Interesting response to a touchdown

[ajmc]

Pardon my drifting a little bit, but several years ago, Hamilton College, near Rome, NY, provided chain crews from the various fraternities, who were very serious as well as competent in operating the chains.

Each fraternity decided how they would dress. One game they all wore tuxedos, another they were dressed, in full costumes, as the 3 little pigs. There seemed to be as much anticipation about how the chain crew might appear, as the game itself.

I would imagine, or at least hope, that tradition continues.

[TXMike]

From a Sports Illustrated 1984 story re the Hamilton College chain gang:


SIDESHOW FOR A CHAIN GANG

Hamilton College, a Division III school in upstate New York, finished its football season with a gratifying 6-1-1 record, its first winning year since 1967. But what followers of the Continentals may remember even longer is the "chain gang," three puckish students who operated the first-down chain and the down marker at Hamilton's home games. Seniors Mark Isaf and Dave Weiner, who handled the 10-yard chain, and Larry Kollath, who held the marker, livened things up by wearing oddball costumes. As the flow of action moved back and forth, there they were on the sidelines—in gorilla suits at one game, in scuba equipment at another, in drag, in real chain-gang prisoners' stripes and, finally, for Hamilton's season-ending 10-3 upset of traditional rival Union, in tailcoats.

Isaf, Weiner and Kollath, all varsity athletes (Isaf plays lacrosse and basketball, Weiner baseball and Kollath basketball), paid strict attention to their duties during games but still had a lot of fun. "No matter where we were," Isaf said, "Dave and I always seemed to be 10 yards apart." Weiner said, "Ice and I have a good relationship, but Larry kept coming between us."

[OverAndBack]

THAT'S funny.

[Theisey]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Pardon my drifting a little bit, but several years ago, Hamilton College, near Rome, NY, provided chain crews from the various fraternities, who were very serious as well as competent in operating the chains.

Each fraternity decided how they would dress. One game they all wore tuxedos, another they were dressed, in full costumes, as the 3 little pigs. There seemed to be as much anticipation about how the chain crew might appear, as the game itself.

I would imagine, or at least hope, that tradition continues.

The last time I was there, they were dressed as Nuns. Visiting coach was not to pleased, but I did ask he not swear at them.

[GoodScout]

My favorite was when I was running a clock several years ago during a blowout, and a mother in the press box was screaming about how the refs were biased because every time the opponent scored, the ref would make a "celebration gesture" that showed his favoritism. I had to explain to her that he was twirling his index finger in the air to signal an untimed down for the PAT.

[OverAndBack]

What's a mother doing in a press box?

Holy cow.

Officiating games in an orphanage, that's the way to go.