🏈 Alabama Football: Is It Time To Stop Yellow Hammer Cheer and Show More Class?

[Duder]

I think it is a moot point as to whether it should or shouldn't stop--the way things are going in college football it will eventually be called off by the university. I'm not saying I think they should or shouldn't do that but with the myriad of changes recently to seem more PC, I think it is an inevitable course.

That being said, I remember when I was younger going to games with my dad when they would play it before the game. Especially with the size of the stadium and the passion of the fan base being what it is now, I think it would be better in all aspects (both from a not "rubbing someone's face in it" as the Texas fans accused you of doing and from a psychological impact on the other team) and would be less likely to raise the ire of opposing fans, media, etc.

From where I stand on the Auburn side of the fence, it is a "tradition" (I don't say that mockingly) I've become indifferent to. I have a soft spot in my heart for it because I remember my dad cheering along when I was younger. When I take my mom or wife to a game, we (usually) hang around long enough for them to hear it. My wife had never been to a game before last year so she demanded that we stay long enough for her to hear it in person. I can certainly see the argument that it is poor sportsmanship but many schools have cheers that are off-putting in one way or another. I just don't see the point of complaining about something that you are powerless to change. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if they didn't cheer it after the game but I don't think it should be banned altogether. I think it may appease the masses if it were just played before the game so it doesn't appear you are kicking a team, or fanbase, when they're down.

Just my two cents.

 

[bamascw]

Tradition...tradition...tradition......

That being said, I cringe a bit when we use it after a close win.

 

[Big_Fan]

I am going to state my opinion and do so bluntly. No point arguing because I will not change my opinion.

I have said it before. I think it is classless and wreaks of trailer trash. The tradition argument doesn't hold water because it isn't that old - it is a post-Bryant "tradition." Everyone should know the history...we hired Ole Miss' band director (James Ferguson) in 1971 and he started the cheer shortly before he left the University in 1983 - it is a modified version of their Hotty-Toddy cheer. It is a cheer that is intentionally taunting and uses language some find offensive. There is nothing classy about it and no argument can be made to counter that...I mean seriously, how can it be classy to tell someone you just beat the hell out of them? It really seems like it should have "nyah nyah nah nah nyah-nyah!" in the middle of it. To be honest it should sicken any Bama fan to say we have a tradition that copies Ole Miss and if it is offensive and we truly want to be a "classy" fan base, it should be done away with.

That said, if it is to be used, I am not totally against it being used in the Iron Bowl. Trailer trash cheer when beating Auburn is fitting.

If it is not banned it should at least be relegated to conference games only.

that is my opinion.

Any argument to keep it tends to say "we have a classy fan base, now excuse me while I taunt you and rub it in that we beat you with language many people find offensive."

Finally...

Regardless of what you think of RJ cheer, it will be irrelevant soon. I have no doubt in my mind that the NCAA Will ban it within another year or two. It will happen no matter what you want or think should happen.

 

[BamaCore]

I am going to state my opinion and do so bluntly. No point arguing because I will not change my opinion.

I have said it before. I think it is classless and wreaks of trailer trash. The tradition argument doesn't hold water because it isn't that old - it is a post-Bryant "tradition." Everyone should know the history...we hired Ole Miss' band director (James Ferguson) in 1971 and he started the cheer shortly before he left the University in 1983 - it is a modified version of their Hotty-Toddy cheer. It is a cheer that is intentionally taunting and uses language some find offensive. There is nothing classy about it and no argument can be made to counter that...I mean seriously, how can it be classy to tell someone you just beat the hell out of them? It really seems like it should have "nyah nyah nah nah nyah-nyah!" in the middle of it. To be honest it should sicken any Bama fan to say we have a tradition that copies Ole Miss and if it is offensive and we truly want to be a "classy" fan base, it should be done away with.

That said, if it is to be used, I am not totally against it being used in the Iron Bowl. Trailer trash cheer when beating Auburn is fitting.

If it is not banned it should at least be relegated to conference games only.

that is my opinion.

Any argument to keep it tends to say "we have a classy fan base, now excuse me while I taunt you and rub it in that we beat you with language many people find offensive."

Finally...

