Author Topic: Sports fans: The inventor of the "Wave" dies :( (Read 550 times)

Ripsnort · « **on:** December 21, 2001, 09:38:00 AM »

The Associated Press

BOTHELL, Wash. (AP) Bill Bissell, a former University of Washington marching band
director who helped create "The Wave," died Wednesday in his sleep. He was 70.

Bissell directed the Huskies' band with flair, innovation and humor from 1970 until he
retired in 1994.

He and former Washington yell leader Robb Weller introduced "The Wave," in which
fans stand with arms raised and cheer section by section, to college football 20 years
ago.

Bissell directed halftime shows at 14 bowl games, including six Rose Bowls and an
Orange Bowl, and was awarded a Citation of Excellence from the National Band
Association in 1981.

Dinger · « **Reply #1 on:** December 21, 2001, 10:26:00 AM »

It's sad to register the passing of another human being.

The wave, however, is one of the greatest travesties of modern sports. Whereas most other "cheers" tend to focus the audience's attention on the field and encourage the players, the wave focuses the crowd's attention on itself and discourages those on the field. Nothing kills a home-team rally like the wave.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2001, 10:32:00 AM »

Never seen the wave in person have ya? The Wave is designed to be implemented while the visiting teams Offense is on the field, it brings the spirit up of the home town defense, its loud and disruptive, and causes the visiting team offense to make mistakes, jump offsides, and makes audibles at the line of scrimmage impossible due to the acoustics of roaring fans and visual chaos...if you've ever been in a good, well disciplined Wave, its a awesome, itimidating site!

funkedup · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2001, 12:05:00 PM »

So now we know the name of this person we have sworn to kill if we ever found him. Unfortunately he is already dead.

[ 12-21-2001: Message edited by: funkedup ]

skernsk · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2001, 12:27:00 PM »

...if you've ever been in a good, well disciplined Wave, its a awesome, itimidating site!

I played a game in the Calgary Saddledome where the entire bottom of the stands were full. The wave started and it was unbelievable. Coolest memory of my not so distinguished hockey career.

Animal · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2001, 01:27:00 PM »

Its always great to see five drunk guys tring to do a wave by themselves, and even then they cant get it right.

LePaul · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2001, 02:19:00 PM »

In honor of his passing...

<sits...get up real fast, raising arms overhead....and back to sitting again...>

A wave in his honor

Ripsnort · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2001, 02:20:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by LePaul:
In honor of his passing...

<sits...get up real fast, raising arms overhead....and back to sitting again...>

A wave in his honor

OMG, I laughed so hard on this one BD.

Hehe, cleaning monitor....

scruu · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2001, 08:50:00 PM »

Sad to see him pass, But In Philly we never used the "Wave" we just tossed batteries at the opposing team.

NUTTZ