I hate the whistler(s)

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DeefromAtlanta
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I hate the whistler(s)

Post by DeefromAtlanta »

Ruins the broadcast. Obnoxious. The novelty has worn off. I really don't think they serve any positive purpose. Really doubt it has any impact on the game or the other team. Sorry, they want to make the game about them.


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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by Vandyfb1 »

Me too, I agree
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by ChattaDore »

So... I love his enthusiasm and dedication. But ATTENTION MARKETING DEPARTMENT: the whistler is the reason I do not attend VU baseball games. I love them. I watch them with no sound ALL THE TIME. until they do something about it I won’t be back to a live game. If he goes to Omaha he will be an embarrassment for the school.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by historybill »

Agreed.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by oakparkDore »

ChattaDore wrote: Wed May 22, 2019 7:36 pm So... I love his enthusiasm and dedication. But ATTENTION MARKETING DEPARTMENT: the whistler is the reason I do not attend VU baseball games. I love them. I watch them with no sound ALL THE TIME. until they do something about it I won’t be back to a live game. If he goes to Omaha he will be an embarrassment for the school.
There’s no “if (they) goes to Omaha”. They are always there. And it is embarrassing every time. I spend a lot of my time apologizing to Omahans for our school. We are certainly not Omaha’s favorite team.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by Junnah »

Can’t agree more.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by egbertsouse »

Add me to the list of whistler haters and I do think it's time someone in Athletic Department do something - diplomatically - to put a stop to it.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by AirForceDore »

It does get a little old throughout the game. I have buddies stationed at Offutt AFB Neb that go to the CWS every year. They too cannot stand our team b/c of 2 people. Wish they would stop as much whistling. Maybe do it like 3 times a game or something just not the whole damn game.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by vu2003rpl »

Agree 100%.

Let me know where I can sign a petition. Novelty - if there ever was any - is definitely gone.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by vujoe »

I love the whistlers!
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by Ftuttle »

Totally agree, ruins the fan experience for others regardless of team rooting for.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by geeznotagain »

I'm in the hate camp. I was at the game tonight, and it was super-annoying. What does it accomplish? He/they whistle when we are bat, and when we are in the field. I see no pattern or strategy. Is it supposed to be intimidating to the other team? Supportive of Vandy? I have no clue. I identified one of them: longish white/silver hair, maybe mid-60's, wearing a white Vandy shirt and loud Bermuda shorts. He was seated in the reserved seats, along the 1st base line. When he wasn't whistling, it was cool. He was extremely vocal and encouraging to the fans around him. Led the Black/Gold cheers.

There was a second whistler, in a different location. I never located him. Or he may have been a fan from another team who was mocking him, I don't know. He wasn't as loud, or as constant.

I was sitting in the middle of fans from Auburn, Miss. St. and LSU. All thought he was an obnoxious redneck. He did nothing to improve our school's image.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by vebiltdervan »

Stop the whistling.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by ChattaDore »

Has anyone (as in another Vandy fan) ever simply asked them to stop and told them how annoying it is? How big of a boy is he? I may go once more just to tell him how bad it really is.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by ChattaDore »

Pick someone on this following link and email them to help stop the whistler.

https://vucommodores.com/staff.aspx
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I disagree with the original post ...

Post by Versus75 »

... because The Whistler is one of our greatest fans. When he's at the game, you know that Vanderbilt fans are in the house!

When Kyle Peterson and the other "analysts" at ESPN/SEC Network can take time out from talking about the major league draft and/or the food offerings at the SEC Tournament to talk about The Whistler, you know that Vanderbilt fans are in the house!

The Whistler and his brother and some friends attend most if not all of the Vanderbilt Baseball home games. They also travel to away games, including some that are VERY FAR AWAY. When you heard The Whistler in the season-opening series at Talking Stick, you knew that Vanderbilt fans were in the house.

His group leads the Black/Gold cheer often, including an attempt to rally our fans who might have been drowned out by "Go Big Blue!" at Kentucky last weekend. You knew that Vanderbilt fans were in the house!

