Always AttacK?

[ASUMountaineer]

Amen on the all sizzle and no steak. The best thing about our "gameday experience" has nothing to do with the actual game. Tailgate is awesome as always, except I'm seeing more empty spaces in the stadium lot these days. The pre-game buildup is good - players warming up, band pre-game show, national anthem, etc. What I can't stand is the obnoxious player intros and the loud rap music blaring in the stadium throughout the game. We do not have a college football atmosphere any more. It's turned in to a rap concert. If the players want it they can play the rap while they're on the field for warm ups but it needs to stop after opening kickoff. Of course all of this pales in comparison to getting our arses handed to us on the field. Sad times at The Rock.....

There are a lot of people, myself included, that like many types of music including rap. But, with that said, I would prefer that the only piped-in music is when they play some Alabama, and other than that it's the actual musicians in the stadium--the Band of Distinction. I don't know if you agree as it sounds like you don't care if they pipe-in music, you just don't like rap.

Completely agree....

My biggest contention is that my two (almost three) year old is hearing those rap lyrics. I'm already having to explain the language in the stands... why do I have to explain an officially sanctioned song being blasted over the speakers?

Gameday is getting less and less kid-friendly.

I haven't had to experience that yet, and to be honest I tend to tune out the lyrics/music because it's just "white noise" to me when focused on the game. But, to little ones, it's the easiest thing to focus on. I'm not sure what's pushed the piped-in music prevalence, but here's to hoping it's changed. Maybe sending an email to DJ, CC, and SS would be helpful.

As for the language in the stands...perhaps you need to have a "crucial conversation" with our favorite "Preacher's Wife" behind you about his colorful language.

[vegattk]

Amen on the all sizzle and no steak. The best thing about our "gameday experience" has nothing to do with the actual game. Tailgate is awesome as always, except I'm seeing more empty spaces in the stadium lot these days. The pre-game buildup is good - players warming up, band pre-game show, national anthem, etc. What I can't stand is the obnoxious player intros and the loud rap music blaring in the stadium throughout the game. We do not have a college football atmosphere any more. It's turned in to a rap concert. If the players want it they can play the rap while they're on the field for warm ups but it needs to stop after opening kickoff. Of course all of this pales in comparison to getting our arses handed to us on the field. Sad times at The Rock.....

There are a lot of people, myself included, that like many types of music including rap. But, with that said, I would prefer that the only piped-in music is when they play some Alabama, and other than that it's the actual musicians in the stadium--the Band of Distinction. I don't know if you agree as it sounds like you don't care if they pipe-in music, you just don't like rap.

Completely agree....

My biggest contention is that my two (almost three) year old is hearing those rap lyrics. I'm already having to explain the language in the stands... why do I have to explain an officially sanctioned song being blasted over the speakers?

Gameday is getting less and less kid-friendly.

I haven't had to experience that yet, and to be honest I tend to tune out the lyrics/music because it's just "white noise" to me when focused on the game. But, to little ones, it's the easiest thing to focus on. I'm not sure what's pushed the piped-in music prevalence, but here's to hoping it's changed. Maybe sending an email to DJ, CC, and SS would be helpful.

As for the language in the stands...perhaps you need to have a "crucial conversation" with our favorite "Preacher's Wife" behind you about his colorful language.

Actually he's gotten A LOT better! P

[YesAppCan]

App just needs to get rid of the slogans like "Always Attack" and "No Equal" and while they're at it ditch the "special edition uniforms" (the Always Attack in place of names was moronic considering App is 1-3). Get back to basics. You can get rid of the stupid player intros while you're at it too.

This.

We seem to have become all sizzle and no steak. Get rid of all the stupid slogans, all the cheesy intro videos, all the stupid piped in music, and get back to teaching guys how to play football and how to win.

BOTH of you have hit the nail on the head. Few things about AppState Football seem to be about football anymore...

You mean like the super plush locker room/clubhouse... Put 'em back in Owens til the winning starts.

[tjpappy]

Amen on the all sizzle and no steak. The best thing about our "gameday experience" has nothing to do with the actual game. Tailgate is awesome as always, except I'm seeing more empty spaces in the stadium lot these days. The pre-game buildup is good - players warming up, band pre-game show, national anthem, etc. What I can't stand is the obnoxious player intros and the loud rap music blaring in the stadium throughout the game. We do not have a college football atmosphere any more. It's turned in to a rap concert. If the players want it they can play the rap while they're on the field for warm ups but it needs to stop after opening kickoff. Of course all of this pales in comparison to getting our arses handed to us on the field. Sad times at The Rock.....

Rap music? Don't know every song they play, but I don't remember hearing much rap music in the first 2 games and not anything too risque. They do play a lot of dance music (line dances) like the Cha-Cha Slide, the Cupid Shuffle, or the Wobble. Certainly not country music but nothing I would call rap. I agree it would be nice to just feature the band.

Well, anyway, the music seems to be the least of our worries. Last year they were really fond of playing the song with the lyric "All I do is win, win". Unfortunately, I have not heard that a home game this year!!

