Comments on: Go Get a Rat Trap, Bigger than a Cat Trap

By: Maurine

Maurine — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:27:45 +0000

Wow, what a great time. I can almost imagine what your class reunions are like with all of you cheering and throwing shirts and pants and shoes.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:13:02 +0000

I don’t know which is more awesome: the stunts and cheers themselves, or that manaen remembers them so clearly. Especially 3.

By: manaen

manaen — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:55:01 +0000

At Fullerton Union High School (SoCal) in the 1960s, we had the following:

1. (From the 1920s. Our first class graduated in 1896)

“Wo bo ski watten datten
Lana ana BOOM
Wo bo ski watten datten
Lana ana BOOM
Nish ki diddley oh-ten-doten
Nish ki diddley eat-ten-deeten
Wo bo ski watten datten
Lana ana BOOM”
(Repeat twice, with more intensity and more loudly each time as if trying to make this point clear)

2. (intentional self-parody, this was the 1960s) “Peanuts, popcorn, onion soup! We want a touchdown, boop boop be doop!”

Our special cheering group, “Indian Stags” had several unique cheers we performed from our reserved section at end of basketball court.

3. “We’re not stingy, We’re not mean! We’ll do a yell for the other team! M-I-C…K-E-Y…O-U-S-O-B!”

4. “2 bits, 4 bits, 6 bits, a dollar; All for the other team, stand up and holler!” (one guy in the middle of the group then would stand, wave a white handkerchief, and call out, “Yeah, Dickey” — then the rest of the group would pounce upon him and from the middle of the pile we would throw onto the court shirt, pants, and shoes we had stashed under the risers.

(others which I will forego here)

By: Researcher

Researcher — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:47:45 +0000

I can’t top any of those, and especially not Hunter’s gem, so I won’t even try. Bravo, everyone.

By: kevinf

kevinf — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:45:13 +0000

The rats bigger than cats made me think of the R.O.U.S.s from the Princess Bride. Inconceivable! Rah Rah Ree! Kick them in the knee! Rah Rah Rass! Kick them in the other knee!

By: Edje Jeter

Edje Jeter — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:06:05 +0000

I thought this was going to be about nutria rats.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:02:03 +0000

Your #8 knocked the doggerel right out of me, Hunter, along with two snorts and a guffaw. You win!

By: Hunter

Hunter — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:58:36 +0000

As for the perceived silliness of some of these chants, it made me think of the much-loved University of Alabama post-game taunt:

Hey [opposing mascot]! Hey [opposing mascot]! We just beat the hell outta you! Rammer Jammer Yellowhammer Give 'em hell Alabama!

And I got thinking that the difference between the renowned Alabama chant and the silly ones in this post is simply the fact that the Alabama chant has been in use for years and years, and is shouted by tens of thousands of fans. Who knows? With enough repetition and in a huge stadium, maybe even words like ki, wah, and hoodoo might sound motivating.

By: Hunter

Hunter — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:45:17 +0000

With all those lines that end, “B.Y.”
It made me think forthwith
That I’m so glad his last name’s “Young” –
And that it wasn’t “Smith”!

By: Bruce Crow

Bruce Crow — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:37:09 +0000

Oh that’s good.