J-D Fans: It's Time for a Change!

Let's set the scene.

You are at a Jamesville-DeWitt Boy's basketball game. You are practically falling off the seat you are standing on because you are squished between so many students. Not only is the student section filled but also the parent's section behind the team's bench and the other two sections. The gym is packed with fans that have come to watch the two-time State Champion Red Rams play. Even people not from J-D or the opposing team have come to watch. The pep band is playing and everyone is hooting and hollering. This is the typical description of the J-DHS gymnasium whenever "our boys" take the court.

The one thing I've left out is exactly what the students are hooting and hollering. Sometimes the student section can be supportive by chanting such things as, "Defense!" or "Here We Go J-D, Here We Go!" Students also participate in the ritual of spirit fingers when a player is taking a foul shot to wish the player good luck. Then there are the chants that make the students look foolish. Such sayings like, "You Suck!" to the referees when students believe a bad call is made or "Air ball!" when a player from the opposing team misses the basket and backboard entirely. More often than not I hear these chants being used at an inappropriate time. The fans use these chants when they have no idea what actually happened very often.

Parents, fans, and student athletes would all agree that the student section at a J-D game can get a little out of hand when the game is close and the students get excited and start yelling. Athletes feed off the excitement and energy of their fans. We need to have more positive energy for "our boys" and decrease the amount of negative chants.

Students at J-D need to get more creative and more organized with their chants. Our boy's basketball program is ranked FIRST IN THE STATE! Everyone knows how well known the team is but what about the fans? With some new and unique chants our J-D fans can also become the talk of the town. Varsity basketball player Brandon Franklin adds, "The classic chants are good but a new one every once in a while would be nice."

Let's start something new this season. Now as much as I dislike CBA during the basketball season I would have to say that their student section is one of the best in town. For the basketball games students wear a fan t-shirt and their student section is known as the Purple Haze. They also have chant leaders, people who start the chants throughout the game. I'm sure we have all heard the "I believe, I believe that we can win" chant. Are we really going to let CBA be known for having the better student section?

It's going to take a student in the J-D student section to change things, maybe even a few students. We need to make a positive atmosphere during games so the players can feed off of it. For those of you who know the term 6th man, the fans are the 6th man at a J-D basketball game. We get the team going and get them excited about the game. Fans can have a major impact on the outcome of a basketball game. Next time you are at a game think of this article. Try to change things up and start a new chant. You will not only help out the boys but you will make the student section of Jamesville DeWitt High School look like the best student section across the state.