[Mtneer]

I too am a music lover but I do not like rap. There is no place for the vulgar lyrics under any circumstances - particularly in a stadium filled with hundreds of kids. But my biggest beef is I'd rather not hear ANY music played after kickoff. It is distracting and takes away from the game. Pre-game is fine (no vulgar rap) but during the game I want to feel like I'm at a college football game, not a concert, and all I want to hear is the band playing, the cheerleaders cheering and the fans yelling. For the past year or so I feel like I've made a wrong turn somewhere on my way to The Rock, ended up at an outdoor concert and then a football game breaks out. Sorry, but I'm old school.

[scatman77]

I too am a music lover but I do not like rap. There is no place for the vulgar lyrics under any circumstances - particularly in a stadium filled with hundreds of kids. But my biggest beef is I'd rather not hear ANY music played after kickoff. It is distracting and takes away from the game. Pre-game is fine (no vulgar rap) but during the game I want to feel like I'm at a college football game, not a concert, and all I want to hear is the band playing, the cheerleaders cheering and the fans yelling. For the past year or so I feel like I've made a wrong turn somewhere on my way to The Rock, ended up at an outdoor concert and then a football game breaks out. Sorry, but I'm old school.

Go old school: DJ, Juice, and Randy over the PA with the pre-game show broadcast. The BOD entrance, pre-game show, splitting apart to present the colors of the United States of America, the anthem, alma mater, Yikas, and then TNKA. I personally do not like the piped in music either. The BOD is good enough for me; our band and football are all we need!

[MAD Doctor]

Have to agree. I'm all for keeping it fun for everyone- students, alums, families, kids, .... but constant piped in rap, with questionable, if not offensive lyrics is just not necessary. I liked Sugar Hill's Apache back in the early 80's, but it is growing a little tiresome, and should go the way of the wave. The chest beating, "look at me" player intros are just embarrassing when you are 1-3 and have been a pushover at home recently. Apparently, no one has been intimidated. The bottom line is that just because you have the technology to be able to do certain things doesn't mean you should do them. I realize it's 2013, but a football game should be about the football game, cheerleaders, and the band. I'm sure that other venues are available for what we are being subjected to. From a marketing viewpoint, the students are going to continue to come (and leave early) anyway. It's the alums, fans, and families that are traveling up the mountain and paying $$$ that should be considered. When THEY say, "I really don't need all of this" you have a big problem.

[ASUMountaineer]

I too am a music lover but I do not like rap. There is no place for the vulgar lyrics under any circumstances - particularly in a stadium filled with hundreds of kids. But my biggest beef is I'd rather not hear ANY music played after kickoff. It is distracting and takes away from the game. Pre-game is fine (no vulgar rap) but during the game I want to feel like I'm at a college football game, not a concert, and all I want to hear is the band playing, the cheerleaders cheering and the fans yelling. For the past year or so I feel like I've made a wrong turn somewhere on my way to The Rock, ended up at an outdoor concert and then a football game breaks out. Sorry, but I'm old school.

Most of us don't disagree with you, but getting upset because you don't like a particular type of music seems petty. As I said in an earlier post, I'm all for letting the actual musicians in the stadium play, but if they want to play some Alabama, I'm good with that.

[ASUMountaineer]

Have to agree. I'm all for keeping it fun for everyone- students, alums, families, kids, .... but constant piped in rap, with questionable, if not offensive lyrics is just not necessary. I liked Sugar Hill's Apache back in the early 80's, but it is growing a little tiresome, and should go the way of the wave. The chest beating, "look at me" player intros are just embarrassing when you are 1-3 and have been a pushover at home recently. Apparently, no one has been intimidated. The bottom line is that just because you have the technology to be able to do certain things doesn't mean you should do them. I realize it's 2013, but a football game should be about the football game, cheerleaders, and the band. I'm sure that other venues are available for what we are being subjected to. From a marketing viewpoint, the students are going to continue to come (and leave early) anyway. It's the alums, fans, and families that are traveling up the mountain and paying $$$ that should be considered. When THEY say, "I really don't need all of this" you have a big problem.

Has anyone said this? Are season ticket sales down (I don't know, serious question)? Have any offended or turned-off alums bothered to actually voice their opinion outside of the MMB? I haven't, but it's not that big of a deal to me...yet. Club KBS hasn't gotten me to that point yet.

[asutrnr81]

... From a marketing viewpoint, the students are going to continue to come (and leave early) anyway. It's the alums, fans, and families that are traveling up the mountain and paying $$$ that should be considered. When THEY say, "I really don't need all of this" you have a big problem.

I think the comment about the students leaving is a little off base.

...and from my perspective....I am paying TWO student's tution....and traveling....but I should not have any more of a say than anyone else!

I do not like the rap crap.....but then I have arranged not to get to my seat until about 10-12 minutes before the game starts....= no rap crap!

[APPRIDE]

You mean like the super plush locker room/clubhouse... Put 'em back in Owens til the winning starts.

