What can we do better?

[DrLudicrous]

We've got the first game under our belts so let's discuss what went well and what we can improve on. Overall I think we did well for our first outing.

Two improvements I can think of:
1. Better coordination in our chanting, at times we had people chanting different things or people didn't know the words to chants. Also, coming up with more event specific chants (goal scoring by certain players, for dives, ect).
2. Adding our website to the banner in front of our section so people walking by will be able to check it out.

It started off well and we'll only get better from here. Go Texian Army!

[Berean Todd]

A little more coordination in the songs as you said. For example on the "Ole, ole" some people didn't seem to be throwing in the words, but only chanting "ole, ole". The couple of Texas songs also seemed to bomb out.

More variety of songs would also be good (I loved the words for the DeRo one which has a thread here), but that will come with time, and practice. Overall can't complain too much though, the atmosphere was outstanding.

[WarrenWallace]

outsider perspective.

KISS

Keep it simple stupid. The easier and less wordy the chants are, the more people will probably lend a voice. And maybe try to work in a call/response chant to the rest of the crowd.

Also if you guys have a tailgate, bring a bunch of those orange shirts to sell. People will buy.

[footex]

Better coordination of songs and chants. Maybe we can spread out a little more to make ourselves look bigger until that section fills up more, then we can have a place where a yell leader can let us know what direction togo. Also, get different songs. here was a guy singing some great mexican songs, but we couldnt hear him. SO maybe then at half time we can discuss it and make changes.

Also bore color bars. We didnt use the tabel rolls this game. I think we all just got caught up in the amazing game we were watching. We will use them this Saturday and make it BIG!

MORE CONFETTI...not enough and when we score we need 20 or 30 streamers going not 2 or 3 so I am investing in another box before next Saturday, Anyone that can help I would appreciate it.:D

OVERALL not bad for the first time!

[MBean]

I think a bullhorn in the hands of whoever the yell-leader-of-the-moment is will help with the chants right away.

Also, when I was at A&M on the day we showed up on campus our freshman year we had a sheet with all the official yells as well as our dorm-specific yells (which I couldn't possibly post on bigsoccer) given to us by the yellow pots from our dorm. The sheet had each yell listed by name as well as identified by a specfiic hand signal. It would probably be a good idea to printout the lyrics to the yells/songs and bring copies to the games to handout to folks, and have the yells and songs listed by name so if the yell leader screams through the bullhorn "Ole, Ole, Ole: Houston, Tejas..." half of us don't sing "Ole, Ole, Ole: Tejas, Tejas" or just "Ole, Ole, Ole: Ole, Ole." After a couple of games the regulars won't need the lists. For the newbies that graviate to our section like a lot of people last night they can know immediately what we're saying - and we should put our website URL on the top of the page so they can contact us to become part of the group.

[yanks02]

We definitely need to have a chant practice at the next tailgate before the game. And we'll have chant sheets with numbers, that way the chant leader can just tell us '#4" and we'll all do the same cheer. Plus the chant leader and the drummer need to sit by each other.

[DrLudicrous]

I think we should also see about getting somebody from the team to help us get our stuff in. Maybe have them come to the tailgate area and escort a group in carrying our supplies or just march in with us. That way we won't have to worry about arguing with the ticket checkers every game.

[MBean]

We definitely need to have a chant practice at the next tailgate before the game. And we'll have chant sheets with numbers, that way the chant leader can just tell us '#4" and we'll all do the same cheer. Plus the chant leader and the drummer need to sit by each other.

Great idea... but perhaps the yells should have names insteads of numbers, I think they'll be easier to remember that way. For example... instead of having the "Sylvia Sux" chant called "number 13"... we could just call it "B*tch" and everyone would know exactly what we're talking about.

[truthandlife]

First of all, you guys did a great job overall. Great first showing and really added something to the game.

A couple of thing you might want to do:

1) During the tailgate bring sheets with the chants and practice them in the parking lot. You will get practice and you will also give the pre-game parking a festive feel. People will come join you.

2) Like someone else said sell shirts in the parking lot. People will join and feel a part of something. You guys could also make some money to put back into your budget.

3) Make your Texian sign darker and bigger upfront. I would even put the website on it so people can sign up

4) Somehow get coordinated with the pep band. The pep band needs a lot of help and hopefully you guys can help them out. I would try to sell them some shirts.

5) See if you can talk to Oliver about coordinating your chants and putting them on the scoreboard so the rest of the crowd can get involved

6) You guys need to talk to the PA announcer, Jeremy Foster (Sports 610). He said some very cheesy things to try to get the crowd going. He was way in over his head. Educate him. You can send him an email here: http://www.sportsradio610.com/contactus.asp

6) More flairs (just kidding, but it definitely was something that grabbed my attention. I thought I was in South America.)

7) I would like you to get more Hispanics involved with your group. After seeing the diverse crowd, I think a Spanish chant would be great.

8) I would love to hear you guys jump up and down on those benches. That steel can make some noise when the crowd gets involved.

9) Continue to have fun and as someone else said the KISS principle works well. As fans become more educated then you can start adding some more complex chants.

[nobius]

For the Sylvia Sucks bit in the 18th & 36th minutes, do we start when the clock says 17:00 or 18:00? Isn't 17:00 technically the start of the 18th minute?

