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Saturday, October 11, 2008

Coach’s plea to end chant ignored

By J-W Staff Reports

Kansas fans at KU's Memorial Stadium.

Photo by Nick Krug

Kansas fans at KU's Memorial Stadium.

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Mark Mangino asks students to stop explicit chant

Mark Mangino filmed this video about a chant said at KU football games that has drawn the ire of KU officials and some students. He sent it to students in an e-mail.

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KU officials urge students to drop chant

KU officials urged students to refrain from using a long-time student chant during football games because of its obscenity.

Kansas University students love their football coach, but that doesn't mean they listen to him any better than they listen to their parents.

In a Thursday video message distributed to students via e-mail, Mark Mangino asked students to stop an obscene chant during kickoffs. He thanked students for their support, urged them to "get loud, get really loud," and added, "But do us a favor. Let's cut out that kickoff chant. We're better than that. Let's think of something better."

The students followed the "loud" portion of the instructions in Saturday's 30-14 victory against Colorado University, but continued the "rip his (expletive) head off," chant taken from the 1998 Adam Sandler football movie "The Water Boy."

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Comments

dagger108 (anonymous) says...

It reminds me of the administrative whining from years past asking the students to not tear down the goal posts. They have the ability to take actions to stop the undesired student actions (in both cases), but instead say pretty please. Sad, sad leadership.

October 11, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

chase0557 (anonymous) says...

You just implied that every KU student doesn't listen to their parents. This is stupid, irresponsible journalism.

October 11, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rasta_meta (anonymous) says...

It is a stupid chant and it reminds me of Missouri fans. Try to have some class and maturity KU student section and set yourself apart from the Antlers.

October 11, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rasta_meta (anonymous) says...

I should add it shows a lack of intelligence if the only chat you can think of is taken from Water Boy!

October 11, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

prairie_rattler (anonymous) says...

I like it!

October 11, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ajs10 (anonymous) says...

It shows a lack of intelligence that you can't tell the difference between CHAT and CHANT.

October 11, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

The people have spoken. We are NOT better than that.Congratulations KU, we are officially in the same class as mizwho.

October 11, 2008 at 5:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

imnotpaulpierce (anonymous) says...

This is completely stupid and continues to be a non-issue. The only way this chant can offend someone is if that someone lets it offend them. Get over it.PLUS:1. It was not as loud as in games past.2. It was significantly quieter the 2nd and almost completely quiet the third time the Hawks kicked off.To suggest that the entire student section ignored Mangino's message is negligent and poor journalism. But most importantly. Get over it. It's not an issue.

October 11, 2008 at 5:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mike_blur (Mike Blur) says...

The unspoken issue is that it's unlikely ESPN will ever come back to Lawrence to televise a football game. Broadcasters are loath to knowingly air obscenities during a game. ESPN can ignore the "Muck Fizzou" shirts at AFH by not showing crowd members, but it's more difficult to drown out the stupid chant.I know KU kids are dumb and ignorant, but I didn't expect them to be Mizzou-type mouthbreathers. So sad.

October 11, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mushhawk (anonymous) says...

it's about time to take some of our fellow students behind the wood shed and teach them some class!

October 11, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Hawkish4bigM (anonymous) says...

This thing could cost the football program. How would you like to see a penalty against the home crowd at a pivotal moment causing the Hawks to lose? Stop the stupid chant. Time for a blanket party as we used to call it in the Army. Students, police your own before it costs this team, your team. It will also cost in television coverage, therefore affect revenue and recruiting. I cannot believe that KU students can be so stupid.

October 11, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

chuckberry32 (anonymous) says...

If we win they will come back regardless of obscene chants. Let it go. In a few years it will get old and they will do something else.

October 11, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

stravinsky (anonymous) says...

Wow, you guys overanalyze like mad.I don't think it'll affect ESPN's decision, and if they haven't flagged us for it in, oh, the last however many years, I don't think they're going to suddenly change that.

October 11, 2008 at 6 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lngtimhwk (anonymous) says...

