To all Alumni: Be sure to show some love to the student "Riot Squad!"

[MikeRU1766]

To all students and alumni,

Be sure to show the Rutgers student "Riot Squad" a bunch of love. I have gotten to see them in action at the games and also just roaming around seeing them hold their tailgates and they truly are a great group or kids who are a great addition to Rutgers. Most of these kids are the best of the best when it comes to being great fans and being a positive 12th man for our football team and also provides a boost to other sports teams as well. I wish we had something like this when I was a student, but either way I am VERY proud of these kids to grew this Riot Squad from nothing into a legitimate group of many, many student who can throw tailgates and make visible impacts on the TV in the student section. Seeing these student there all the way from the initial kickoff to the last whistle REALLY makes a difference because it shows recruits and alumni that this team's success matters to the Rutgers community. It really does make a massive difference when I watch the games in person or on the television to see that solid block of student ALWAYS in their seats and ALWAYS being there to boost the teams on the field production.

Anyway, these kids have stepped up and now it is our turn to step up. Be sure to give the Riot Squad a shout out if you see them and let them know how much you appreciate them and what they have already accomplished and strive to accomplish. These kids quietly are making a major impact and taking our fandom to an even HIGHER next step then we are at now. These kids are creating an entire experience for not only the student who get to actually join the Riot Squad and become part of that family, but they are also boosting the moral of the "F.A.M.I.L.Y" on the field and also boosting all of us alumni F.A.M.I.L.Y in the stands.

So next time you watch the game and see that large, solid block of student fans at every game right in the middle, realize that is the soon to be famous Rutgers Riot Squad.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

RU RAH RAH!

 

[MrsScrew_rivals32693]

They have done a good job & stayed until the last moment of the WSU game but I can assure you there were about 15 students left for the Alma Mater after the Norfolk State & Kansas games.

 

[RUinPinehurst]

They have done a good job & stayed until the last moment of the WSU game but I can assure you there were about 15 students left for the Alma Mater after the Norfolk State & Kansas games.

Unnecessary commentary.

 

[MrsScrew_rivals32693]

Unnecessary commentary.

not really when the OP stated that : "Seeing these student there all the way from the initial kickoff to the last whistle"

when they are all in their seats they are great and do a good job as I stated above. but I do have to call out kickoff to last whistle because that is an untruth. If you'd like, I can post pictures of the student section at kick off and at last whistle and you can tell me if you disagree. there are other threads on this board bemoaning the late arrival of students and regular fans alike and the fact that the players sang the Alma Mater to a small handful of students on Saturday. I know, I was there and watched from my seat.

 

[RU1977]

The Penn St student section was pretty awesome (even in the rain), I must say (was there). If ours was that like that, it would give opposing teams a rough time....

 

[RUinPinehurst]

not really when the OP stated that : "Seeing these student there all the way from the initial kickoff to the last whistle"

when they are all in their seats they are great and do a good job as I stated above. but I do have to call out kickoff to last whistle because that is an untruth. If you'd like, I can post pictures of the student section at kick off and at last whistle and you can tell me if you disagree. there are other threads on this board bemoaning the late arrival of students and regular fans alike and the fact that the players sang the Alma Mater to a small handful of students on Saturday. I know, I was there and watched from my seat.

Agree with your observation but not your tactics. The early exit by most students is undeniable. But your post was the first response to the OP, and in effect immediately morphed a positive OP post into a negative context, and at 5 am. ??? Sheesh.

Really, it may be best to address the "problem" by applauding the great effort of this core of exemplary student fanatics, not criticizing the lack of effort by others, who know who they are (and are highly unlikely to visit this site). OP was referring to a spirited subset of students. Others students can learn from them. Hopefully.

 

[MrsScrew_rivals32693]

"they have done a good job" was the first line of my sentence. but, they, and the rest of the students and most of the fans leave every game, and particularly the noon games at half time or certainly before the final whistle. I have a right to point out an inconsistency when I see it whether you think it's negative or not, especially since I am one of those there before kickoff and there until the Alma Mater.

the students were great at WSU. the fans were good. other than that fandom, from a student and non student perspective has been marginal at best due to early games and an overall negative craziness of the program this year.

