We, as the University of Maryland student body, have let the football team down. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Perhaps it is not the team that has allowed us to drop to 0-2 at Byrd this year; it is the lack of home-field advantage we have created over the past year and a half. I mean, come on: it got so bad they actually had to bring in an emcee to babysit us for the whole game and tell us when to do the wave or shout.

Sure, we all get loud when it comes to third down or when “Rock and Roll, Part II” is sung a capella, but what have we really done as far as creating new traditions or uniqueness when it comes to this year’s team? I hate to say it, but if I hear “Let’s go Maryland” 20 times a game, it doesn’t demonstrate all the wittiness and creativity we are capable of. Trying to get 11,000 students to do or say the same chant at once is difficult – I mean, Special K can’t even do it. Reform is necessary to make Byrd a tough place to play once again.

First, we need to take this into our own hands. It is a punch in the face to have the university sponsor a “leader” for the student section or have some guy on the Jumbotron try to get us all rowdy. Let’s bring the power back to the students and create our own non-sanctioned student section rather than one given by the university. Do you really think Duke was given the Cameron Crazies, or Texas A&M’s governing body told them they should be the 12th man? Screw Testudo’s Troops – I hate it. We had the Red Army, and the university decided it wasn’t appropriate for whatever reason. We need to put Testudo’s Troops behind us and create our own stamp for the university’s football traditions.

Second, let’s create a club or group of about 100 or 200 people (or more if the demand is enough) and meet once a week. In this meeting, we would discuss specific chants for upcoming opponents that would really get under their skin. Rather than just say they suck, we should find out something embarrassing about their past. We can pump up our football team with these chants as well.

How could we possibly let our best player on offense, Vernon “Duke” Davis, go without hearing “Duuuuuuuke” when he makes a huge play down the field? Or if someone on defense levels an opposing player, why not say, “You got jacked up!” and point at him? And what ever happened to, “Move those chains?”

Every game I see groups of alumni in other parts of the stadium putting it together. Why not stand up as a crowd and all do it together? I was forced to spend a day in Charlottesville, Va. last year to see the Terp game there, and after every single first down, their whole crowd shouted “first down.” It created a sense of tradition and united the crowd, which probably gave their offense momentum and a sense of home-field advantage. If our slogan is “protect this house,” why not have our students chant it to our advantage when we make a big stop on defense, rather than have our opponents make fun of us?

Third, we have the privilege of having a Thursday night game this year at home against one of the best teams in the nation, Virginia Tech. The football team should wear special black jerseys for the game like the one on display in the University Book Center. Lots of pro teams wear special third-color jerseys to commemorate Monday night games, and the black jerseys would be amazing under the lights.

The entire student section should also be decked out in black T-shirts, hats – whatever you can find to wear to the game. The student section would stand out not only in the stadium but on one of the greatest stages in college football: primetime on Thursday night.

This is just the beginning. Our student body is wittier and more creative than what the university gives us credit for. Bring back the home field advantage and put the power back in the hands of the students rather than in the university. Who decided “suck” is inappropriate for football games or midnight is a bad time for Midnight Madness? West Virginia students came in and said we were “calm” and “passive” compared to their students. We should all unite as students at the university and make Byrd stadium a place opposing teams dread.

Zach Wahl is a sophomore business major. He can be reached at zwterp08@umd.edu.