The fact that you try to equate these two things ... I won't even respond
War Chant has been retired
The fact that you try to equate these two things ... I won't even respond
Yep. When your programs (on both sides of Kirby) have sucked for 10+ years, this is what you've got. Does Florida State worry about this kind of silliness (even without paying off the Seminole people)? No, because they're too busy looking forward to a top-three matchup with Alabama in a week.
KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
We get it, you don't like any current or past illinois traditions/don't care about them and just want to watch a winning team. That's fine for you, but a lot of us want both.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
This also means no drumlins leading the team out of the tunnel, which was an awesome way to come out on to the field.
I want to keep my old tradition, and I don't care that other people might be offended by it. Isn't that what we're talking about here?
It won't. No kid cares about this war chant.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
Thing that is most upsetting is that this is another situation in which the band will no longer be playing. We've substituted the giant speakers for the band. Great, now we get to listen to even more Katy Perry. Woopee.
I think, for me, what is sad about this whole situation comes down to two things:
1. While removing the historical symbols, songs, and tradition of the university there has been no creativity in finding replacement that are unique or that instill pride in the community (as many have pointed out). Find new songs (Sousa, Illinois state anthem, theme for the common man, something) that highlight our military service, come up with a new tradition of honoring veterans at each game, anything. Instead we get the generic big-screen, banal music, corporate ads experience that doesn’t make attending a game any more interesting than watching it at home.
2. The entire Chief situation has been so poorly handled by both sides it is infuriating. How about a compromise where the chief and its image can be used but only in a limited capacity where all funds raised by that image go to building the best native American/first nations academic department in the world. How about those funds are used to do outreach on Illinois natives history in surrounding elementary schools. How about we create a video montage talking about the history of native peoples and play that during games. We are a world class university with amazingly creative people. Why are we relegated to being indiscernible from Akron or FAU?
1. While removing the historical symbols, songs, and tradition of the university there has been no creativity in finding replacement that are unique or that instill pride in the community (as many have pointed out). Find new songs (Sousa, Illinois state anthem, theme for the common man, something) that highlight our military service, come up with a new tradition of honoring veterans at each game, anything. Instead we get the generic big-screen, banal music, corporate ads experience that doesn’t make attending a game any more interesting than watching it at home.
2. The entire Chief situation has been so poorly handled by both sides it is infuriating. How about a compromise where the chief and its image can be used but only in a limited capacity where all funds raised by that image go to building the best native American/first nations academic department in the world. How about those funds are used to do outreach on Illinois natives history in surrounding elementary schools. How about we create a video montage talking about the history of native peoples and play that during games. We are a world class university with amazingly creative people. Why are we relegated to being indiscernible from Akron or FAU?
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
Totally agree this decision is absolutely ridiculous.
KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
I don't think it's a direct negative effect. I think it is a downstream negative effect. Less traditions, less culture, less crowd intensity/interaction=less enjoyable experience during visits for recruits. IMO. Anyway, I've commented enough on this thread.
This has nothing to do with winning and losing or recruiting. Bottom line is the spineless U of I leaders have again bent to the well of a loud but very small minority all in the call for political correctness. The issue is political correctness and when the heck will it ever be enough. It won't ever be enough because the snowflakes have to justify their existence by finding a cause, which without they have nothing. I hate it that this decision was made just as I did the decision to shelve the Chief, but the bigger issue is really the fact political correctness is having a huge negative impact on society.
Keep the name "Fighting Illini" since it's a reference to veterans, keep Oskee Wow Wow (there's no Native American tie), and keep Hail to the Orange.
I don't care if we drop everything else, none of the rest gets people hype anyway.
It would be better to make a clean break than to keep dragging out the debate.
The folks decrying this decision due to political correctness seem just as fragile to me as the "snowflakes".
I don't care if we drop everything else, none of the rest gets people hype anyway.
It would be better to make a clean break than to keep dragging out the debate.
The folks decrying this decision due to political correctness seem just as fragile to me as the "snowflakes".
No need to buy tickets when you can just go around to the waste baskets of many donors this week to find tickets.
Stevegarbs
- Mokena, IL
Haven't read through the entire comment thread yet, but I am with you 100%. I simply do not understand the foaming-at-the-mouth, over-the-top reactions to these decisions. The University of Illinois is about thousands of other GREAT things than the Chief.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
I agree with all this. I'll love my school till the end. It's time to completely move on, win some games, and make new traditions.
I created a profile to say that I get what youre doing here. Keep up the good work.
Mike
C-U Townie
This school lacks foresight and vision. When others school zig...we should zag. If other universities want to act all politically correct and remove all items of historical vestige just because some people are offended, we should do the opposite! Lets load up on as many controversial statues, songs and dances we can find and lets flaunt the heck out of them! Thatll show those politically corrects pansies! Itll help recruiting as well.
BirdDog9048
The Chief Lives
- Chicago, IL
Yeah, but it's a lot harder to build athletic traditions around corn and supercomputers...
I'd like the hope the new athletic tradition would be winning teams.
THIS absolutely SUCKS!
I've been an Illini loving fan for more than 40 years. I have bled Orange and Blue, BUT the decisions the University is making makes me sick to my stomach and honestly is making me lose a bit of my loyalties. Seeing them succumb to the opinions of a few when the masses LOVE the Chief and everything associated with it, is incredibly frustrating. YES, you can't make EVERYONE happy, I get that, but naming a University after your heritage, and then honoring that heritage each and every day, IS NOT AN INSULT!!! It's the biggest compliment one could get!!!
This just boils my blood......
I've been an Illini loving fan for more than 40 years. I have bled Orange and Blue, BUT the decisions the University is making makes me sick to my stomach and honestly is making me lose a bit of my loyalties. Seeing them succumb to the opinions of a few when the masses LOVE the Chief and everything associated with it, is incredibly frustrating. YES, you can't make EVERYONE happy, I get that, but naming a University after your heritage, and then honoring that heritage each and every day, IS NOT AN INSULT!!! It's the biggest compliment one could get!!!
This just boils my blood......
GRAMMAR CHECK
Of course this PC move may lead to cancelation of donations from many, many, many Alumni , , , , of the Illini.
The Singular of 'Alumni' is "Alumnus" So, " . . . . . won't see a dime from this Alumnus".
Of course this PC move may lead to cancelation of donations from many, many, many Alumni , , , , of the Illini.
From the N-G link you provided: "Some anti-Chief activists deride it as a pseudo-Native American chant." So that will probably be the next target, since it surely offends somebody, somewhere. Fighting Illini can't stay, either. That's just as bad as "Warriors". "Hail to the Orange" is probably safe...no, wait, isn't Orange associated with the Protestant faction in Northern Ireland? The idea that these people are going to be content after getting their latest scalp (pun intended) is bonkers.
RedRocksIllini
- Morrison, CO
I think Medfield College tried this back in the late '60's, early '70's with mixed results.