Regardless of what you think of RJ cheer, it will be irrelevant soon. I have no doubt in my mind that the NCAA Will ban it within another year or two. It will happen no matter what you want or think should happen.

I can agree that you can't argue that it is classy, but reeking of trailer trash? Give me a break. I rib my friends all the time when I don't really mean anything by it. Am I suddenly classless white trash? Methinks you, and many others, are overreacting to a harmless cheer. I know saying that isn't going to change your opinion, but I had to give my spin on it regardless.

 

[Bamsambo]

It' a frickin' FOOTBALL GAME, not a funeral. This PC crap just sucks.

 

[Duder]

I can agree that you can't argue that it is classy, but reeking of trailer trash? Give me a break. I rib my friends all the time when I don't really mean anything by it. Am I suddenly classless white trash? Methinks you, and many others, are overreacting to a harmless cheer. I know saying that isn't going to change your opinion, but I had to give my spin on it regardless.

I think the difference is that you rib your friends, not thousands of total strangers. I wouldn't call it trailer trash (in spite of the dig at the Auburn fanbase used in his diatribe) but I do see how it could be offensive. I'm sure you would take just as much offense as those that have complained about the RJ cheer if someone were to run up to you and shout about your team getting the hell beat out of them on the way back to the car after a loss; the only difference is this is an organized cheer with thousands of people participating. That being said, people will rib, innocently or otherwise, regardless.

For the record I don't think most Bama fans participate in the cheer to be spiteful or to add insult to injury, most participate because it is an expected part of game days in Tuscaloosa. I still think it would carry more weight and be less likely to be banned if it were added back to the pre-game festivities and removed from the post-game stuff.

 

[joeman546]

I say that because I have heard people complain about it. We are cussing at our opponents. I have heard some yelling the cheer change hell to heck. I thought it was a location. In that case shouldnt Auburn be a swear word?

I am for this change:

Hey, _______! Hey, _______! Hey, ________!

We just beat the FEAR OF GOD into you!

Rammer Jammer, Yellow Hammer, give em PAIN Alabama!

/solved

 

[Argo]

I am somewhere between Bo and Big Fan. It shouldn't be played against teams such as SJSU or Georgia State, because quite frankly, it's embarrassing. One the of Coach Bryant's quotes that my grandfather beat into my head was "act like you've been there before". It's one thing to play it after beating LSU, Tennessee or Auburn, (Although I won't sing it then either) but it's completely uncalled against teams we are favored to beat by 30.

With that said, I don't piss and moan when it's played now, and I won't piss and moan when it's finally banned....and as it has already been stated, isn't too far away.

 

[Big_Fan]

Yeah, its a game. One that most of you probably never played past junior high or maybe high school

Another point...forget about fans for a moment. Forget about how you feel for a moment.

Imagine...

You are a football player for (insert school here) and you just spent hundreds of hours of conditioning and practice over the past year. You just played your heart out against Alabama...and lost.

You are tired.

You are beat up.

You are emotionally worn out.

You are walking off the field toward the locker room.

And now 100,000 people are screaming at you that they just beat the hell out of you.

If that doesn't put it in perspective and make you think twice about it, you are hopeless.

 

[RollinInPcola]

Yeah, its a game. One that most of you probably never played past junior high or maybe high school

Another point...forget about fans for a moment. Forget about how you feel for a moment.

Imagine...

You are a football player for (insert school here) and you just spent hundreds of hours of conditioning and practice over the past year. You just played your heart out against Alabama...and lost.

You are tired.

You are beat up.

You are emotionally worn out.

You are walking off the field toward the locker room.

And now 100,000 people are screaming at you that they just beat the hell out of you.

If that doesn't put it in perspective and make you think twice about it, you are hopeless.

+1

I agree with this assessment completely.

 

[planomateo]

kinda hard to argue with that Big_Fan, nicely said.

 

[Nothing_But_A_Winner00]

I respectfully disagree with your stance on it. I love it, and I don't care if we beat San Jose State by 1 or Auburn. IMO, If you don't like it don't participate or leave early.

 

[BAMA JAMMA]

Personally I like the cheer but only sing it when I feel it's right.

snipped my long rant/

 

[bamascw]

I am for this change:

Hey, _______! Hey, _______! Hey, ________!

