Students: Why jingle your keys on kickoffs?

CyFanz

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Apr 11, 2006
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The student support was great the other night but for some time I've had this question - why do you hold your keys up and shake them on kickoffs? This seems to have started a few years ago and I guess I don't get it. When I went to ISU in the late 70's to early 80's, we would shake our keys for "key" plays such as 3rd and short. On kickoffs, we would put one arm in the air (the other was used for hiding your beer), move your arm in a circular motion (similar to a cyclone) and would yell "OOOOHHHHHHHHH" as loud as possible until the ball was kicked or blood squirted out of your larynx. In fact that's what I still do. Just wondering if there is more to it that I'm missing.

Beat the Hawks!!!
 

cyclonedave25

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The "pitch" of the jingling keys has been a proven scientific fact, that it does indeed strike fear into visiting teams. Don't ask why or where to find it, just believe it.
 

tman24

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Feb 6, 2008
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Its like asking why the sky is blue. Someone started it years ago and its just continues every year.
 

LindenCy

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Mar 19, 2006
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It isn't that recent. I know they have been doing it at least since I was a freshman in the early 90's.
 

Flag Guy

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Mar 2, 2007
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For some time I've had this question - why do you hold your keys up and shake them on kickoffs?

Why not? :biggrin:


When I was there we still yelled "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH" until the ball was kicked (heck I still do it in my living room)

Though I like the wave your arm in a circle like a Cyclone thing....
 

Ms3r4ISU

Me: Mea culpa. Also me: Sine cura sis.
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May 7, 2008
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A lot of teams do it; even Iowa.

Well, then, what a reason for not doing it.
As the OP said, the keys were (back then) for a key play. I guess someone didn't want to wait for an important play or didn't understand the significance and instead just wanted to make noise. Hope you don't lose your keys for shaking them so often.
 

Dave19642006

Well-Known Member
Nov 21, 2006
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Because it's fun, and I like to show I have a cool car.

just incase you dont know this is it
clunker.jpg


is other car is this
1976_amc_pacer_15_m.jpg
 

NobodyBeatsCy

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Apr 17, 2008
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Well, then, what a reason for not doing it.
As the OP said, the keys were (back then) for a key play. I guess someone didn't want to wait for an important play or didn't understand the significance and instead just wanted to make noise. Hope you don't lose your keys for shaking them so often.

We did it in the 80's. It denoted a "Key" play
 

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