Wow, I was at the game and the Boo's from Section 9 drowned out the chant in the first quarter. The prevailing thought of those around me was the students at this game would thumb their noses at "Establishment" and come up with a new chant at the next game!

October 11, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

joepattern (anonymous) says...

Were you in section 9 lngtimhwk? I was, myself.. and I heard it loud and clear! I think it's funny that there is so much discussion over it. I remember being in the student section when I first heard it.. then walked back over to the west side, and all the old people obviously had no idea what was going on at the other side of the stadium!

October 11, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

If the student section is determined to act like mizwho fans then get the rest of the stadium involved in a chant that will drown out the students.

October 11, 2008 at 6:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

grantmvb (anonymous) says...

This issue has already drawn national attention on PTI. Students: listen to the alumni and people who control this University. I know that immaturity still rules at this age, but your giving a bad name to every alum to step foot at kansas. i know you think it's cool to say f***, but that is not what it means to be a Jayhawk! Grow up!!!

October 11, 2008 at 8:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rohdek (Kyle Rohde) says...

dagger108, yes, this is similar to the goalpost thing but that was one where the school could have solved it easily: make an announcement at the end of the game: "we have cameras on the goalposts and the first student to touch them will be expelled from this University." Nobody would have touched them. But this chant is a lot harder to stop and with all this stupid coverage its getting, its only making it worse.

October 11, 2008 at 8:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

penguin (anonymous) says...

Seriously, has anyone actually listened to the Mangino video? I might be more convinced that he wanted students to stop the chant if it actually sounded like he cared. I think I have heard more conviction in someone trying to explain the directions on how to prepare mac and cheese. Also given his own YouTube video:it seems he is not really opposed to use of the word.In addition, the story on AP has a quote from Mortensen saying he attempts to do just what the students are screaming. Senior linebacker Joe Mortensen said the chant serves as motivation."When I try to hit people," Mortensen said, "that's what I try to do."http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/ne:I think that the chant might eventually die out, but constantly complaining about it will not do it. I actually heard quite a few more people put a little extra into it. I am guessing that if people keep making a huge stink about this:well then the students will do it just to defy the complainers. We have already sanitized the Border War :.I mean oops Border Showdown, but that has not stopped people from using the old name.The only real way it ends is if there is some sort of alternative chant. I do have to say that the chant post-safety "you let the whole team down" at the QB:.was pretty funny.Ultimately, this is college football. If you want rules and regulations go to a No Fun League game. I can guarantee you that hearing that word a few times a game pales in comparison to the number of times I heard it in the tailgating ares from some of these same so-called upstanding community elders and alums.Also on the PTI note...the commentators spent more time talking about the picture of Mangino next to the Orange Bowl mascot than they did seriously discussing this issue.

October 11, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bf21 (anonymous) says...

It's college....college students will be college students!!! IT's a great part of college football atmosphere!! Someone oughtta be happy there is so much excitement for KU football! It hasn't been too long ago that not many fans came to Memorial!!!!

October 11, 2008 at 9:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

DalTXJayhawk (anonymous) says...

It's now bigger than a gameday or campus issue. It has national attention. If you read the forums/blogs for some of the national sports sites, the KU fans are being degraded for this display. It needs to stop, not because of those who might be offended, but it is causing damage to our reputation. Takes a long time to build, but a short time to destroy. We are currently on a path to destroy something we have worked hard to establish. If a voluntary stoppage is not working, post ushers in the section and remove those that participate. (I know its hard to remove if it's 1000's) If a student were using that language in a classroom, it would be dealt with immediately. You are a student, who falls under the university code of ethics. Something can be legally permissible, but still does not make it publicly acceptable.

October 11, 2008 at 10:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

CD2010 (anonymous) says...

I've heard the word, and more offensive words, used in the classroom. By students, GTA's, lecturers and professors. I honestly don't understand why it's so important either way. As a student, I don't see that much actual tradition behind it. If the chant were to stop, it wouldn't bother me any. At the same time, I don't see why such a massive deal has been made of it. The majority of the attention it's receiving isn't because of the chant itself, but because of the university's attempts to stop it.

