Cheer or Noise?

[nabwong]

The NFL has overtaken football (soccer) as my favorite game to watch because almost every play counts and there's so much strategy involved. It's almost exciting all the time, except when you're leading 45-0 at half time.

The only thing that the NFL fans could improve on I feel is how they cheer their team on. All they do is make noise, whereas football fans in England have an amazing playlist of songs/cheers etc.

How bout we start coming up with songs for the team/coaches/players? I've seen how when a player/team is not playing well, he/they can be lifted by the crowd singing their name/fight song.

 

[BelichickFan]

Songs don't work in football where offense and defense (you want it quiet on offense and a wall of sound on defense) are separated unlike soccer. They're different sports and what works for one shouldn't work for another.

 

[Boots Electric]

This is why I would rather watch football on TV then go to the games. Specifically because I feel the crowds aren't alive for most of the game. I'm not going to go on some argument and say "This is why college football is better" because it's not, but the crowds at those college football games are much better then in the NFL.

Why don't they cheer as much in the NFL? TV timeouts, Challenges, After kickoff commercials (which I see no need for), etc. If at home, you get in and out of the game with all those disruption, then imagine at the stadiums.

Best stadium cheers: When I went to see Paris Saint Germain against Lyon at Parc des Princes when I went to...well, Paris. Most exciting feeling I've had in a professional sports venue.

 

[Higgins86]

2 different sports....

I love going to american football games as they are exciting, over the top and there is always something going on.
I love soccer games because i love the chants, the hate, and the mocking.
Both are fun in diffrent ways.

 

[MikeyTrout]

There are chants and cheers but more so in college football.

The Chiefs have a bunch of stuff they do. "We're gonna beat the hell outta you. You. You. You you you!" The Broncos do that whole "In Com Plete" chant.

I agree with the poster above. When we are on offense you should be able to hear a lineman fart. When we're on defense the noise should make your body shake so intensely that you accidentally fart.

It's all about farts, really.

 

[shmessy]

Why don't they cheer as much in the NFL? TV timeouts, Challenges, After kickoff commercials (which I see no need for), etc. If at home, you get in and out of the game with all those disruption, then imagine at the stadiums.

C'mon folks, anyone who's actually been to an NFL game knows the real reason:

5 hour pre-game tailgating followed by 3 hour postgame tailgating. The game is merely something to do in between meals.

People are too busy digesting and making room for the second course to cheer.

Why else do you think construction of Gillette stadium focused so much attention on the bathrooms?

 

[lurker1965]

OK. Do you suggest "Feelings" for Vince Young?

"F*** Da Police" for Ray Lewis?

"I'm black and I'm proud," for Wes Welker.

 

[letekro]

This is why I would rather watch football on TV then go to the games. Specifically because I feel the crowds aren't alive for most of the game. I'm not going to go on some argument and say "This is why college football is better" because it's not, but the crowds at those college football games are much better then in the NFL.

Why don't they cheer as much in the NFL? TV timeouts, Challenges, After kickoff commercials (which I see no need for), etc. If at home, you get in and out of the game with all those disruption, then imagine at the stadiums.

Best stadium cheers: When I went to see Paris Saint Germain against Lyon at Parc des Princes when I went to...well, Paris. Most exciting feeling I've had in a professional sports venue.

Just taking your points one step further. I have no idea why people still go to NFL games. On the one hand, you have $100+ dollar tickets, traffic, a generally poor view of the field, public bathrooms, $10 beer, getting stuck in parking lots, etc. while on the other hand you have free, HD, perfect view, cheap food and beer, internet for between plays, etc. I just can't understand it. Big time college football, on the other hand, is quality fun live, although generally boring on TV.

 

[Nikolai]

I have fun going to games. Though different games seem to get the fans up more than others. Last year at the Pittsburgh game, I don't think anyone sat the whole game, but when the Ravens rolled in, I thought the crowd was pretty subdued until the 4th quarter.