 

[RUsSKii]

"they have done a good job" was the first line of my sentence. but, they, and the rest of the students and most of the fans leave every game, and particularly the noon games at half time or certainly before the final whistle. I have a right to point out an inconsistency when I see it whether you think it's negative or not, especially since I am one of those there before kickoff and there until the Alma Mater.

the students were great at WSU. the fans were good. other than that fandom, from a student and non student perspective has been marginal at best due to early games and an overall negative craziness of the program this year.

Not intending to turn this into another 5-page thread about the Blue Lot, but I will point out that there are more reasons why student and young alumni attendance is lagging this season than those already specified.

 

[MrsScrew_rivals32693]

unfortunately it's NOT just students and young alumni. our section has been empty all season long. we know people that have tix that have not come to the games for various reasons and who are, because of all the BS, not planning on coming to future games. The blue lot does not drive attendance in the stadium. the Scarlet lot was empty as were the yellow and purple and black lots.
it's an across the board "I can't be bothered going to the game" issue.

that being said I applaud the students that do go into the game, heck I take a photo of it every week and post it on FB saying nice job by those who attended. I am hoping that for the upcoming B1G night games there is a different attendance and a different atmosphere in the stadium.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

To all students and alumni,

Be sure to show the Rutgers student "Riot Squad" a bunch of love. I have gotten to see them in action at the games and also just roaming around seeing them hold their tailgates and they truly are a great group or kids who are a great addition to Rutgers. Most of these kids are the best of the best when it comes to being great fans and being a positive 12th man for our football team and also provides a boost to other sports teams as well. I wish we had something like this when I was a student, but either way I am VERY proud of these kids to grew this Riot Squad from nothing into a legitimate group of many, many student who can throw tailgates and make visible impacts on the TV in the student section. Seeing these student there all the way from the initial kickoff to the last whistle REALLY makes a difference because it shows recruits and alumni that this team's success matters to the Rutgers community. It really does make a massive difference when I watch the games in person or on the television to see that solid block of student ALWAYS in their seats and ALWAYS being there to boost the teams on the field production.

Anyway, these kids have stepped up and now it is our turn to step up. Be sure to give the Riot Squad a shout out if you see them and let them know how much you appreciate them and what they have already accomplished and strive to accomplish. These kids quietly are making a major impact and taking our fandom to an even HIGHER next step then we are at now. These kids are creating an entire experience for not only the student who get to actually join the Riot Squad and become part of that family, but they are also boosting the moral of the "F.A.M.I.L.Y" on the field and also boosting all of us alumni F.A.M.I.L.Y in the stands.

So next time you watch the game and see that large, solid block of student fans at every game right in the middle, realize that is the soon to be famous Rutgers Riot Squad.

They've done a great job growing this group the past few years and it's definitely a very good thing for the football program/student body!

One suggestion I have that you might want to pass along:

We need want is known as "yell leaders." Not to be confused with cheer team members, who really aren't good at this, or dance team members, who dance very well, "yell leaders" are popular at some southern and west coast schools, and in soccer stadiums. Generally they STAND, in front of the 1st row of the student/supporter sections (have you ever been to a Red Bull game) - maybe 1 or 2 guys/gals per section - and literally LEAD the cheers, songs, etc., PROPERLY AND IN UNISON - for an absolutely fantastic effect that makes it more enjoyable for the students themselves, and the rest of the stadium, alike!

This is something that, quite honestly, I would go directly to the top with and not bother Christine Zoffinger (cheer team coach) or Tim Smith (band director). This is something that would make the student section stand out even more than it already has the past few years, IMHO!

 

[ScarletDave]

Wow, it took 3 comments to say something negative about literally the best fans RU athletics has! Amazing! Let's list all the things that we are negative about:

The Riot Squad
The Head football coach
The quarterback
The defensive backfield
The Band director
The R-U Chant
The Cheer team in their effort to fix the R-U chant
That there's too much DJ Yoshi piped in music
That the band plays the fight song right after a touchdown this year instead of DJ Yoshi piped in music
The scoreboard at the stadium is too loud
The weather is always too cold, too hot, too windy, too dry, too sunny, too rainy.

Well, how about this: You don't like the coach, or the players, or the sound in the stadium, or the weather, or the band, or the cheerleading, then ... why are you a "fan"?

If our "fans" don't support us, no matter if we're the smallest team, biggest underdogs, or whatever else, then who will?

