Despite our woes on the field yesterday, I'm still stoked that the season is finally here. But sitting in the stadium yesterday, I just got the feeling I'm not real pumped about where we're headed in general. The new scoreboard is an awesome piece of work. The replays are in your face and they do a ton of fan-cam stuff to keep the crowd into it. It's also a monstrosity. Changed the entire look of JHS. Not in a good way IMO. I thought it was unnecessary from the start and what I thought I'd feel about it when I saw it for the first time, was exactly what I felt. The board and what it does is spectacular. There's no denying that. It also fucked up one of my favorite places on earth.
Agreed, agreed. And in my other thread, I mention that it's not even serviceable for about 15,000 fans sitting near the damn thing.
Aesthetically, it's both horrendous and beautiful. For the "loveliest village," it's an eyesore. If this were JerryWorld or some New York City metrosexual bar, it'd be perfect.
And another thing while I'm telling you young whippersnappers to get the hell off my lawn. It takes away from the game day experience. How could this masterpiece do such a thing, pray tell? It's helping move this tradition rich sport more towards an NFL game experience. Went to a pro game last year. No bands so they pump in music and the announcer hollers and screams between every freaking play. Guess what? While there's no idiot, DJ announcer screaming at you, they blare that damn hippity hoppity music at you right up until each and every snap. There were several times yesterday when it was still going while the play had started and numerous times the band was playing but you couldn't hear them for the thump coming from the scoreboard. Played over our own band.
I noticed this too. EVERY play featured some kind of music from the soundboard. I bet the band kids hate it. Now that I think about it, I don't remember hearing Livin' on a Prayer, Word Up, or anything else. If it wasn't pump up music, it was some stupid ad or even that ridiculous "Pop Up Video!" game from a 90s show on VH1.
And the ultimate get off my lawn observation? How many times before the play, was this boom-chicka-thump-boom-bippity-boom shit playing...and the JSU QB was head bobbing...so our guys start head bobbing and soldier boying and nae-nae'ing and twerking and wobbling? Looked like a tribal dance off before every play. Take that any way you want. But when it's late in the 4th and the game is on the line and your linebacker and D-lineman are dancing to Kanye....Not a fan of the board and not a fan of the way this game and game day experience are changing.
A few years ago, I would have just laughed this off as you being an old man. But after 2012, I HATE to see players - white or black - acting like dancing fools before and after plays. A few minutes left in a big game and we're up by 21+? Ok, sure. Start celebrating.
I went to the Texas A&M game in 2012 and in the 1st half when the Aggies were up 35-0, I watched our players on the sideline dance and bob and party to some song being played on the board. I knew then that Chizik was probably going to need to be fired because he had lost the team. The players weren't disciplined at all.
I don't know if Malzahn has lost the team or if he's letting the discipline get a bit loose. But pumping that kind of music on an oversized jumbotron with oversized speakers isn't helping with keeping our players' heads in the game.
I think the worst moment was at the end of the 4th quarter when we had to get a 3 and out or we lose. Luckily they hit fourth down and shanked the punt. But right before that? Jeff Holland and the Jax State QB were pretty much having a dance off.
Maybe Malzahn thinks that kind of emotional pump-up works, but I think Chizik thought it would work too. It didn't and it won't and there's a reason why perennial powerhouses like Alabama don't allow that bullshit.
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