The TV timeouts and such do detract more from the game than when at home because you're just left standing there with a beer in your hand looking around.

Chants and such would be pretty awesome to have, especially in a great sports area like New England.

The other part about going to a game that is nice for some of us is the escape from our normal environments which may have significantly fewer Pats fans to celebrate/commiserate with. I just moved to CT, but when I lived in VA, I was surrounded by suicidal Redskins fans, and blowhard Cowboy fans. It was always a nice change of pace to make the pilgrimage to Foxboro and hang out with some Pats fans.

 

[pats1]

Just being loud is the best cheer in the NFL - but only on third down when your team is on defense.

 

[PYPER]

I disagree that it couldn't work. I thought Jets fans did a great job with their "Brady sucks" chant in week two. It just takes a concerted effort from the fans. Instead of thinking that it "can't work" in the NFL, just try it. In the games I've attended, I've always been disappointed by the lack of crowd noise. I remember one game, The 2006 Colts game where I was yelling my butt off and all the people around me were sitting there quietly looking at me like I was crazy. It's true that the stadium isn't the most conducive place for noise but who cares, get up and scream and make some noise.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Why else do you think construction of Gillette stadium focused so much attention on the bathrooms?

You mean Bob Kraft was one of the people pissing on the floor in the old stadium?

 

[Kontradiction]

The NFL has overtaken football (soccer) as my favorite game to watch because almost every play counts and there's so much strategy involved. It's almost exciting all the time, except when you're leading 45-0 at half time.

The only thing that the NFL fans could improve on I feel is how they cheer their team on. All they do is make noise, whereas football fans in England have an amazing playlist of songs/cheers etc.

How bout we start coming up with songs for the team/coaches/players? I've seen how when a player/team is not playing well, he/they can be lifted by the crowd singing their name/fight song.

Gotta say that I like the rendition of The White Stripes "Seven Nation Army" chant that I hear for the commercials of soccer games. That's pretty cool. However, it won't work in American football for the plethora of reasons listed in here.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

Well, the Razor got louder once Brady went down last season. Football is so corporate. That's not to say soccer isn't, but there is a lot more of a corporate presence in the stands than in Europe.

There can always be a first fan base to do the sort of stuff the Europeans do. Fans aren't organized enough in America to do the sort of stuff they do, not just the chants but the enormous banners with player's portraits, etc.

Romanista here. If the pats fans did anything like the crazy mo fos in the Curva Sud (apart from stabbing opposing fans), it would make for a phenomenal atmosphere.

 

[Frezo]

"Fireman Ed"...the US equivalent of soccer fans.

 

[SeymourTrophies]

The difference, more than anything, is that there are hundreds of fireman eds in the stands every game in Europe.

 

[NumenorBlader]

I had a chant for Mike Vrabel that I would sing in my house when he was still with us... it went something like:

#Mikey-V,
Number Fifty,
Coming through to sack the QB!"

It can be done... just requires some creativity and fan organisation.

Whaddya say fans coming to Wembley? Defensive chants to make some NOISE!?

Let's hear 'em... we know you want to share.

Blader.

 

[Old England Patriot]

I'm actually amazed that the fans of both teams get to sit next to each other. That's pretty awesome.

 

[nabwong]

I've been to many soccer games, but not many football games. I understand that a lot of people go to games to tailgate. I'm one of those people that have stuff to do before and after games. So when I go to one, it's for the actual game.

For me, the big reason for going to a game is the camaraderie. It's not really about the game. I mean, it is, but if I just want to focus on the game, i'd watch it on HD at home, with my dvr. The point is, if I'm physically there, I'd want to help my team in any way I can. So, part of it is making noise on 3rd downs. Part of it is also trying to lift certain players or the team during scheduled breaks.

Imagine if the team was 5 touchdowns down at half-time and we could lift their (and our) spirits with a song. (For those who know, kinda like Liverpool being down 3-0 to AC Milan in Istanbul.

 

[Rossmci90]

They're different sports, different things work. I don't think away stands would work in American football.