[MBean]

7) I would like you to get more Hispanics involved with your group. After seeing the diverse crowd, I think a Spanish chant would be great.

Seems to me like last night was a pretty good start on this front.

[MBean]

For the Sylvia Sucks bit in the 18th & 36th minutes, do we start when the clock says 17:00 or 18:00? Isn't 17:00 technically the start of the 18th minute?

Yeah... but I think the connection is easier to see if 18 and 36 are on the scoreboard. Also, I think everytime we finish "Sylvia Sux" we should segway into the "Eighteen Thirty-six!" chant.

[DrLudicrous]

We should also have flyers/information sheets to pass out to people explaining who we are and how to join. There were people asking last night and it would have been easier to give them that instead of trying to yell over the crowd.

[nobius]

I think the Texian Army should have official shirts that its members wear and sell additional shirts to people at the games that are the same color but look slightly different. We stood out very well, and I got a lot of kudos from other fans at the game and from the Dynamo FO at Mezzanine afterwords because I was wearing my TA shirt.

I think we could have made a killing on shirts during the game yesterday.

[FigoTX]

KISS - keep 'em short and catchy. Also, keep them consistent: one song for DeRo, one for Ching, one for goals, etc. If you are consistent and repetitive, people will memorize them. If you have multiple songs for DeRo, people will never get the lyrics straight. Remember, you may be serious about learning all the songs, other fans just want something to sing/yell every once in a while.

Also, maybe you can print the lyrics of the "official" chant of the TA on the back of the t-shirts. For example, if "Ole Ole Ole Houston Tejas Ole Ole" is the official Texian Army chant, have it printed on the back of the shirts. Everyone who buys one will know it, and eveyone will read it on those who wear them. And I saw some TA shirts in 205. I know it adds costs, but now you have an official chant.

I'm not sure if you guys have picked a "main" or "official" chant, but I think this would help until eveyone knows the song.

[fireman451]

outsider perspective.

KISS

Keep it simple stupid. The easier and less wordy the chants are, the more people will probably lend a voice. And maybe try to work in a call/response chant to the rest of the crowd.

Also if you guys have a tailgate, bring a bunch of those orange shirts to sell. People will buy.



Smart call, KISS. Response cheer is always good (we have one here in Chicago). Also, if you guys can get some scarves made up, price them so you can make a profit, people will eat those up too. Money you make goes into the "tifo" fund. Funding your tifo is a great first step.

EDIT: Also, do you guys have a "yell leader"? Someone who coordinates your songs for the group? We have a selection of 3 to 4 guys who are our "Capos" and lead us into songs.

[FigoTX]

I think the Texian Army should have official shirts that its members wear and sell additional shirts to people at the games that are the same color but look slightly different. We stood out very well, and I got a lot of kudos from other fans at the game and from the Dynamo FO at Mezzanine afterwords because I was wearing my TA shirt.

I think we could have made a killing on shirts during the game yesterday.

Great idea: you can have "enlisted" shirts for the members, and "volunteer" shirts for others.

"Hey, how do I get the same jersey you are wearing?"
"You gotta enlist baby. Bleed orange!"

[CeltTexan]

We will have a greater need for coordination for Sat as the Pep Band will be with us. So we must get on the same page when doing cheers, chants and songs in unison.

I have two songs, one in American and the other in American and Spanish that are going to be vital to our sound and atmosphere at Robertson.

If need be I can post the lyrics on this thread or start another if y'all want to get started on getting them down pat.

I really think that if Dr. Tucker and our Pep Band met us early enough for our tailgating, than we can take advantage of that and have sound to back our new songs.

I must remind everyone that I am waiting to see how we look and feel by the 4th of July and mid season. Then from there on out we can add and adjust our sounds/Pep Band to meet what we want to deliver to the lads on the field.

[Dre00]

A couple of things:

1) We can't put our website on our banner...FO won't allow it.

2) WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF SONG SHEET TO PASS OUT. Our organization wasn't very good but we made up for it with sheer enthusiasm. Most of our chants are simple which is great. The sheet doesn't have to be a definitive list...we can add songs to it as we go.

For example, I thought Ray's "If you think the ref's an asshole clap your hands" was genius. Simple, everyone's heard the song, and it's a little R rated...which I think we SHOULD be. I also loved throwing in some Spanish songs. Completely adds some atmosphere and passion. I don't know any but by all means bring them in and we'll use them. All I ask is that someone tell me what I am saying since my Spanish is average at best :)

3) Our chant leader(s) (Nobius?) needs to stand next to our drummer at all times to co-ordinate.

4) If everyone commits to bring one streamer roll and one bag of confetti, we will have more than enough. I don't know for sure but they can't be that expensive

5) Ideas are GREAT! Keep them coming. But ultimately we need volunteers to get this going (people to compile a chant list, people to make copies of said chant list etc.) Who's gonna do it?

LET'S GO TEXIAN ARMY!!!!

[RDgirl]

Beer bitch waiting in our section anticipating our every need. Is that possible? Too much to ask? I feel I'm asking too much for the keg to be carried into the stadium. Our beer delivery guy kinda had others do his work for him so we'll need something more stable.

Cheers!:o