“Lets go Brandon” chants have swept the nation, a tongue-in-cheek version of another four-syllable chant.
As I listen to “Let’s Go Brandon” and its NSFW alternative sound off in stadiums throughout the country, I can’t help but be reminded of Hillsdale’s wonderfully unique Charger chants.
Most stadiums at large schools feature tens of thousands of students including multiple four-letter words in their chants, often directing their words at referees, opposing players or coaches, or even the other team’s fans.
Hillsdale, however, has far different chants during its sporting events and all it takes is one game to realize Charger chants are just as funny — and far less ad hominem than anything found in professional sporting arenas.
The go-to taunts often include listing off the opposing school’s average grade point average, SAT scores, or acceptance and graduation rates and comparing them to our own, which are almost always superior.
Cheering for the opposing kicker as he lines up practice shots on the sideline of football games, yelling to referees that you “respectfully disagree” with their calls, and trying to start seemingly good-natured conversations with players on the bench are all staples of any good Hillsdale sporting event.
These unconventional chants seem to fulfill their intended purpose just as well as crude chants, often prompting angry responses and obscene gestures from the opposing team.
This politeness is unheard of at any other college, but it fits the Hillsdale culture perfectly.
Now, I know that Hillsdale students love a good “screw you, refs,” just as much as any other sports fans, but the Chargers’ classic sports chants are well worth a trip to any of our sporting events.
