When I was in college I interned at the World League of American Football, which eventually turned into NFL Europe and sadly faded away. There were many cool things about the job, but one of the most interesting things looking back was taking this American game of football to continental Europe and seeing a collision of American sports and European traditions. In particular, the fans in Europe would whistle instead of boo and chant songs for their team throughout the game. This is the tradition when watching the other kind of football. We've had fight songs at games for generations, but it's always seemed to be relegated to between possessions or after scores. We really haven't seen the good chant here like we have in Europe. The one exception is probably Florida State's tomahawk chop, but it seems to come across a little less politically correct every year.
Well, in the course of power-watching some Big 10 football recently I was taken back to those London Monarch and Barcelona Dragon games and the familiar football chant. Chants being sung at Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State. This isn't Man. U. vs. Liverpool, this is Big 10 rust belt football. And all three schools chanting the same song, The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army". The song is relatively new (first released in 2003) and is known for a driving bass riff that is actually taken from Bruckner's Symphony No. 5. The song certainly fits the bill for a war anthem and The White Stripes are from Detroit, so why not marry some home grown garage rock with stadiums holding in excess of 100,000 people.
It appears that Penn State may have first used the song to stir the Nittany Lion faithful. I can find references to the crowd chanting the song going back to at least 2007. Here is a video of the crowd chanting the song at the Rose Bowl back in 2008.
And here is a more recent video that gives you up close access to the band while they play it.
And here is Michigan's rendition at the Big House's first night game a couple of weeks back versus Notre Dame.
And Ohio State's version which they have named "The Buckeye Bounce".
Below is the original White Stripes music video for reference. And if you were wondering, here are the lyrics:
I'm gonna fight 'em off
A seven nation army couldn't hold me back
They're gonna rip it off Taking their time right behind my back
And I'm talking to myself at night because I can't forget
Back and forth through my mind behind a cigarette
And the message coming from my eyes it says leave it alone
Don't want to hear about it every single one's got a story to tell
Everyone knows about it from the Queen of England to the hounds of hell
And if I catch it coming back my way I'm gonna serve it to you
And that ain't what you want to hear, but that's what I'll do
And the feeling coming from my bones it says find a home
I'm going to Wichita
Far from this opera forever more
I'm gonna work the straw, make the sweat drip out of every pore
And I'm pleading, and I'm pleading, and I'm pleading right before the Lord
All the words are gonna bleed from me and I will think no more
And the stains coming from my blood tell me go back home
So, my guess is that this anthem may replace the go-to timeout chant of the last twenty years..."Rock 'N Roll No. 2" by Gary Glitter.
That chant became so ubiquitous that it made its way into what may be my favorite commercial of all time. (Please note that Hank has his own mascot which is a big-headed caricature of himself)
And just for fun, if you liked Hank, you'll love Glen.
