Hadas and I spent some time studying Appropriate Fan Response (AFR) at the bar in our preferred bowling alley. AFR first became a concern when my roommate expressed his disappointment in my apparent lack of enthusiasm after a spectacular interception on the part of the Pats. What my roommate couldn't see was that on the inside, I was delighted.
I've got baseball cheering down. I can throw out "walk is as good as a hit" and "good eye" until the cows come home. Football cheering is far more subtle. Its an expression of excitement and disappoinment very often done without the use of catchy phrases or even words at all. Hadas has compiled a list of some things we've overheard:
Offensive cheering:
go, go, go! (or, go [insert player name here]!)
change it up! (or, mix it up!)
get a little movement on that line!
Defensive cheering:
get him!
General cheering:
yeah!
no!
Hadas threw out a few very effective yeahs. I was quite proud of my hearfelt "go rodney" as he gained several yards. rodney harrison is one of the few players i can recognize.
I've also experienced what Hadas calls "drifting eye syndrome" (DES). I found my eyes drifting to an exciting play during a Notre Dame game while i was in the midst of interviewing a prospective roommate. And, I momentarily ignored our waitress to catch a play during the last Pats game.
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