Iowa blogger Travelogue

[srru86]

Go Iowa Awesome
IOWA AT RUTGERS: A TRAVELOGUE
Some interesting take aways (including comments):
Generally surprised at the friendly welcome.
Liked this visit much more than their trip to Maryland
Some actually complimented the RAC-Stadium shuttle

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

I know that some people here have direct contact with the Rutgers AD, they should forward these to them.

It is always nice to hear about to good things. I guess TV shows and ESPIN really gave us a bad rep for no good reason, so as more fans come here they can see the truth for themselves.

Great job everyone!

 

[G- RUnit]

Nicely done. He also notes the Iowa students are slow to arrive game time.

 

[phs73rc77gsm83]

Like the blog, I had an Iowa fan ask me what the cannon had to do with the Scarlet Knights. I explained our founding in 1766 and background in the American Revolution and suggested they walk around Old Queens if they had time. He still didn't get it but I don't get why he didn't get it--not every tradition has to center around your team name (Hawkeyes? BUckeyes? Etc). Anyway, they seemed generally a good and friendly fan base, although I know someone who ran across some less amicable Iowa fans.

 

[rurichdog]

I'm glad our 1st down cheer annoys so many visiting fans.

 

[rurichdog]

Like the blog, I had an Iowa fan ask me what the cannon had to do with the Scarlet Knights. I explained our founding in 1766 and background in the American Revolution and suggested they walk around Old Queens if they had time. He still didn't get it but I don't get why he didn't get it--not every tradition has to center around your team name (Hawkeyes? BUckeyes? Etc). Anyway, they seemed generally a good and friendly fan base, although I know someone who ran across some less amicable Iowa fans.

If we brought back the "Revolutionary for 250 Years" in-stadium commercial with the cannon & Kirkpatrick Chapel, the visitors would "get it".

 

[Knight Shift]

Like the blog, I had an Iowa fan ask me what the cannon had to do with the Scarlet Knights. I explained our founding in 1766 and background in the American Revolution and suggested they walk around Old Queens if they had time. He still didn't get it but I don't get why he didn't get it--not every tradition has to center around your team name (Hawkeyes? BUckeyes? Etc). Anyway, they seemed generally a good and friendly fan base, although I know someone who ran across some less amicable Iowa fans.

Thank goodness we ditched the horse video because that would have made it more confusing. :confused:

 

[RUJohnny99]

I couldn't agree more with this line from the comments:
Their series of "Legendary Moments" murals around the stadium was tragicomical, including a Pinstripe Bowl victory over Iowa State, which they displayed on the scoreboard, to cheers from the Iowa fans in my section. But this one took the cake:

 

[CERU00]

They're right about the first down cheer and the air guitar crap. We need to ditch both.

 

[RUinOhio]

like the first down thing, air guitar is dumb, and it keeps the students quiet while they do it. it's kinda like when they hand out towels and people wave them instead of yelling

They're right about the first down cheer and the air guitar crap. We need to ditch both.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

I couldn't agree more with this line from the comments:
Their series of "Legendary Moments" murals around the stadium was tragicomical, including a Pinstripe Bowl victory over Iowa State, which they displayed on the scoreboard, to cheers from the Iowa fans in my section. But this one took the cake:

I am guessing that you do not know the backstory to that game?

Remember this was 1985 when we still played in a 20,000 seat stadium, had no conference and a Patriot League level budget. It was a brought game by the then ranked Gators, in Florida, which was nearly impossible to win at .

Rutgers 28, Florida 28 (Sept. 14, 1985): Florida was serving a two-year NCAA probation but was still considered among the handful of best teams in the country and riding a 10-game winning streak when quarterback Joe Gagliardi came off Rutgers' bench to lead a 21-point comeback in Gainesville, Fla. The Tulane transfer led fourth-quarter touchdown drives of 65 and 86 yards and connected on passes for a touchdown and a two-point conversion with 35 seconds remaining. Rutgers recovered the kickoff after tying the score but lost a fumble at Florida's 26-yard line.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/stor...footballs-top-games-pre-big-ten-era/11760365/

 

[BRKnightsFan]

I'm on board with dumping the first down cheer. It gets really annoying (even for Rutgers fans) after the second time, largely due to the nasal voice of the announcer.

I'd also dump the third down guitar windmill. How far back does that tradition go? IMHO, it's just stupid.

Love the cannon! Rutgers should keep it and be proud of its colonial history.

 

[RUJohnny99]

I am guessing that you do not know the backstory to that game?

Remember this was 1985 when we still played in a 20,000 seat stadium, had no conference and a Patriot League level budget. It was a brought game by the then ranked Gators, in Florida, which was nearly impossible to win at .

Rutgers 28, Florida 28 (Sept. 14, 1985): Florida was serving a two-year NCAA probation but was still considered among the handful of best teams in the country and riding a 10-game winning streak when quarterback Joe Gagliardi came off Rutgers' bench to lead a 21-point comeback in Gainesville, Fla. The Tulane transfer led fourth-quarter touchdown drives of 65 and 86 yards and connected on passes for a touchdown and a two-point conversion with 35 seconds remaining. Rutgers recovered the kickoff after tying the score but lost a fumble at Florida's 26-yard line.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/stor...footballs-top-games-pre-big-ten-era/11760365/

Uh huh.

And the reason this moral victory needs a 10'x20' wall of the stadium to celebrate is?

Did the 2002 Miami moral victory get a wall too? How about all the WVU losses?

 

[Leonard23]

I couldn't agree more with this line from the comments:
Their series of "Legendary Moments" murals around the stadium was tragicomical, including a Pinstripe Bowl victory over Iowa State, which they displayed on the scoreboard, to cheers from the Iowa fans in my section. But this one took the cake:

I guess even our own fans are blind to or forget about our history that we were basically a Patriot League team/budget until the 2000s. WTF would you prefer, plain red walls or 300 pics of the UL 2006 win? It would be nice to have more legendary moments to put up but we don't for now.

They're right about the first down cheer and the air guitar crap. We need to ditch both.

like the first down thing, air guitar is dumb, and it keeps the students quiet while they do it. it's kinda like when they hand out towels and people wave them instead of yelling

I'm on board with dumping the first down cheer. It gets really annoying (even for Rutgers fans) after the second time, largely due to the nasal voice of the announcer.

I'd also dump the third down guitar windmill. How far back does that tradition go? IMHO, it's just stupid.

Love the cannon! Rutgers should keep it and be proud of its colonial history.

Never get rid of the 1st down cheer. Many in the stadium do it & it improves the game day atmosphere & experience. Also, don't the students (& other fans) still yell when they do the air guitar so what's the problem?

 

[RU205]

Do any RU fans write something like this when they go on road trips?

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

The Cannon is one of our oldest traditions. We were firing a cannon after scores for a really long time, it pre-dates the current cannon. Originally we played a trophy game for the Little Brass Cannon, which actually worked, and Rutgers started using it to fire after scores. But, Rutgers only used it for the seasons where we won it. At some point we got a permitted one.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

The 3rd down bit is something that got started by the band. I am not sure if that is staying after the Band leader leaves this season.

The 1st down bit is fun and annoys visiting fans, which is a good thing.

Iowa has their famous Pink Visiting locker rooms.

Troll the away team is a Big Ten tradition :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

 

[MrsScrew]

Do any RU fans write something like this when they go on road trips?

@PatrickRU92 always writes an extra long post here on the board when he travels to other venues, usually while he is sitting in the airport waiting to fly back to Cali. Does that count?

 

[mildone]

This comment from the travelogue fits right in here:

"I thought it was a pretty nice stadium. Easy to traverse the concourse, nice design overall. Oddly, the sink:urinal ratio in the bathrooms was like 3:1."

[roll]

 

[198hamilton]

Speaking of urinals. Bring back the trough! Now that was a tradition worth keeping. Freaked me out freshman year.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

Speaking of urinals. Bring back the trough! Now that was a tradition worth keeping. Freaked me out freshman year.

Oh hell no...

 

[Randal_Graves]

Do any RU fans write something like this when they go on road trips?

http://www.onthebanks.com/2016/9/7/12827870/behind-enemy-lines-a-scarlet-knight-s-weekend-in-seattle

 

[jmc11201]

Nice to see that Rutgers fans made a positive impression on the visitors. That is the way it should be!

 

[rubaseball78]

I actually don't disagree with his comments on the first down announcement.

 

[suggakane]

I'm glad our 1st down cheer annoys so many visiting fans.

It also annoys me... It really doesn't work when you're losing and really sounds stupid when you're down 20 or more.

 

[198hamilton]

Hate to say it but I don't think the first down thing will be an issue in our next home game.

 

[srru86]

As I fan I was embarrassed by the fellow in Seattle that made a point of doing the first down call in the visitors section of Husky Stadium. Not sure how much was ironic, or what, but not a good look when you consider the score or outcome.

 

[CornerTavern]

Like the blog, I had an Iowa fan ask me what the cannon had to do with the Scarlet Knights. I explained our founding in 1766 and background in the American Revolution and suggested they walk around Old Queens if they had time. He still didn't get it but I don't get why he didn't get it--not every tradition has to center around your team name (Hawkeyes? BUckeyes? Etc). Anyway, they seemed generally a good and friendly fan base, although I know someone who ran across some less amicable Iowa fans.

Well did you point out that Alexander Hamilton and his cannonade fired on the British from atop old queens, covering Washingtons crossing of the river after the battle of Princeton.

If we had gone with "the Cannoneers" or "Minutemen" as our mascot, it'd be less confusing.

The fact that we were also once "Queens College" maybe also helps?

 

[RUChoppin]

Also, don't the students (& other fans) still yell when they do the air guitar so what's the problem?

Some might. I sit in 229 looking down over the student section, and from what I see, most don't. They do a chant... but there isn't any yelling while they're they're waving their three fingers in an arc through the air. The young alumni in my section don't usually yell during that part either.... as soon as the arm waving nonsense stops, they start yelling.

Makes no damn sense.

 

[ChasRC69]

It also annoys me... It really doesn't work when you're losing and really sounds stupid when you're down 20 or more.

I like the first down thing. The first time I hear it each game, I know we're in the second quarter. The only thing I really hated was the train whistle. Bring back Li'l Jovi!!

 

[HailHailToMichigan]

I think my favorite part is he's so hooked on Rutgers with their Big Ten flags that he even asks people to send in pictures of such a phenomenon from other stadiums.

I've never been to another B1G stadium but yeah, I don't recall ever seeing a B1G flag from anyone tailgating or even in/near the stadium for that matter. I think the only place you'd find the Big Ten logo in Michigan Stadium is on each 25yd line.

 

[SHUSource]

It also annoys me... It really doesn't work when you're losing and really sounds stupid when you're down 20 or more.

I was the PA guy for a D-III team for seven or eight years, and did something very similar to Joe Nolan's first-down thing (I think before he did), and you're right. The team was often not good, and while it's fun when you're rolling, you can feel like a real jerk when you're down big. But you have to be consistent. You can vary your intensity a little bit, but only so much.

 

[srru86]

he's so hooked on Rutgers with their Big Ten flags that he even asks people to send in pictures of such a phenomenon from other stadiums.

What, you got a problem with that? :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

 

[bac2therac]

good lord, we have people saying to ditch the air guitar when its gets the most participation by the crowd and its an identifiable tradition for 10 years..only RU fans could be this clueless

 

[phs73rc77gsm83]

Well did you point out that Alexander Hamilton and his cannonade fired on the British from atop old queens, covering Washingtons crossing of the river after the battle of Princeton.

If we had gone with "the Cannoneers" or "Minutemen" as our mascot, it'd be less confusing.

The fact that we were also once "Queens College" maybe also helps?

Yes, I told him if he goes up to Kirkpatrick and the surrounding buildings he will the the plaques stating just that.

 

[RUScrew85]

Uh huh.

And the reason this moral victory needs a 10'x20' wall of the stadium to celebrate is?

Did the 2002 Miami moral victory get a wall too? How about all the WVU losses?

Well I guess it's better than a red cinder block blank wall. Once you decide to decorate you need to put something up.

 

[Arizona Knight]

good lord, we have people saying to ditch the air guitar when its gets the most participation by the crowd and its an identifiable tradition for 10 years..only RU fans could be this clueless

Indeed.

 

[RUChoppin]

good lord, we have people saying to ditch the air guitar when its gets the most participation by the crowd and its an identifiable tradition for 10 years..only RU fans could be this clueless

If someone could get them to yell "while" they're doing it, great. I've got no problem with the air guitar move on its own... it's just that it essentially quiets the loudest segment of the audience and replaces it with guitar sounds for 20-30 seconds every time we have a 3rd or 4th down.

Will try to get a picture of a few thousand kids standing up with their mouths sewn shut on 3rd down

And the PA State chant is dumb when we're not playing them, too, fwiw.

 

[APKnight]

I like the first down cheer and the air guitars in the student section.

 

[jmg75]

I'm not sure what people don't get about the cannon. A Revolutionary War battle involving cannon fire was fought on what is now our campus. It

Well did you point out that Alexander Hamilton and his cannonade fired on the British from atop old queens, covering Washingtons crossing of the river after the battle of Princeton.

If we had gone with "the Cannoneers" or "Minutemen" as our mascot, it'd be less confusing.

The fact that we were also once "Queens College" maybe also helps?

I'm still not sure though why the guy didn't understand the cannon. Its Revolutionary War connection makes it a big part of American History and something we are proud of. To my knowledge, Rutgers, Princeton and Columbia are the only three colleges that hosted a Revolutionary War battle on campus. (Source, please correct me if I am wrong). So it is a big deal to us, but perhaps less so the people from the midwest.