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The Eagle listed today some headlines from Tulsa games past. Unfortunately, I couldn't link to the stories (to the extent they are on there) but even the headlines brought back great memories from Tulsa games in the mid-80s. One of those games involved one of my fondest Shocker memories.
This is my recollection of that game; my memories may be embellished by time and fondness...
As some of you know, former WSU President Warren Armstrong at one time banned the playing of the Low Brass Cheer, which at the time in 1987-88 was hugely popular at WSU games. I believe this came shortly after dropping football, another dark day. It was quite a topic of disagreement with the student body, which at the time camped out to get tickets and set up a loud and rowdy shop on game days immediately behind what is now the visitor's bench. (Reserved seats, too-it was awesome--anyway...)
But all was not lost. Late in the second half of the Tulsa game, the Golden Hurricane, our hated rival, it of polka dot ties, dirty players, and worse fans, was getting the best of our mighty Shocks. As the crowd settled into a quiet murmer during a timeout, unsure of how to help rally the troops, from the center section of the east side of Levitt Arena came a familiar but outlawed tune. About two thirds of the way up, a quiet, far from perfect, but perfectly recognizable refrain of the Low Brass Cheer sparked and ignited a surprised but ready-to-cheer crowd. It was knocked out with gusto by a renegade bunch of DUs (probably the only good thing they ever did!) who had somehow smuggled in their battered old brass instruments from high school band.
The crowd went wild. The Shocks rallied and won. Eventually, years later, probably during the doldrums of the Cohen or Thompson years, the cheer returned officially. By that time, not even the cheer could rally the program. But who knows? Maybe if it hadn't gone way....? Anyway, you will never catch me not cheering the Low Brass...when you've lost something precious, you hold it that much dearly...sob, sob.
Warren Armstrong went on to become a priest. He is now dead.
But the perpetrators of this amazing act of civil disobedience, who I believe were kicked out of the game, are, so far as I know, alive and well. In fact, at least two of them, ABC and Bloodgold, post on this forum.
That night, they did as cool a thing as a Shocker fan has ever done at a game. Not bad for a bunch of DUs.
Go Shocks! And as we said in the 80s, SNORT THE CANES!!!!
This is my recollection of that game; my memories may be embellished by time and fondness...
As some of you know, former WSU President Warren Armstrong at one time banned the playing of the Low Brass Cheer, which at the time in 1987-88 was hugely popular at WSU games. I believe this came shortly after dropping football, another dark day. It was quite a topic of disagreement with the student body, which at the time camped out to get tickets and set up a loud and rowdy shop on game days immediately behind what is now the visitor's bench. (Reserved seats, too-it was awesome--anyway...)
But all was not lost. Late in the second half of the Tulsa game, the Golden Hurricane, our hated rival, it of polka dot ties, dirty players, and worse fans, was getting the best of our mighty Shocks. As the crowd settled into a quiet murmer during a timeout, unsure of how to help rally the troops, from the center section of the east side of Levitt Arena came a familiar but outlawed tune. About two thirds of the way up, a quiet, far from perfect, but perfectly recognizable refrain of the Low Brass Cheer sparked and ignited a surprised but ready-to-cheer crowd. It was knocked out with gusto by a renegade bunch of DUs (probably the only good thing they ever did!) who had somehow smuggled in their battered old brass instruments from high school band.
The crowd went wild. The Shocks rallied and won. Eventually, years later, probably during the doldrums of the Cohen or Thompson years, the cheer returned officially. By that time, not even the cheer could rally the program. But who knows? Maybe if it hadn't gone way....? Anyway, you will never catch me not cheering the Low Brass...when you've lost something precious, you hold it that much dearly...sob, sob.
Warren Armstrong went on to become a priest. He is now dead.
But the perpetrators of this amazing act of civil disobedience, who I believe were kicked out of the game, are, so far as I know, alive and well. In fact, at least two of them, ABC and Bloodgold, post on this forum.
That night, they did as cool a thing as a Shocker fan has ever done at a game. Not bad for a bunch of DUs.
Go Shocks! And as we said in the 80s, SNORT THE CANES!!!!
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