When the crowd wills the team to win vs Alabama / other examples?
There was a fun thread on Twitter the other day about the impromptu 'Lets Go Blue' chant that broke out after Alabama played Dixieland Delight. Obviously Zinter mentioned it, but it was cool to see everyone's perspective in that thread all collectively say - "I saw it. I felt it. I knew it."
The thread - https://twitter.com/i/bookmarks/1754189383060586930?post_id=1753460151783211126
That game and that moment is something I will remember for the rest of my life. It was a collective 'No more. After the last 25 years we've gone through, we're not letting this go. We will will this win into existence." And we did.
There was one other time I can recall where I saw something similar.
https://discord.com/channels/617054763602804747/775346463664111666/1203809847707963442
The 'Let's Go Wings' chant at 1m12s.
I was there too - I was 16 at the time. I had never in my life heard a crowd chant that loud, ever. The 'Let's Go Wings' chant started in the pre-game, before the game. I am convinced that Roy and the Avalanche knew, deep down, that this game was over before it even started. After it was 1-0, it was all over.
What other times have you seen the crowd will a team to victory?
February 4th, 2024 at 7:11 PM ^
I don’t think I’d agree that the crowd at the RB willed the win into existence. It was, IMO, like a home game for us. But that team would have won that game regardless of how loudly we cheered.
As an aside, the only remotely unsportsmanlike Alabama fan I encountered was in front of us, and complained that I yelled “defense!” too much. That’s the way it goes.
February 4th, 2024 at 7:58 PM ^
OP, it looks like your first link goes to my own Twitter bookmark page instead of the intended tweet, so I was confused when the only thing that showed up was this:
February 5th, 2024 at 6:09 AM ^
If you're getting laughed at in a room full of Ohio State fans for being too emotional as an Ohio State fan, you need therapy, medication, or both.
February 4th, 2024 at 8:38 PM ^
I remember Jim's first year when we were about to secure a third straight shutout over Northwestern, who I believe was pretty hot that year up until that point. Crowd started chanting "defense" and it really stuck with me in the stadium. Got a copy of the game later and was pleased to see it resonated on TV as well.
February 5th, 2024 at 10:44 AM ^
I hadn't initially thought of this, but as soon as I read your post, I remembered this moment immediately. Northwestern was 5-0 and ranked No. 13 at the time!
February 4th, 2024 at 8:45 PM ^
Without the crowd slow-clapping and the dramatic music, no way does Lucas put the coat on.
February 4th, 2024 at 8:50 PM ^
Really solid “Let’s Go Blue” chant for Michigan during the last drive against Penn St in 1994. Didn’t work, unfortunately.
February 4th, 2024 at 9:43 PM ^
I'm not sure there's been a more consistently loud crowd than against OSU in 2021. I believe they had 5 false starts. It will be hard to ever top that one.
February 5th, 2024 at 1:14 AM ^
I had never seen Dixieland Delight before. The Alabama fans were really into it, and watching their fans go crazy when it came on had me thinking we were going to lose. The momentum in the Rose Bowl was tilted heavily toward the Tide at that moment, and their fans cheering that song fully reflected that. They looked very confident that the Tide would win. Admittedly, I thought it was a fun tradition and was a little jealous that they were probably going to win the game too. Then from the Michigan section the “Let’s Go Blue!” chant started quietly and grew. The rest is history. Honestly I will probably remember that moment more than the game itself.
Other than that, I’d say the crowd at 2021 OSU game willed the team to victory. Our fans were starving for a win over the Buckeyes that day. The team probably would have pulled it off anyway, but the crowd forced several false starts and allowed our pash rushers to get a quicker first step.
February 5th, 2024 at 8:11 AM ^
The 2024 Rose Bowl checked off a major item on my bucket list. I had wanted to go to Pasadena my whole life. I won’t ever go back because I could never match the experience. The final minutes were played in my corner of the field. I could feel the energy created by the crowd for the team. It was an unforgettable experience. The fact that it came against Alabama, made it even sweeter. They have been the gold standard in college football for the last decade plus. We sent Nick Saban into retirement with this game. I am sure he will never forget it either. Go Blue!!!
February 5th, 2024 at 8:58 AM ^
Braylonfest in 2004 against MSU had some epic crowd energy. From the very low lows in the 4th quarter (down 17) to the resounding build to the finish... it was visceral in the stadium. It's hard to say the team was 'willed' to victory, but it felt like a building avalanche. Once we tied the game up, it felt like there was no way in the world we would lose. Pretty magical.
February 5th, 2024 at 9:34 AM ^
"Let's Go Zak", comes to mind.
February 5th, 2024 at 10:45 AM ^
The first thing that came into mind immediately was the "Let's Go Zak" cheers after he went down with his injury against Ohio State. At that moment, it felt like the stadium's energy changed. Corum goes on to score a long TD the next play, etc.
February 5th, 2024 at 11:56 AM ^
Jump Around at Wisconsin in 2021 was pretty amazing. It wasn't the crowd that elevated the team, but the enthusiasm and vibe on the sideline definitely strikes me one of those moments when off-the-field energy carried the team.
February 5th, 2024 at 12:48 PM ^
I strongly agree with this.
February 5th, 2024 at 12:47 PM ^
No one's gonna see this but I have to say it. Our crowd at the Rose Bowl is getting too much credit. Our half of the stadium was half sitting for half the time. The opponents barely sat at all. If anyone gets credit for helping the team win this game it's the bench players. They were a crazy mob with chairs held high over their heads. I really feel like they made a difference. Our fans weren't bad but these guys deserve a TON of credit for carrying the team all season. Ever since that Wisconsin game way back when the bench has been different. Hope that's a culture thing that doesn't die with Harbaugh's departure.
February 5th, 2024 at 5:35 PM ^
You must've been in a bad section. My section was on their feet and hollering almost all game, and we were far away from the student section.
February 5th, 2024 at 5:34 PM ^
I'll be honest, I didn't even hear what Alabama was playing. I just knew that they were doing their third quarter thing like we do our Blues Brothers thing, and we were not having it. The "Let's Go Blue" chant started pretty naturally and pretty soon it was all you could hear.