 

[MrsScrew_rivals32693]

again, reading comprehension on this board really needs a lot of work. I stated they have done a good job. But I will not agree that anyone, students, young alumni, general fans or the riot squad has stayed until the end because they have not.

not sure where the other complaints you listed were stated in this thread by anyone. NUTS gave an excellent suggestion on how to improve a process that is working but could be better. isn't that the goal for all of us? fans/coaches/players etc...to get better?

 

[RoxboroughKnight]

The Riot Squad is awesome! They have made strong showings at games for other sports as well, which I think is even more impressive.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Wow, it took 3 comments to say something negative about literally the best fans RU athletics has! Amazing! Let's list all the things that we are negative about:

The Riot Squad
The Head football coach
The quarterback
The defensive backfield
The Band director
The R-U Chant
The Cheer team in their effort to fix the R-U chant
That there's too much DJ Yoshi piped in music
That the band plays the fight song right after a touchdown this year instead of DJ Yoshi piped in music
The scoreboard at the stadium is too loud
The weather is always too cold, too hot, too windy, too dry, too sunny, too rainy.

Well, how about this: You don't like the coach, or the players, or the sound in the stadium, or the weather, or the band, or the cheerleading, then ... why are you a "fan"?

If our "fans" don't support us, no matter if we're the smallest team, biggest underdogs, or whatever else, then who will?

Because you love the program, plain and simply, and if you don't understand that now, Dave, you may never understand. People who INVEST in something - be it money, time, or simply love and passion - have EVERY right to complain about whatever they'd like, whenever they'd like, whether you, I, or anybody else, likes it or not. It's part of being a "fan," bottom line, and it happens everywhere, believe it or not.

 

[beaced_rivals]

When you think about it you remember that these games were originally played for the STUDENTS.It eventually morphed into the monstrous thing that it now is,nation wide.They have taken kids,who love the game that they have played for all of their young lives, and made them part of a monolith that exists to support its own existence.The players get their rewards,the school get$ its rewards and we ,the fans,get to share in it too.FB is bigger than Life. Good thing,bad thing? Make a choice. It's up to you how you perceive it.I have watched FB all of my life and it has become a part of me.As with other things in life ,I have learned to control my reaction to its ups and downs.(Being an RU Fan,I had to,to survive)

 

[sct1111]

The Riot Squad and the student section is great. It's the rest of the stadium who don't participate in the cheers that could use some work.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

The Riot Squad and the student section is great. It's the rest of the stadium who don't participate in the cheers that could use some work.

They do a very nice job - no doubt - but if you watch as much college football as I do, trust me, they can take it to new heights (and be, literally, among the BEST in the nation)! Remember around the nation, other than "getting loud," there aren't many "cheers" done by the entire stadium. 90% of it IS done by student sections, nationally, other than places like TAMU, for example, or "WE ARE..." at you-know-where.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

They have done a good job & stayed until the last moment of the WSU game but I can assure you there were about 15 students left for the Alma Mater after the Norfolk State & Kansas games.

For the record Mrs. Screw, those 15 students were most likely the Riot Squad. Unfortunately, we do not yet encompass every student in the student section. But the ones that stick around the longest are likely Riot Squad members. (I can't comment on EXACTLY the composition of that group in particular at that game, since I sit in a separate part of the stadium for football games, but we are there first, we are there last.

Also, everyone, there is no reason to jump on Mrs. Screw here. I can understand her frustrations, and as a student member of the Riot Squad, I share them. Many of our students are not there to support the team, they're there for entertainment value. If they feel the game isn't entertaining them, they often leave.

@MrsScrew I'd invite you to come down and see what we do, and how passionate we are. You can ask for our president, Alyx, our vice president Sean, or our Marketing chair, James. Also, tweet @RURiotSquad. Our social media chair is always looking to reach out to Alumni!

@AreYouNUTS I'll pass the suggestion along, but feel free to tweet it at us!

 

[AreYouNUTS]

For the record Mrs. Screw, those 15 students were most likely the Riot Squad. Unfortunately, we do not yet encompass every student in the student section. But the ones that stick around the longest are likely Riot Squad members. (I can't comment on EXACTLY the composition of that group in particular at that game, since I sit in a separate part of the stadium for football games, but we are there first, we are there last.

