Atmosphere

As we are nearly nine months removed from BHP’s last football game, it is time to broach a topic that may be a touchy one. The atmosphere at BHP home football games is very average. There I said it, nothing special, mediocre, FORGETTABLE. You might think this is just during non-conference games that do not have any true implications. I would disagree. This post was planned to be written right after the round 1 playoff loss last season. Even for a playoff game, the atmosphere was at best average.

I am not writing this to point blame, but to offer ideas on how it can be improved. So let’s take a mental walk through steps of how we can transform a stale atmosphere into one that is not only special, but one that could give an edge to the team.

I will offer suggested improvements and reasons how they can add to BHP’s gameday atmosphere and after that, we will throw out some really off the wall ideas for fun. I am taking no school policies into consideration, mainly because I do not know them. Also, this is purely for fun and my own opinions.

Last but not least, we want your input, so please comment on this post or on Facebook or Twitter with your ideas. We will be having a giveaway and the way you are entered is to follow us on Facebook and comment with your suggestions.

SO HERE WE GO!

Suggested Improvements

• BHP does full pregame warm-ups on the practice field

  • One of the most basic things that happen on Friday nights is that both teams warm up on the same field. I propose BHP warm up on the practice field and not with the opposing team. This could give a real distinction to the pregame at BHP.
    
    Let me lay out the thinking behind this. By warming up on the practice field you begin to convey the message of something is looming. The other team cannot get a comfort of being on the same field or seeing the players in person. This will also allow that the first time the Bears enter the field is during the scripted dominating entrance we will detail later.
    
    This, at the very least, starts to plant seeds of intimidation in the other team.
    
    This could also give an opportunity for fans to line the walkway from the practice field to the field house, providing a way for fans to get close to the players and create a pregame ritual that is unique.
    
    

• Joel Kay’s Entrance Monologue

  • BHP has the best radio crew of any high school (and probably most colleges) in the state of South Carolina. Nearly all of the memorable moments in BHP’s football history have been documented by Joel Kay on his radio broadcast.
    
    BHP should tap into that recognizable voice and have Joel Kay record a monologue that will precede the team coming onto the field each game.
    
    It should start slow but build with anticipation, bringing elements of the towns’ pride, football history, and the expectation of winning.
    
    Here is an example:
    

    A Letter For Larry from Georgia Football on Vimeo.

    
    And here is a sample of what might be read by Joel Kay:
    There's something strange that happens in the Upstate of South Carolina. As the squelching heat of summer turns to crisp cool winds of fall, two towns gather together every Friday night. As the citizens from these two towns gather, the lines of Belton and of Honea Path begin to fade as one common thread starts to bond them.
    
    As past teams have played before these communities, this team takes to the forefront. Trying to forge their place in the BHP history books with the other 11 region champions and hopefully beside the one State Champion team.
    
    As these Bears take to the field in the same way as the teams that came before, the expectation is higher than ever. An expectation to play hard, play the right way, and to win.
    
    And here we are now, Two Towns Coming Together Asking One Question - HOW BOUT THEM BEARS
    
    And as those last words end, “2001” plays (preferable from the sound system but acceptable from the band). The team emerges from the field house and the fun begins.
    
    

• Tree-Lined Entrance

  • The walkway from the field house to the field is long and mundane. One of the aspects I am suggesting overall is to make the stadium feel like none other.
    
    So for this improvement, I suggest BHP line the walkway from the field house to the field in trees. I understand that trees cannot be planted in the asphalt and the track. That is why they get large wheeled tree planters. See the rough drawing below (way cooler than “tree planters” makes it sound).
    
    

    Tree PlanterLined Planters

    
    Before the game, they are lined on each side of the walkway making sort of a tunnel. During the Bears’ entrance, smoke is pumped between the trees making it look like the team is emerging from a misty forest like a true bear.
    
    Also, after the entrance, the trees could line the field house wall still giving the feel of being in the forest.
    
    

• BHP Chant / Skol Clap

  • One of the coolest in-game stadium chants is the Skol Clap. It is done by, most famously, the Minnesota Vikings and the Iceland National Soccer team. (see video below).
    
    Click for Skol Clap Video
    
    I suggest BHP adopt this and incorporate it before kickoffs. This will take the place of alternating between Zombie Nation and Sandstorm (what is currently done), but I would suggest playing the clap/beat over the speaker.
    
    Our alteration to the normal Skol Clap would be to add a BHP chant between claps. So just imagine four thousand of your closest BHP fan friends chanting, “Clap - B H P” - “Clap - B H P” - “Clap - B H P”. And think about how intimidating that would be as you sit opposite of the Bears.
    
    

• Entrance Division

  • One of the craziest and out right scariest football games I have ever been to was in Warren County, Georgia. I was probably 10 years old and I went with my dad. I remember nothing about the game but I remember the unease I felt being a fan of the opposing team as if it was yesterday.
    
