The Golden Band from Tiger Land is debating the future of the traditional touchdown song that includes students chanting “you suck” after the Tigers score during football games.
The song came under scrutiny Saturday as students modified the traditional chant to include vulgar language, playing off South Carolina’s mascot, the gamecocks.
The band has discontinued playing songs in the past partly because of students’ profanity. The Daily Reveille reported in Sept. 2006 that “Tiger Rag” – which prompted the student section to repeatedly shout “assholes” – was removed from the pregame program partially because of the vulgar adaptation.
As the Tigers dominated South Carolina on the football field during Saturday’s game, some LSU students adapted a new version of the traditional touchdown song. Many students chanted “You suck cock.”
The change in the cheer caused the Tiger Band to stop playing the song when the team scored in the latter portion of the game, leaving the future of the touchdown song uncertain.
Linda Moorhouse, co-director of the LSU Tiger Marching band, said the band is still discussing whether they will continue to play the song at future games.
Herb Vincent, senior associate athletic director, said the chants were disrespectful.
“The band did what they needed to do to uphold the pride of LSU,” Vincent said. “The great thing about the Tiger Band is that they have a tradition, and they have routines. And it’s a shame that the only thing that interrupts that tradition is the actions taken by some of our students.”
Vincent said though the entire student body did not participate in the chants, the saying could still be heard throughout the stadium.
“The synchronized cheers they have are a great thing,” Vincent said. “We have the greatest students in the country, but what they did Saturday was an embarrassment. I thought it was one of the worst displays of sportsmanship I have ever seen in my life.”
Lindsay Hardiman, history freshman, started a Facebook.com group, “You Can’t Censor the LSU Student Section!” in response to the band not playing the touchdown song for the remainder of Saturday’s game. At press time, the group had nearly 800 members.
“We’re the student section, and that’s why everyone fears us,” Hardiman said. “We’re rude; and we’re crude; and we’re obnoxious. And we’re loud, and we’re going to make sure everyone knows our team is better than yours.”
Hardiman said some people may have mistaken the students’ intentions.
“I think [the modified chant] is only going to be for South Carolina,” Hardiman said. “If we did it for any other team it would be like we’re saying, ‘Hey, you suck cock.’ We were just saying, ‘Cocks, you suck.’ We were incorporating their name into our cheer.”
Jason Ledoux, computer engineering freshman, video taped the student section’s chants and uploaded the video to Youtube.com. It has been viewed nearly 2,000 times.
“I’m trying to show the world that the LSU student section is really into the game and really spirited,” Ledoux said. “The student section is supposed to be rowdy.”
Caroline Vanderpool, political science senior, said the chants were “vulgar” but she was not offended.
“I thought it was a small part of the [student] section trying to be funny,” Vanderpool said.
Kristine Calongne, director of public affairs, said she has not fielded any complaints because of Saturday’s chant. She said there is no way to gauge if any damage was done to LSU’s reputation from the chants.
“The national TV audience does hear that stuff, and it certainly is not the image we want out there,” Calongne said.
Moorhouse said the band upholds a standard of conduct dictated by the Southeastern Conference.
Vincent said he hopes the student section realizes the chants were over the line and will modify its game day cheers for the next home game Oct. 6 against Florida.
“The whole country is going to be watching that game and it’s a great chance for LSU to put its best foot forward, both on and off the field,” Vincent said.
Vincent said he hopes the band will continue to play the song and give the student section a second chance to behave appropriately.
“It should be played,” Vincent said. “And students should respond in the right way.”
—-Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected]