What Other Teams Do The “It’s Great To Be” Chant?
Obviously this weekend was spectacular regardless of anything else that happened with our big win. However, as a fan of college football in general, I was also basking in the excitement of Tennessee’s upset of Bama when I came across something unexpected. Apparently our It’s great…to be…a Michigan Wolverine chant is not exclusively our chant? I’ve no idea of it’s origins but have only ever heard of it used from our team and fans.
Yet as I was watching videos of Vols rushing the field, I heard it coming from their team and their fans. Here’s a video (beginning around 2:20). I guess it did not occur to me that It’s great…to be…a Tennessee Volunteer would fit, but it does. Does anyone else know of other schools who use this chant? Or does anyone know where it began?
October 17th, 2022 at 12:15 PM ^
The chop (during "Temptation") yes, but not the chant.
October 17th, 2022 at 9:20 AM ^
Other schools with a 3-3 (or 3-2 in Florida’s case stretch out the “tor” in Gator) syllable cadence.
October 17th, 2022 at 9:40 AM ^
There is great history in this thread. I didn't know where this started. Thanks for this post.
There are old traditions that aren't still done as well. These things come and go I guess.
October 17th, 2022 at 9:51 AM ^
It's basic enough that it seems likely that the concept dates back further than 1984. The style and cadence I think hints at a military origin.
October 17th, 2022 at 10:03 AM ^
I know Florida does it, or did it. That was the first one I had ever heard
October 17th, 2022 at 10:47 AM ^
Two quick thoughts.
First, I find it interesting that Tennessee's AD requested "donations" to cover the cost of new field goals to replace those that were torn down after their victory over Alabama. It makes me wonder just how well funded their Athletic budget is.
Second, in terms of "borrowing" a great idea. It's not lost on me that the Buckeyes needed Michigan's Band to introduce Script Ohio to them many years ago. And, in the B1G, Michigan has had the "Let's Go Blue" chant, along with the band, for decades. Over in West Lafayette, the Boilermakers have borrowed that music & rhythm replacing the refrain with "Let's Go Purdue."
October 17th, 2022 at 12:42 PM ^
I loooooooved it when the fans did this chant while leaving Notre Dame Stadium in 2006. One of the earliest YouTube videos….
October 17th, 2022 at 9:17 PM ^
I always understood that Michigan adopted this from Auburn after the Sugar Bowl (as previously stated) just like Michigan hockey fans stole almost every single part of the Yost cheer litany from Cornell after a 1991 NCAA best-of-three regional playoff series at Yost.
https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/student-section/