We just beat the FEAR OF GOD into you!

Rammer Jammer, Yellow Hammer, give em PAIN Alabama!

/solved

You know that would have to read "we just beat the fear of God, Allah, Jehova, Eleah, Prussa, Teun, Dieu, Theos, Elohim, Goezur out of you" and that would get tiresome after a round or two.

:lol:

 

[GivinEmTheBusiness]

The cheer should only be used after defeating LoLbarn or Tenuhsay (or Miami '93 Sugar Bowl instance, they deserved the hell out of that cheer if we did it back then)....by more than 14 points. I just LOVED hearing about how Alabama fan's aren't intelligent enough to know what it means to "beat the hell outta someone" after singing it when we certainly didn't beat the hell outta the Vols last year. It's one thing for people to stereotype us....it's another for us to willingly hand them ammo.

And for the cheer to happen after beating the likes of SJSU....that's just classless. It's going to be tremendously embarrassing if it happens after beating JoePa & Penn St.

 

[AFF]

I guess I'm just old school, but the Rammer Jammer cheer has always made me cringe a little since it started back in the '80's. I thought it was a fad that would soon fade away and I'm a kind of disappointed that it didn't. It's obnoxious. It runs contrary to good sportsmanship. It's our fans taunting another team and their fan base. Big_Fan gave a great perspective on how it must come across to the other team after they've played their tails off all afternoon.

Bryant taught his boys to knock the snot out of the other team, help them to their feet, pat them on the back, and then knock the snot out of them again. I think our players still have that attitude as do players from most schools.

That being said, we have a great fan base and I'm sure that out on the Quad prior to the game there will be more than one rib or burger or BBQ sandwich offered up to the fans of other schools in the name of good sportsmanship. It's Southern hospitality and it's what we do better than anyone. Still, I just don't get the taunting thing. I don't want the NCAA or anyone else to mandate against it - but I think I'll continue to opt out of participating in the Rammer Jammer thingy.

 

[Rolling Tide]

+1000

I agree with RollTideinGA on this one.

 

[bama29fan]

so we need to change the cheer for close games....

___,hey ____,hey we just barely be-eat you, yada yada

Just not the same

 

[RollTideinGA]

I have said it before. I think it is classless and wreaks of trailer trash. The tradition argument doesn't hold water because it isn't that old - it is a post-Bryant "tradition." Everyone should know the history...we hired Ole Miss' band director (James Ferguson) in 1971 and he started the cheer shortly before he left the University in 1983 - it is a modified version of their Hotty-Toddy cheer.

As Corso would say, "Not so fast my friend!" Or as an Army buddy used to say "Negative Ghost Rider" (I think its from a movie.

Rammer Jammer is not just a post Bryant tradition. I was a small guy in the late 70's and recall it while attending my first game in '78. Also my dad used to have this old stack of 45's (those are records for you young ones) of Alabama folk songs about Bear & the Tide. Check some of them out here:

http://www.alabamafootballsongs.com/listen.html

Anyway, the track #8 Rammer Jammer, Yellow Hammer is about the '77/'78 seasons. It starts off with the line:
"Last year the Irish stold it from the Tide..."

That theme runs strong in several of those songs after the '77 season when Bama fans felt robbed. While all dont use the entire cheer they use a form of it. So as long as I can recall it has been a part of Alabama football. Traditions are added all the time and we cant just sit back and say only the Coach Bryant era stuff matters. I am sure one day the NCAA will ban it because like you said some consider it offensive.

"Rammer jammer yellow hammer give 'em hell Alabama, we're number 1 we're the mighty Crimson Tide!"

Sing it loud and proud with me. Come to the dark side! Muhahaha!

I stood on the bleachers as a kid and cheered RJYH before and after games when they played Auburn, Penn St, Notre Dame. As an adult I have enjoyed the cheer after vicotires over Auburn, LSU, UGA, Florida, and Texas. So I consider it part of my Bama tradition. I have taken friends who are grads/ fans of other schools to games and they got a kick out of it.

* BTW I am the farthest thing from trailer trash.

 

[psychojoe]

While it was not in its current choreographed form I remember the yell "Rammer jammer yellowhammer give 'em hell Alabama" from the late sixties and early seventies, and I bet it predates that.