October 12, 2008 at 1:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

FlashyThundercat (anonymous) says...

I think the chant is barbaric and retarded and perfectly indicative of midwesterners who are oftentimes both.

October 12, 2008 at 2:45 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mike_blur (Mike Blur) says...

What will it take to stop the chant? A complaint to the FCC accusing ESPN of knowingly broadcasting the chant to a national audience?The FCC can act quickly and devastatingly. Remember the Super Bowl and Janet's wardrobe malfunction? Individual stations were fined over a half-million dollars each for broadcasting that event.ESPN, and the Jayhawk Network, for that matter, hold licenses to broadcast. Broadcasting a sporting event is a privilege for the rights-holder. The chant is now a matter of public record. If it hasn't happened already, any network that chooses to air the kickoff chant will probably run afoul of the FCC.

October 12, 2008 at 4:03 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

FlaHawk (anonymous) says...

KU students need to be more creative and inovating. They are way behind the Cameroon Crazies in basketball. Too much Midwest politiness mixed with crudeness. Not a great combination. Let's step it up on the creative end!Go Hawks!

October 12, 2008 at 5:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mojayhawk (anonymous) says...

Cheerleading squad: This should be a challenge for YOU to come up with an aggressive sounding, yet "non redneck" chant for kickoffs! We are better than this. It's not like we invented the word!

October 12, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

OPJayhawk (anonymous) says...

I don't think this writer was at the game.

October 12, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkblock (anonymous) says...

This chant will die out at the end of the season, because it was totally weak on the last kickoff.

October 12, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

Station a bunch of security guards on the side of the student section and just start yanking people out of the stands. Yeah, you won't get everybody but the point will be made.

October 12, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says...

leikness...that's a terrible idea.

October 12, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hometownhawk (anonymous) says...

yes, horrible idea leikness. The fact is, a small portion of the students who are idiots yelled it louder than ever because it drew more attention to them, and that's what they're seeking. However, most students didn't yell it, and it will gradually fade as people quit giving the satisfaction to those who continue to do it. I do think the headline is misleading here.

October 12, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawk_bred20 (anonymous) says...

honestly, I thought it was a little quieter this game than in games past except for the very first kick-off that KU had. I'm confident that by the end of the season, it will just be done in pockets and by next year, will not be an issue anymore. It's one of those things that some students will keep doing but they will be looked at as kind of a d-bag (for lack of a better term) It will turn into a fad that dies out.....Let's all just chill out a little and focus on football.

October 12, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

It's already been beaten into the ground, but I guess some people just enjoy being angry, yet not offering alternatives. Perhaps their high horse just feels that good to them.I could care less if we use the chant, but I do feel that we need a good kickoff chant. Given a choice between using the current chant, and being silent, I would hope the students would continue to scream at the top of their lungs. There's certainly nobody else in the stadium making any noise, so I guess the students get to choose what that noise is going to be until the apathetic fans throughout the rest of the stadium get off their lazy butts.It's still really stupid to ask students to stop a chant, while at the same time not offering an alternative chant that the entire crowd would participate in.I don't care about the chant, but I have yet to hear a really good suggestion for a replacement. Just yelling "Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU" isn't going to have the same kind of effect. It has to be something with a certain level of viciousness to fit the situation, yet nothing too offensive.Anyone. . . Anyone. . .Crickets.That's what I thought.

October 12, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kugrampy (anonymous) says...

Complete and total embarrassment. As a KU grad from WAY back I have to say I am in shock with this chant, it is something I would expect from the Antlers, not KU.FYI, I would hate to even fathom what would happen to students using the F word in public like that in my KU days, the student section would have handled it without the need for a public appeal to stop from a coach or admin.

October 12, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

WeAreTheChamps (anonymous) says...

