(above) Will the Crimson Creatures be able to build off their opening night performance against Notre Dame?A change was in the air at Magness Arena on Saturday night against Notre Dame. For the first time in a long time, the DU Student Section had an "edge" to them that had been missing for a while. While we've still got a long way to go to match the University of Wisconsin student section, at last the gap is closing.
One longtime DU hockey fan who attended hundreds of DU games over the years told me, "This is the best opening night for a DU student section I've seen in 20 years."
Last Saturday the Crimson Creatures were loud, boisterous and ran through a repertoire of cheers. By the third period they were running on all cylinders.
We weren't the only ones who noticed. DU Student Reporter Arianna Ranahosseini wrote in her Clarion article entitled "DU Checks Notre Dame."
Despite a scoreless second period, the student section was roaring as the fans chanted, "Bring back Boone," following the pre-game pep rally held at Spanky's Bar & Grill.With 10 minutes to go in the game the students started chanting "Over-Rated". DU's TV commentators had this exchange.
Charlie Host: The fans have started chanting "over-rated." As an opposing team, you hate to hear that, particularly in the first game of the season.Longtime fan, Gene Lake, who has listened to DU games for years on the internet commented that the students were coming in loud and clear on the radio broadcast.
Jay Stickney: Notre Dame had huge expectations heading into the season.
Charlie Host: Yeah. Notre Dame came in with huge expectations and have been shown the door by DU.
Midway through the first period, DU had sold out the student allotment of tickets. We were told this had never happened before at Magness except during Homecoming and Colorado College games. The ticket sellers, didn't know what to do, and began charging students $30 for tickets. Luckily an alert Magness supervisor was summonded and was able to override the system and sold remaining tickets at the student rate.
After the game we spoke to a graduate student who had just attended her first ever hockey game. She was from California and had graduated from the University of Loyola-Marymount in Los Angeles. She said that she loved the game, couldn't believe all of the unified cheers and would definitely be there next week against Wisconsin.
10 comments:
They should rename the student section "Boonetown"
I LOVE that the student section has evolved into what it is now!! During my time at the school (2000 - 04) myself and my friends would be berated for standing up at anytime during the event because it wasn't really a hockey game then; it was shmoozing before the douches went to the Border later.
This was before the netting too, and we got to see many idiots get blindsided by pucks because they were either too busy talking about what slutty dress they were going to wear later or trying to get on the girl with the slutty dress before getting to the bar.
It was sorta starting to change come my senior year; but unless you were sitting along the glass generally you weren't encouraged to stand. I never sat there -- how can the goalie hear me yell evil things at him with a pane of glass in front of me???
Anyway ... enough rambling. Welcome to Boonetown!!
Now if only the pep band would get there. Like the old barn. Then we would have a real atmosphere.
The DU Pep Band will be playing selected hockey games this season for the first time in years. I heard last weekend that the band will be sitting closer to the student section near the "Crimson" sign. DU is listening and making adjustments to make things better.
Pep Band at Hockey Games
October 17 - Wisconsin
October 25 - Ohio State (HC)
October 31 - Colorado College
November 8 - Minnesota-Duluth
November 21 - Minnesota
November 29 - Air Force
January 2 - Holy Cross
January 30 - Alaska Anchorage
February 28 - St. Cloud
March 7 - Colorado College
March 13 - WCHA Playoffs
They did the pep band for a bit I think in '03 and '04 ... but they were pretty terrible. But also, the student section was terrible.
I think I was just mad because they were drowning out myself and the 4 other people who were yelling at the goalie and everyone wearing opposing colors during breaks. Its hard to say, parts of that memory is foggy with hops and barley.
Hopefully now that everyone in Boonetown cares about the game and the music school is much more established it will work out!
I think the Student Section is turning the corner in a big way. Hearing the DU fight song sun at full throat was a cool moment.
Now it's time to build on it.
TT,
You can take pride in knowing you and your classmates were "Pioneers."
There are people in the Athletic Department that have been working to improve the student section for almost 10 years.
It seems to be finally coming together. Ironic if the glue that brought it all together is Boone.
Welcome to Boonetown
Elevation: Mile High
Population: 800
I have a Welcome to Boonetown banner on its way.
Hopefully it will be here in time for this weeks games, if not, definatly next week for sure.
Chelsea,
Awesome. Make sure you send some pics of the sign with students.
Also email me the artwork to post on the blog. dggoddard@aol.com
It's about time the Student Section got back to glory. I have had my fair share of politically incorrect Goalie Riles during my tenure at DU. I hope the tradition continues and keeps our home record they way it should be.. Undefeated.
If i were in Denver I'd be right there with everybody. Because if you can still talk by 9:30pm Saturday night, you didn't try hard enough.
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