I live in Louisville and hosted a tailgate party at the Vanderbilt-Louisville game. I announced my tailgate here a week in advance and set up 1 1/2 hours before the game. I had snacks and free booze. The only VandyBoys supporters who showed up were some friends (cohorts if you wish to put a negative spin on this) of The Whistler.

I knew than Vanderbilt fans were in the house!

That's not always the case, even when I'm at or watching a game played in our own park. The vast majority of the middle section (D-E) season ticket holders do not attend the games. We "announce" attendance of 3,300+ when the turnstile attendance is more like 1,300. The home crowd is often drowned out by a handful of visiting team supporters in Section AA.

But when The Whistler gets going and our team rallies, you know that Vanderbilt fans are in the house!

How about if the rest of us get some mojo going? We can start the Black/Gold cheer or the "Who Ya Wit?/VU" cheer and post "K" signs every time one of our boys strikes out an opponent. We can all shout and show our VU signs and even whistle to support the team. We can prove to the radio listeners, the TV viewers and the folks at Hawkins, Hoover and TD Waternouse that, yes, Vanderbilt fans are in the house!

And then The Whistler can sit back and watch the rest of us. His job is done.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by Georgiadore »

This has probably been posted before - article from the Tennessean about the whistlers (there are two) - particularly notes Tim Corbin's approval (at least at the time the article was written - over a year ago). I agree that it does get annoying.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports ... 606219002/
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by NateSY »

I’m a fan of it. I understand that others don’t like it and the sound can get annoying but I’ve talked to the primary whistler and he’s a nice dude who is dedicated to Vandy and loud. Lack of enthusiasm is an issue in our fan base, I’ve been shushed by other Vandy fans for cheering at football games, I’ve even had other Vandy fans contact security because I was too loud and “ruining” the game for them. As a side note security didn’t care and I appreciate that.

I guess the point is that there are a lot of Vandy fans that think when watching sports you should sit silently and clap occasionally. These dudes let the world know that they are dedicated fans who love the team and are always going to support them.

Out of curiosity, those of you who say this makes VU look bad to other SEC fan bases, why do you care? I’ve had Vol fans spit on me, Ole Miss fans deny me service (getting food after the game), drunk KY fans spew spittle in my face while they talk trash, A&M fans throw things at me, and countless other negative interactions with other SEC fan bases. I don’t judge every fan based of these people. Why does anyone give a damn what they think?
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by charlestonalum »

my views have changed over time - I initially was very opposed to the whistler and found it egocentric behavior that interfered with my enjoyment of the game either listening or in person - that was years ago. As time has passed, maybe my hearing has become a little impaired or I have become desensitized, but mainly I have gotten used to it and now consider it part of our game. It is not like the cowbells (will we hear them tonight) but it certainly is now a Vanderbilt tradition that annoys our opponents, commentators and others more than our own fans including those who have posted above. The whistles now are in cadence and initiate by many fans the same clap in cadence. They have become the equivalent of cheerleaders. I am with Nate who has endured countless negative experiences from opposing fans and maybe, just maybe it is OK for VU fans to finally be noticed since we will never outnumber them. I find mostly that I just have learned to either tune them out or just say - yes, VU fans are in the park. The last thing that I would advocate is having VU escort them out like they did our most famous fan, Vandy Lance. That was embarrassing.
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Re: I hate the whistler(s)

Post by historybill »

The clincher for me is that, if you don't know who he is, you can't really tell which team he is rooting for.

It's not like yelling "War Eagle," or that strange University of Cincinnati whoop, or the Gator chomp, which people associate with certain fan bases.

It's just weird and annoying... like a yippie dog that won't shut up next door. When a yippie dog next door barks all day, you don't know what it is barking at, and you don't care. You just want it to shut up.

And yes, by the way, I have had some bad interactions with other fan bases, especially at Neyland Stadium, where UT fans from behind us threw ice on us. I'm not sure what that has to do with the Vanderbilt whistler.
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