I watched the game on TV and heard the chant loud and clear on the first kick off. I had no idea that some of the crowd boo'd them so obviously it didn't drown them out. But like it was said before, the kickoffs afterwards were A LOT quieter and I didn't hear any hint of the chant being said by the end of the game. So to everyone who is saying we're unclassy and blah blah blah, calm down. Lord forbid we didn't listen to a video that was so obviously scripted for one kickoff. We've gotten away with it for how many years now? I don't think one more time hurt anyone.I have a suggestion..."Rip his 'effing' head off!" Haha. Kidding.

October 12, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tdub (anonymous) says...

If the officials throw one flag for unsportsmanlike conduct on the crowd, the chant will stop. Plain and simple.

October 12, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Heb84 (anonymous) says...

I just think the whole chant is ignorant and makes our institution sounds like a bunch of morons. When your coach is asking you to stop as well as national media, it might be time to listen. We are the joke of college football. We are trying to build a football program so why build it on this. KU has always been huge in tradition, why would we want to include this as part of it. Grow up.

October 12, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rasta_meta (anonymous) says...

I couldn't agree with you more Heb84. My concern is that is will affect recruiting in a negative manner. It will be very polarizing. Some recruits will think it is cool, but some will be offended. It could be a difference in some situations if a recruit finds it offensive. For this reason alone, KU students should stop.Also, I often see on chat boards and hear from KU fans about how immature and offensive fans of other Universities are, especially the Antlers. Now, KU fans can be put in that category as well. I say this because I work for an NFL team and I asked some of the players what they thought of the chant and what they would have thought when being recruited. To a man, they all said the chant was stupid. However, some of did say there was a chance they might have thought it was cool when they were 18. Most of them said that their mother probably would not have allowed them to go a school that does this.BTW, before some jerk-off says something about in being Sunday and why am I not working...it is our bye week.

October 12, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says...

rasta_meta....what team do you work for? Could it be the idle Chiefs?and as far as "Most of them said that their mother probably would not have allowed them to go a school that does this." Come on, seriously? Let's think about how this conversation would go down. "Mom, I want to go to KU." "Well son, I heard their crowd say the F-word, so even though they're offering you a full scholarship and you won't have to pay a penny, I'm not going to let you go there." It's not as if that recruit could decide to go to Texas or USC or LSU instead of Kansas....our recruits aren't exactly at that level. All I'm saying is, I don't care what your NFL players say, a mom isn't going to keep her kid from going to a certain school because she heard the F word. That's ridiculous to even say.

October 12, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rasta_meta (anonymous) says...

I did not go into detail, but most of these guys are from Texas and have very religious mothers. Their mothers would talk to them about schools that had reputations for lacking class and either they wouldn't take a visit, or they would consider them less because their mother is the most important person in their life. A few of these guys didn't have any real fathers. It is legit, their mothers want their sons to go to a good school with a good reputation, good education, good tradition, and good character. Seriously, just "think" about it. I know my mother would have frowned upon me going to KU if they were doing this stuff when I went there. When I was 18, my mother and my family had a big part in helping pick the right school for me.How often do you hear of top programs in the country doing this crap? Does Michigan do it? Does Notre Dame to it? Does Ohio St do it? Does Texas do it? Does Oklahoma do ti? Does USC do it? Do any of the SEC schools do it? KU does it, what does that mean? Well, in the mind of "some" people it puts us as a second class football school and that type of reputation affects recruiting. I am sure most of the people on this list have never been to a game at Michigan, Ohio St., Notre Dame, or USC....but I have and they are able to have an incredible atmosphere without an immature chant like the one KU students use. KU students should strive to be the best football fans like they are the best basketball fans.Do we do these kind of chants at basketball games? Then why do them at football games, have the same type of class no matter what the sport. I

October 12, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says...

ok ok..... in my opinion, and the opinion of most every other student at the game, is that it's just not a big deal. we're a bunch of immature kids who just don't understand. i do have a question though....what if we just chanted. Rip his head off! Is it the fact that we are calling for someone to be decapitated, or the fact that there's an F-bomb in there? Because I think a lot of people in opposition to the chant just don't like the expletive. But if i WERE to be against it, I'd be against the whole thing.

October 12, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuae99 (anonymous) says...

