College athletics are arguably built on tradition. So when a particular tradition is ‘mandated’ away, fans will (in most cases) try to circumvent that ruling in order to maintain normalcy and home court/field advantage.
Recently the NCAA ruled that Virginia Tech’s tradition of beginning basketball games (and other sports) with Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” to create a home court advantage was not fair. The NCAA wants to keep tournament environments as neutral as possible and has banned schools from playing traditional songs or anthems over the public-address system. Thus neutering the advantage and atmosphere “Enter Sandman” created for the Hokies.
So when VA-Tech’s women’s basketball team garnered a #1 seed in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, fans took matters into their own hands…er… voices.
As with many of the NCAA’s rulings, it seems to have done the opposite of it’s intended purpose. So much so that Metallica even re-tweeted the moment after tip-off (recorded by local reporter Riley Wyant) when the students went all a cappella on the short-sighted ruling.
Chilling!
After @NCAA banned Enter Sandman from being played at tip-off, this is how Hokie Nation responded. pic.twitter.com/uN2wDYdW1I
— Riley Wyant (@rileywyantTV) March 17, 2023
[Twitter: Riley Wyant]
