This also isn't a trash-the-band column (although I might write one when the band starts the "goalie sieve-funnel-vacuum-black hole-you just suck" chant in the middle of a close hockey game).

Learn and enjoy.

(1)Percussion

Nothing can get a crowd involved better than lengthy and numerous percussion cadences. Get those drums banging--after all, solo wind or brass sections often get lost in an open-air stadium.

If nothing else, get a chant of "DEE-FENSE" going--the drummers bang down twice and the crowd says defense, and the two groups alternate until the next play is over.

I mean, this isn't radical--almost every other college and professional crowd does that, so why can't we?

For example, Cornell had a first-and-goal in the third quarter Saturday, but the Harvard fans were dead. You could hear the Cornell fans urge their team on, but before it got to third down, the Harvard side was mute.

(2)How about playing some really popular theme songs like the Cornell band played?

I did a little survey among my colleagues at Cabot House last night about what songs would be appropriate.

The song that jumped to almost everyone's mind was the Imperial March from the Star Wars trilogy.

Cornell's band and numerous other bands play it, so why can't ours? Maybe perform it after a defensive sack or a turnover.

The Final Countdown from the Rocky movies came in at number two. Play it when the game is in its closing stages or at other exciting moments.

Other considerations go to the Budweiser song--the Harvard band has played it on occasion in the past, but not often enough.

The theme from Jaws could be played after a sack or some hard tackle.

Or throw in a little West Side Story, like the Mambo theme.