Coming from a place like Notre Dame, where tradition drips off the walls of the football stadium, and operating in the shadow of Allen Fieldhouse, which he called “the Mecca of college basketball,” first-year Kansas University football coach Charlie Weis has his sights set on adding a little tradition to Saturdays.
With that in mind, Weis on Tuesday met with KU band director Matthew Smith to discuss the idea of creating a postgame ceremony in which Weis’ football players would walk to the student section on the east side of Memorial Stadium and sing the alma mater with their classmates while the band takes a spot on the field and faces the players and students.
“I know when you are 2-10 it is tougher for the students to buy in and show that same kind of loyalty and devotion to the football team,” Weis said. “I think we have to do something on the field to help that. I get it. But at the same time, if you don’t ever try to make that bond between the football team and the students and the band, then how is it ever going to happen? Just by accident?”
Weis continued: “It’s really tough to go up in front of your students after losing a football game to sing the alma mater. I have done it; it’s tough. It is also tough for the students to stay there until the end of the game to be a part of that. We are going to own up to our end of the bargain. We are going to be there. I am going to start Tweeting to death, to start working those students to make sure they are there, too.”
