Did anyone on here go to school during the beginning of the D0D, like from 90-93 or somewhere around there? I'd like to hear about the transition in those days.
<=== Was a freshman in 92. Only missed one home game from 92-00. Pretty much saw it all.
So how did the crowds change between 1992 and then in 93 when we started winning? Student crowds. I started in 2000 and by that time people had their stuff together.
It was a totally different atmosphere back then. There was such a buzz of excitement in the air it is hard to describe. You could just feel the team, program, everything improving. We did have to learn how to cheer, but it didn't take long. I can remember that we would tear down the goalposts for any victory, and we were damn good at it too. I mean, we tore them down after a thursday night ESPN victory over Iowa State for Christ sakes. We could have both goalposts down in about 15 minutes. The more we won though, the more we acted like we had been there and eventually it stopped until we finally beat Nub in 98. You would show up to tailgate and park where ever you wanted to on the East side. Go in 15 minutes before kickoff and get great seats in GA 10-15 rows up on the 35 or 40(we always made fun of ICAT and back then it was only $20). Everyone was usually pretty paked because nobody gave a eff about booze in the parking lot. We knew how to cheer though. There were no gay ass claw hand signals just raw intensity. We were deafening on defense and quiet on offense except for after big plays. Very few left early, win or lose, especially during conference games. We always felt like we had a chance and wanted to relish every victory. I was at the Copper Bowl against Wyoming. We had bought our tickets through the bowl and our seats were in the lower level around a bunch of locals. They were just amazed at the excitement and intensity that we expressed on every play. By the end of the game they were counting Willie's pushups and doing the KSU chant with us. We even had them Wabashing. They said they came to the game every year and we were the best fans they had ever been around. Like I said, it was a different atmosphere. Everything was new. First winning. Then, knowing you had a chance and hoping to win. Finally, flat out expecting to win. Stadium expansions and upgrades seemed to happen every year, the creation of the big twelve, caused even more excitement and expectation. I guess students now are kind of going through the same thing. I supppose the difference is that when I went through it, there was no precedent. We had never been good. Gameday had never been there. We hadn't beaten NU or OU or UT for eleventy billion years. I guess while the team was learning how to win, we were learning how to cheer. You guys kind of need to learn again I guess. My only suggestions would be to pack the house every weekend with purple (any kind of purple, who cares what a bunch of idiots on a message board say about proper game attire). Be loud as hell. Cheer for the team. Get rid of that little douchebag claw thingy. Lynch Mob sign is cool as long as we are ACTUALLY LYNCH MOBBING. Don't leave early, regardless of the outcome. Most of all, just be proud to be a Wildcat. I'll probably get railed and called a tuck for most of this but that's the nice thing about having been there, I don't care!