Much ado... Go to a game with a scramble formation band that thinks they're smarter than everyone else (Rice, Stanford come to mind), this stupid chant is PG compared to what those bands do when running past their opponent's crowd.

October 12, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUGreenMachine (anonymous) says...

why is no one talking about how much better KU has become after this chant began? what are the stats on our kick off coverage after this chant started? i'd like to say that we've gotten better. mainly it's the students that do it, and they are positioned behind the visitors. it's a great intimidation chant. you know the players have to get motivated to knock the offense to the ground. football is all about getting hit, and praises those who hit hard. do those that oppose this chant feel that someone could get their fn head ripped off, and as a result this chant could be the reason as to why the player would have wanted to rip the opposing players head off in the first place??? i'm going to go ahead and assume that no player's head on either side is going to get ripped off...but i could be wrong. i feel that this chant is one of the many reasons that KU football has succeeded within the past few years, and is what keeps fans and revenue coming into this program. it gives our players a certain toughness, it intimidates the opposition, and it brings our crowd together which helps us win ball games at home! now, if you are upset about the word f****n, then you might want to try this next time you go to the game....chant:"rip his fn head off" see, this way you don't have to say the word, but you'll fit right in. rock chalk jayhawk.

October 12, 2008 at 9:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says...

right on GreenMachine

October 12, 2008 at 11:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kstrebor (anonymous) says...

Here is my idea for the new chant..."Please tackle the guy with the ball before he runs 40 yards up our a$$!"read...http://www2.kusports.com/news/2008/oct/12/specialteams_shakeup_coming/

October 13, 2008 at 12:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

gutter (anonymous) says...

The chant sucks and those who chant it suck even worse. A chant made by bunch of fools who don"t give a hoot that they are embarassing themselves and the university. Yes folks, that's how a KU educated kid chooses to represent him/her self and his and her university. You have been asked to stop it by your head coach. You are now disrespecting him as well. Sure makes me proud to be a Jayhawk.

October 13, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jpstrayer (anonymous) says...

What is wrong with just making noise by screaming, yelling, or whatever? Why is a chant even necessary?When I was a student, AFH was know for noise because of the crowd stomping on the floors, yelling and shaking the building.

October 13, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

GreenMachine, you give yourself way too much credit.

October 13, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawk909603 (anonymous) says...

kstrebor - hilarious.I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. God help us with the group.

October 13, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

Since the student section thinks they are adults and can do what they want, then do away with the student section. Make them pay full price like every other adult fan. Don't give them a block of seats; put them on the same priority list as the rest of the ticket holders. The university will make more money from higher ticket sales and what students who do pay full price will be dispersed throughout the stadium.

October 13, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

WeAreTheChamps (anonymous) says...

oh for the love of pete that is the stupidest thing i have ever heard. something is obviously going to change. hell it already changed at the last game when the chant wasn't even heard for the last couple of kickoffs. this is turning into a WAY bigger deal than it is in reality. and the thing about recruits not coming because we say the "f-word" is also one of the stupidest things i have ever heard. like the kids getting recruited have never said the word in their life. i think the people against the chant are now grasping at anything they can to get rid of it because the point has already been made multiple times on why it should be stopped. i honestly don't care what happens to the chant, but please stop with the ridiculous comments about what will happen if the chant doesn't stop. it just makes you look, well, ridiculous.

October 13, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

It's all very simple, Champs. Start acting like an adult and you won't be treated like a little kid.

October 13, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

WeAreTheChamps (anonymous) says...

I wasn't at the Colorado game so I wasn't one of the ones ignoring the request. You're acting like a little kid accusing me of something I didn't do.

October 13, 2008 at 11:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

Read it again. "You" in the general sense, not "you - Champs" in particular. And it is a big deal when it's being discussed on national TV and radio broadcasts.

October 14, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

WeAreTheChamps (anonymous) says...

Ok so if this is a big deal then why aren't all the other schools who chant "bullsh*t" during the games getting in trouble? I don't see how one curse word is better than another curse word.

October 14, 2008 at 5 p.m. ( | suggest removal )