Post-Game Fight Songs

by **cheiliger** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 4:36 pm

I'd like to raise a point here - after the GT/UGA game, which was hard fought by both sides, and a close game until the end, the UGA fight song was played over the PA system during the handshake of the two teams.

I'm sure that this was not planned by the UGA squad, but that the song was played by someone up in the booth.

I'd like to say that this demonstrates either extremely poor judgement, incredible ignorance, and/or horrible sportsmanship. (again, not by the UGA team themselves)

Granted, I'm a biased observer, but had Tech pulled out the win, It would still have bothered me, especially considering the song was being played during the handshake. That time, right after the game, is when you're supposed to look your competitor in the eye, and acknowledge the effort they put forth, regardless of the outcome. To have the winner's song being played in the background was a slap in the face to a Tech team that had just finished a hard fought game.

Congratulations to Virginia Tech on a great win. I really hope that FSU's seniors did not have to hear VT's fight song when they lined up after just having played their game.

**Sponsor**

by **AlumniLax** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 4:43 pm

im sorry but it happens. get over it. its not meant to be a slap in the face, but it happens. when auburn won its first and second selc champ., they had sweet home alabama playing. also, after every game, win or loss, auburn does it fight song in the middle of the field and no one has ever had a problem with it.

stuff happens. deal.

by **Danny Hogan** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 4:44 pm

think of it as the other team earning the right to play their song with their victory.

by **cheiliger** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 4:56 pm

Then do it after the lineup, when the other team has the ability to walk away. To do it during the handshake is unacceptable. A-Lax - you said it yourself - Auburn used to do it themselves - so it couldn't have been during that handshake.

...and should we really take Auburn as the paragon of sportsmanship anyway?

We're getting off track though - as I said before, I doubt that this was done by UGA - but rather by someone up in the PA booth.

by **KerrLax** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 5:16 pm

So you have a problem with them playing a country's national anthem during the medal ceremonies at the Olmypics while the other 2 people have to stand there? Its about the same thing. To the victor go the spoils. This isnt Little League, they shouldn't worry about a song hurting someone's feelings.

by **cheiliger** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 5:29 pm

No, I don't - however, the argument's irrelevant though - the point is that it's lacrosse tradition that the handshake be done as a show of sportsmanship, without any "partisan" revelry.

By extension, would it be appropriate for a team to be singing their fight song to their opponents while shaking hands?

And it's not about "hurting anyone's feelings." It's about showing class.

by **AlumniLax** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 5:40 pm

cheiliger wrote:

...and should we really take Auburn as the paragon of sportsmanship anyway?

no need to be pissy.... just saying from experience thats all.

during the army navy game this year, navy had the blue and gold played during their hand shakes. tell me those two programs aren't steeped in politeness and tradition. secondly, after that game, the losing school sings the opposing schools song.

sounds like you are just quite bitter.

by **cheiliger** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 6:03 pm

actually, the fight song of the victor, as is the custom in any game between academies, begins just after the two head coaches shake hands, which would be right at the end of the lineup.

If it began before, I'd imagine Coach Meade would have chewed some heads on the naval band...

And with regards to singing the song, it doesn't relate to our discussion insofar as it's done after the lineup. It's also a tradition that both schools are aware of, as a cost of losing, or the reward of winning, and as such wouldn't be considered unsportsmanlike.

But again, we're getting drawn off-topic, as this wasn't UGA doing the playing, but likely someone in the booth.

by **WyoPoke** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:37 pm

It happens at the ends of college football and basketball games all the time. It's part of college sports and it's not likely to change.

by **AlumniLax** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 10:52 pm

cheiliger wrote:
But again, we're getting drawn off-topic, as this wasn't UGA doing the playing, but likely someone in the booth.

dude, it must be a GRAND UGA CONSPIRACY. come on man. it happened. get over it.

by **Laxbum** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 11:13 pm

I was there and I honestly was so caught up in the victory that I don't remember what song was playing on the PA system when we won. I assure you that the UGA team had nothing to do with the press box and I think this whole arguement is taking away from a very well and hard fought game by both teams. It was a great game by 2 rival teams and I'm sorry if your upset about what took place post game. Both teams shook hands with the upmost respect for eachother and that was the end of it.

Adam Weinstein
Co-Captain
Georgia Lacrosse

by **GTlaxCaptain21** on Sun Apr 24, 2005 11:20 pm

AlumniLax wrote:
cheiliger wrote:
But again, we're getting drawn off-topic, as this wasn't UGA doing the playing, but likely someone in the booth.

dude, it must be a GRAND UGA CONSPIRACY. come on man. it happened. get over it.

Being a member of the team that actually played on the field, I felt it to be a big showing of disrespect, but an apology was given to us by the UGA coaches as they had no part in it. It is not customary at the end of any game to have a fight song played over a neutral site, ever. When it is at home during a regualr season then maybe, but not at the championships. It was in poor taste by a UGA parent who was a guest in the PA box. Having fans at the game and chanting is one thing and is very much appreciated by players on the field, but the PA box, refs, and scorers tables are things on the field that should remain neutral to both teams. It was the last game for many including myself, we played out hearts out and deserved to be treated with respect.

by **bmagyar** on Mon Apr 25, 2005 10:35 am

I was the announcer and played the music all weekend. It was a mistake playing the UGA fight song either before, during or after the handshake or at anytime as the tournament was played at a neutral site.

There was no malice intended to the Georgia Tech program, players, coaches or fans, many of which I have known for a long time and consider friends.

Both teams did play very hard and deserve the respect due them.

I apologized over the PA immediately after I was made aware of the error and I apologize again to the Georgia Tech program.

Please do not let this incident tarnish what was otherwise a great weekend for the SELC.

by **GeorgiaLacrosse** on Mon Apr 25, 2005 10:58 am

I can't believe that this is actualy a big deal. If Tech had won the game and their fight song was played I wouldn't care that the fight song was playing i'd just be pissed we lost. I'm not gonna cry over someone playing a song while we're shaking hands... who cares. Did the fact that the song was being played really make the loss any worse for tech players? Unless you're extremely sensitive then it shouldn't.

by **GTlaxCaptain21** on Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:25 pm

GeorgiaLacrosse wrote:I can't believe that this is actualy a big deal. If Tech had won the game and their fight song was played I wouldn't care that the fight song was playing i'd just be pissed we lost. I'm not gonna cry over someone playing a song while we're shaking hands... who cares. Did the fact that the song was being played really make the loss any worse for tech players? Unless you're extremely sensitive then it shouldn't.

Its not a matter of sensitivity, its a matter of respect for a competitors program and the fact that you do not see that is slighhtly alarming. It was a great game and a great weekend for the SELC regardless of this small mishap.