Yes, I have posted about the athletics building before...It definitely changed things. Too much chest pounding about our "facilities"! Whoop de Doo...In Owens the team was a team, the coaches were right there in the mix, not up in their own world...In Owens the team was in tight quarters, fostered a team mentality and team units were not separated out as much from each other...

I remember a player commenting on this when the new building became ready...said Owens fostered a "blue collar" approach where the team really became a team.

[AppAttack]

Maybe we could flood the inbox of Cobb or whomever to get the rap stopped, lessened or turned down.

[Sad4App]

Interesting discussion about the music at KB. It appears that the students really like it though. Guess the point I'm trying to make is that these are "their years" at Appalachian. If that's what they want as their game day experience let them enjoy it. Overall prefernces in life change for each generation, it's a fact of life. Since the football team gives the students nothing to dance about, maybe the music does. Let them have fun.

[appfury]

Add me to the chorus about not liking our game day atmosphere anymore. I am having a harder and harder time tuning out all the piped in music. I personally am against all types of Piped in music EXCEPT the third down bells...Our band numbers are way down and I would have to wonder if the university cares more about their fancy sound system than hearing their own marching band. Whoever is shepherding the game day experience needs to go back to basics as other posters have noted. I'll be honest, it is making me begin to question my yearly commitment to all home games and a few away games. Honestly, I used to laugh at schools like the Citadel and others in our conference because they had to try and "generate game day atmosphere" with loud obnoxious music...we have now followed suit. Disappointing, Very Disappointing Indeed!

[T-Dog]

Here you go. Doug Justice. Associate AD, in charge of Game Operations. justicedj@appstate.edu

If you seriously want change, send an e-mail. I just sent mine.

[ASU1234]

Yeah the gameday experience is terrible. I mean can you believe they only covered 3/4 of my nachos with cheese....or my friends pizza only had 2 pepperonis instead of 3. Ridiculous....I demand a change because I send money and pay for tickets.

Guys get over it....they play music at every football game....they did at Montana, LSU, Florida....and I know those from personal experience .

Please note sarcasm in everything I posted...if we were winning would anyone really be posting about this stuff?....NO

[JCline0429]

Add me to the chorus about not liking our game day atmosphere anymore. I am having a harder and harder time tuning out all the piped in music. I personally am against all types of Piped in music EXCEPT the third down bells...Our band numbers are way down and I would have to wonder if the university cares more about their fancy sound system than hearing their own marching band. Whoever is shepherding the game day experience needs to go back to basics as other posters have noted. I'll be honest, it is making me begin to question my yearly commitment to all home games and a few away games. Honestly, I used to laugh at schools like the Citadel and others in our conference because they had to try and "generate game day atmosphere" with loud obnoxious music...we have now followed suit. Disappointing, Very Disappointing Indeed!

The rap crap has gotta go. I sat under the speakers at a Panthers game when they were blaring that stuff. That was my last game there.

[ASU-FTW]

If we were winning would anyone really be posting about this stuff?....NO

This. When it rains it pours in every fans' mind

[Yosef84]

We (the App Nation collectively) really do seem to be looking for things to whine about now. We don't like the slogan, but we also complain about marketing and needing more money. Whether you love the slogan or not, it's a marketing tool and I definitely think it's a HUGE improvement over "No Equal" which we held onto for way too long. "Always Attack" is about a style / commitment. It isn't an absolute road map to our game plan. RELAX, FOLKS! We have 8 games left! I've already seen a reflection of this mentality in plays called. A couple of times, it has bitten us (pick 7 against A&T....Going for it on 4th & short against CSU....throwing on 4th). If those plays had worked, everyone would be cheering for the aggressive play calling. The results WILL come!

Regarding the Rap music...it's not my thing, but I don't mind it. I just wish they would be more selective in screening the songs/lyrics. We DO advertise a family environment, so playing songs featuring the F word, it just a bad decision. As I've said before, I don't like them playing "Black Betty" either. It's not a rap song, but a song about a black prostitute isn't really appropriate IMOP.

Just make better decisions and I'm find with the atmosphere. I do think the anthem should remain completely traditional though. Some things shouldn't be toyed with, and that's not about game day experience. It's about respect for the flag. I don't think we necessarily crossed that line, but let's not even flirt with the line.

[bcoach]

App just needs to get rid of the slogans like "Always Attack" and "No Equal" and while they're at it ditch the "special edition uniforms" (the Always Attack in place of names was moronic considering App is 1-3). Get back to basics. You can get rid of the stupid player intros while you're at it too.

This.

We seem to have become all sizzle and no steak. Get rid of all the stupid slogans, all the cheesy intro videos, all the stupid piped in music, and get back to teaching guys how to play football and how to win.

BOTH of you have hit the nail on the head. Few things about AppState Football seem to be about football anymore...

You mean like the super plush locker room/clubhouse... Put 'em back in Owens til the winning starts.

We spend too much time on things like football. we need to work on important things like what kind of uniforms we want to wear next.