Why is that? VaTech barely beat East Carolina in their home opener, then got rolled by the Bayou Bengals before notching wins over the University of Ohio, Bill and Mary (they have a football team??), and pulling out the big 17-10 win over powerhouse North Carolina last weekend.

I'm just sayin'.

by Defender90 on Oct 4, 2007 2:55 AM EDT   0 recs

I don't believe I said . . .
. . . L.S.U.'s signature win was over Virginia Tech. If I had to declare a "signature win," I would credit the Bayou Bengals with beating South Carolina soundly. The Trojans have yet to face a team as solid as the Gamecocks.

The Hokies are not as strong as they have been in the past. However, Nebraska is a bad football team. We find that hard to believe, because we're used to the Cornhuskers being good, but the Big Red Machine is giving up yards in bunches to second-rate competition like Wake Forest and third-rate competition like Ball State and Iowa State.

Right now, the Fighting Tigers have beaten a better class of competition than the Trojans. That may change as U.S.C. gets to the meat of its schedule. No one is downgrading the Men of Troy unfairly, but, so far, they haven't given us much upon which to base a No. 1 ranking.

by T Kyle King on Oct 4, 2007 7:40 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation community devoted to the Georgia Bulldogs.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Small
What's the Deal?
Millers_crossing
Mayor, you may have lost your title
Millers_crossing
Which of these teams will reemerge as national contenders?
100_0141_small
Marcus Howard is loved in the pro's
Small
Georgia bar in LA???
36413436t_small
ASU Tix in Hand; You East Coasters Will Have them Today or Tomorrow
Uga_small
Sturdivant Injured?  NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Uk_game_small
New Brass Recording of "Red and Black March"
Millers_crossing
Bama QB
Small
NCAA '09

Post_icon New FanPost All FanPosts Carrot-mini


Managers

Beard_47_series_wins_and_42_points_in_2007_small T Kyle King

ad

Site Meter