Also, everyone, there is no reason to jump on Mrs. Screw here. I can understand her frustrations, and as a student member of the Riot Squad, I share them. Many of our students are not there to support the team, they're there for entertainment value. If they feel the game isn't entertaining them, they often leave.

@MrsScrew I'd invite you to come down and see what we do, and how passionate we are. You can ask for our president, Alyx, our vice president Sean, or our Marketing chair, James. Also, tweet @RURiotSquad. Our social media chair is always looking to reach out to Alumni!

@AreYouNUTS I'll pass the suggestion along, but feel free to tweet it at us!

Done!

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Will do!

We've also been working on that call/response at Rutgers Soccer games. It's certainly something we're interested in, and we've even gotten some good shout outs from BTN mid-broadcast.

 

[MrsScrew_rivals32693]

@Sir ScarletKnight oddly, I'm not even an alumni. Just an overly passionate fan.

I can see the passion of the students/Riot Squad that stay. my frustration, not unlike that of NUTS and some others that have posted here, is that I have traveled around to other stadiums and, other than the fact that their programs are bigger and admittedly better than ours, why our fans and students can't get to the same level they are. PSU, Arkansas, Nebraska....the stands are all filled before kick off and no one leaves despite the scores. I know that PSU starts indoctrinating the student section the minute they purchase their season tickets...assigning seats, teaching them cheers, songs, when to wave the damn pom poms. I don't know why RU can't get there and I am hard pressed to figure out how.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

@Sir ScarletKnight oddly, I'm not even an alumni. Just an overly passionate fan.

I can see the passion of the students/Riot Squad that stay. my frustration, not unlike that of NUTS and some others that have posted here, is that I have traveled around to other stadiums and, other than the fact that their programs are bigger and admittedly better than ours, why our fans and students can't get to the same level they are. PSU, Arkansas, Nebraska....all filled before kick off and no one leaves despite the scores. I know that PSU starts indoctrinating the student section the minute they purchase their season tickets...assigning seats, teaching them cheers, songs, when to wave the damn pom poms. I don't know why RU can't get there and I am hard pressed to figure out how.

For one, the lottery system. Rutgers does go through the cheers and such several times throughout NSO, convocation, etc. But if you look on Facebook before most games, people are putting their tickets up for sale or just giving them away. Students apply for the lottery every week, whether they want to go or not, so that they'll have a better chance of getting in later, if they do want to go.

Unlike Ohio State, we don't have a passionate enough student base where everyone buys student season tickets.
And if you ever read a student facebook group, any issue with money is blamed on athletics. Football is the biggest target, no matter the facts. We have dorms that are a mess, buildings desperately in need of renovations, rising tuition, and people want something to blame, so they blame football. And you have Faculty blaming football any chance they get for every problem they have.

When the internet went out for around six hours yesterday, the first thing people started blaming, besides OIT and the admins? Football.

 

[MrsScrew_rivals32693]

When the internet went out for around six hours yesterday, the first thing people started blaming, besides OIT and the admins? Football.

well that's just silly, obviously it was Julie's fault...not just football. [laughing]

but your point about the lottery is probably correct. PSU also makes their students purchase season tickets (for about $100 for the season I was told) and apparently tell them where they will sit for the year and well, lots of cult stuff which, I hate to admit, looks damn impressive in person.

 

[RUScrew85]

@Sir ScarletKnight oddly, I'm not even an alumni. Just an overly passionate fan.

I can see the passion of the students/Riot Squad that stay. my frustration, not unlike that of NUTS and some others that have posted here, is that I have traveled around to other stadiums and, other than the fact that their programs are bigger and admittedly better than ours, why our fans and students can't get to the same level they are. PSU, Arkansas, Nebraska....the stands are all filled before kick off and no one leaves despite the scores. I know that PSU starts indoctrinating the student section the minute they purchase their season tickets...assigning seats, teaching them cheers, songs, when to wave the damn pom poms. I don't know why RU can't get there and I am hard pressed to figure out how.

Sure you are you took two MBA classes there.

