Not sure if this is the correct place for this, but I have to get it off my chest. I hate the sequence when the team takes the field. Big time programs have big time intros, and ours is anemic. There is really nothing to get the fans going and excited, because the whole thing takes too long. I love "Thunderstruck," and I think it would be great if the team ran out during the heavy portion of that. Instead, that plays for almost the entire song, with the team standing in the smoking tunnel, then some rap thing starts up, and they come running out. It's disjointed, and long enough that the fans lose interest in even clapping along. For an absolute clinic on getting the fans fired up and ready to scream, witness Virginia Tech's "Enter Sandman" intro:
I'm not saying Illinois should copy this, but it's a pretty great template.
Next, who's idea was it to have a young lady trying to lead the ILL-INI chant over the PA? The volume is so loud that all I can hear is her yelling "ILL-INI," and nothing of the crowd. We all know what to do, and we don't need anyone leading that cheer. The cheerleaders do a perfectly fine job of holding up signs at the appropriate time for each side to do its part. Please take the microphone away from her.
Third, we don't really seem to have any in-game traditions. I was at Purdue a couple of weeks ago, and it seemed like their band was much more active during the breaks, in terms of getting onto the field and keeping the crowd entertained. I love the Marching Illini, and they do a great job during the game. It would be fun to see even small groups of them out on the field a few times a game doing something different than playing the William Tell Overture. Nebraska just started a new tradition for night games at the end of the third quarter and leading into the fourth. Set to the dulcet tones of "Thunderstruck."
Even in a boring game, like most of Nebraska's have been, this gets the fans fired up and re-engaged.
I like the team walk through Grange Grove, especially when the band is there to greet them. But please, Bret, tell your guys to take the headphones off of their ears and engage with the crowd.
Hopefully, there's something in the works for Homecoming that will get the fans out of their seats. I'd love to see some creativity out of the marketing folks. Judging by the videos and other productions that are shown on the scoreboard during the games, there's a lot of talent there that could be unleashed.
OK. I'm finished. Thanks for reading. I feel better.