    To start, as we drove closer to the stadium, there were people around burning barrels looking like a scene out of a post-apocalyptic movie. This was the first intimidation factor, creating that uneasy feeling for the opponents and their fans before they even entered the stadium.
    
    Once we got to the stadium, it was clearly marked with which side was for the home team and which was for the away team. Once we entered the stadium, we understood why knowing that before entering was important. As we stepped through the gates into the stadium, we were separated from the home side by a barbed-wire fence and armed guards as you would see in prison.
    
    I present that to say, BHP should instill that unease, a feeling of us vs them from the second the opposing team enters the stadium. I would not suggest barbed wire fences and armed guards, but signs and ushers dividing up the grounds on entrance would be a start.
    
    

• 3rd Down Bear Roar

  • This might be one of the most simple ideas that I present. Instead of imploring the fans to get excited on 3rd downs, we provide a Bear roar to signal a big play upcoming. Just as the Panthers have a panther roar on 3rd downs, BHP should have the Bear roar cued up for every third downplay.
    
    

• After Win Song: Conquest / Blocks

  • I think when one song ties an entire team or community together it makes for special moments. For example, when the Philadelphia Eagles went to the Super Bowl in 2018 they came out to Meek Mill’s Dreams and Nightmares. Meek Mill is from Philadelphia and the song resonated with the team and became an anthem as they marched through the playoffs.
    
    In my research and thought process of this post, I knew I wanted a song that could become an anthem for the team. And instead of a song the team enters the field with, having an anthem that signifies a victory would be unique.
    
    This was a hard one. I came up with Conquest by the White Stripes.
    
    Click for: Conquest Audio Link
    
    And really I would only want the first 30 seconds. Then it goes directly into Blocks by Marshmello. The first 30 seconds of Conquest gives a rallying cry that can definitely signal victory for the Bears. Then Blocks hits with its fun upbeat rhythm to bring on the fun of winning and let the crowd and team release all of the winning energy.
    
    Click for: Blocks Audio Link
    
    There are so many that we could pick, but I wanted to stay away from the cliche “All We Do Is Win”. I feel like this is where I totally need all of your help. Let me know your suggestions.
    
    

Now that we got the suggested improvements out of the way, let's get crazy. This is going into the deeps of game day experiences (well maybe just scratching the surface, but let me know any crazy ones you have).

Out-There Changes

• DNR/Police intercept and escort of opponent’s team buses

  • One of the ideas I keep going back to is the thought of making it clear to the opposing team and their fans that when they come to BHP it is so much different than anywhere else they will play.
    
    Saying that, what if we were able to have the police, or because we are bears, DNR waiting at the city limits of either Belton or Honea Path and stop the team bus and escort them the rest of the way to the stadium. This just once again inforces that they are entering a hostile environment and need protection (even if there is no threat other than being beat on the field).
    
    

• Pregame explosions

  • This is a wild one. Before one game last season there were 3-4 huge explosions near the stadium. Come to find out it was the exploding targets being shot in the near vicinity. But after I realized we were not actually under attack, it got me thinking. How unsettling would it be to the opposing team and their fans to have those explosions going off before every game? This just instills the thought that they are not in the comfort of their home stadium and have entered “Bear Country”.
    
    

• Donte Wilder Interview

  • I recently heard this interview from Donte Wilder. He is a heavyweight boxer and maybe the scariest man alive. In the interview, he mentions two things: the first is that boxing is the only sport where you can hit people and not go to jail (I would argue that football is the same) and the second is that by his opponent accepting the fight, he is asking for the outcome.
    
    
    
    I love both of these outlooks. Even as far as football has come, one of the most basic elements of football is violence.
    
    Also, by the other team accepting to play the Bears, they are accepting how bad we beat them.
    
    My suggestion is to just have those sound bytes played before the game.
    
    

• Flairs

  • I guess I have watched too many international soccer YouTube clips, but what is more intimidating and imposing than the look of the stadium burning down around you.
    
    
    
    

• A LIVE BEAR

  • What else can I say? Having a real live bear in the stadium would be awesome.
    
    

• Quick Hits

  • Flyover

  • Wrestling Intros

  • Turning the Lights Off

  • Silent Mode

  • An Underground Tunnel to the Field

  • Tractors Leading the Team

  • Haka Dance

  • Real DJ

In all seriousness, we just want to make BHP on Friday Nights a special place and give the team a slight mental edge anywhere we can.

Now it is your turn. What did we miss? What would you want to add? Did you like any of our suggestions? What should be the theme song?

As we said earlier, we will be selecting followers who comment about this post and will be giving away custom BHP Bear stickers.

This kicks off our 2019 season. We will be posting about returning starters and previewing the season as we get closer to the first game. Go Bears!