 

[DJYoshi]

Wow, it took 3 comments to say something negative about literally the best fans RU athletics has! Amazing! Let's list all the things that we are negative about:

The Riot Squad
The Head football coach
The quarterback
The defensive backfield
The Band director
The R-U Chant
The Cheer team in their effort to fix the R-U chant
That there's too much DJ Yoshi piped in music
That the band plays the fight song right after a touchdown this year instead of DJ Yoshi piped in music
The scoreboard at the stadium is too loud
The weather is always too cold, too hot, too windy, too dry, too sunny, too rainy.

Well, how about this: You don't like the coach, or the players, or the sound in the stadium, or the weather, or the band, or the cheerleading, then ... why are you a "fan"?

If our "fans" don't support us, no matter if we're the smallest team, biggest underdogs, or whatever else, then who will?

Dave please note that I am NOT handling in-game music. that comes directly from the booth and not me. I only handle pre-game music. If you have any suggestions for pre-game and in-game production, please feel free to email me directly and I will bring the suggestions to production

[email protected]

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

This was with 45 minutes to go till kickoff.

This was second quarter or so.

 

[MrsScrew_rivals32693]

this was taken behind the student section just after kick off. the students, at least in the center section were all in place. However, please note all of the empty seats in the North Zone as well as the upper corners on both sides and the lower section on the visitor side of the stadium. the North zone and the upper corners never filled in.

 

[JerseyShoreKnight]

Right corner is Young Alumni section and left is usually away team's seats.

I was actually late getting in (for the first time ever haha) because I had my friend's ticket. He was coming from College Ave. Once the shuttles final drop them off and they reach the crosswalk, the police officers hold them up for several minutes so that cars can come through. Then you have an impatient mass of people trying to get into the stadium, which is a headache for the ticket takers. I must've seen this happen ten times before my friend finally got there. Took him a half hour to meet me for what's supposed to be a quick shuttle ride and walk to the gate. It's not like their not trying. Might've been faster to walk. I say screw the cars, let the students get to the game. It's their fault for driving down that road on game day.

 

[MrsScrew_rivals32693]

Right corner is Young Alumni section and left is usually away team's seats.

.

actually the visitor section is lower corner north zone, behind the cannon and upper level south zone corner section. I can tell you that section was filled with MSU fans.

 

[scarletbergen]

Rutgers Stadium is fantastic! What a blast! The game experience is overwhelming. Its Monday and I still have not physically recovered.

The students, the fans, the school and the team are all doing their part. And, we keep getting better!

Upstream red team, red team upstream.

 

[Njcanesfan]

RU's student section is always amazing at big games. I took in the FSU Miami game Saturday at doak for the first time. Though the whole crowd was loud and crazy... I didnt even notice a TRUE student section.

 

[satnom]

The Riot Squad is awesome! They have made strong showings at games for other sports as well, which I think is even more impressive.

This. Took my 8 and 6 yr to women's soccer game last Sunday against Michigan and this group of students did a great job of showing up to support the women's team which earned a 1-1 tie. Keep it up Riot Squad! Our teams are better off because of your efforts.

GO RU

 

[RutgersUnion]

Maybe it's just me but they need to work on their name. One of the members here on the board said the school came up with the name and it definitely sounds like it.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Maybe it's just me but they need to work on their name. One of the members here on the board said the school came up with the name and it definitely sounds like it.

The likely-hood of us changing our name is pretty much zilch at the moment. We don't have nearly the resources necessary to do so. (Nor do we feel it necessary.)

 

[JerseyShoreKnight]

actually the visitor section is lower corner north zone, behind the cannon and upper level south zone corner section. I can tell you that section was filled with MSU fans.

That's what I was referring to. You kept talking about the North endzone. Student section is South. And even the corners in the South are Young Alumni, not students. They usually all cram in to the middle any way.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

New Riot Squad video!

 

[koleszar]

I think you guy's and gal's are great. My only problem is why can't you guy's get the RU chant fixed. I mean it's like you guys all had cocaine with your Cherios for breakfast with the R R R R R. Slow it down for once. It's not that hard just two letters said real slow.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

I think you guy's and gal's are great. My only problem is why can't you guy's get the RU chant fixed. I mean it's like you guys all had cocaine with your Cherios for breakfast with the R R R R R. Slow it down for once. It's not that hard just two letters said real slow.

First of all, eww.

Second of all, as has been gone over multiple times on this board, we're working on it. It's not as easy as you seem to think. If it was, we'd already have fixed it.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

New hype video for Women's Soccer v. Penn State!