For one night, Terps ‘Rock and Roll’ again

For more than six years, Terrapin fans have sung an a cappella version of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll, Part 2" at Terp sporting events.

But before the men's basketball team's loss to Duke last night, the fans were joined by the brass of the Terrapin pep band — if only for a few stanzas.

The band was authorized to play the long-banned song during a university-organized pre-game pep rally, a decision made by the university-wide committee on sportsmanship, according to Bands Director Richmond Sparks. Sparks was notified yesterday afternoon that the band would be allowed to play it.

While fans have traditionally chanted "Hey, you suck!" during the song's chorus, they were instructed to instead chant "Hey, go Terps!" Most students chose not to heed the instruction, instead shouting the words that led to the song's banning in 2004.

The song was not played once during the game, and Sparks said its use would be limited to the pep rally.

"We played it like three or four times [before the game]," sophomore band member Stephanie Groff said. "That's what they wanted to say, and I really hope the students make it more positive. That way we can use it as a tradition, instead of us playing another song while the students do it."

The University Student Sportsmanship Committee officially banned the song in September 2004. The ruling was reversed shortly after, but coach Gary Williams asked that the song no longer be played at sporting events.

"Hopefully," Williams said in a written statement around the time of the ban, "they will understand the situation with ‘Rock and Roll, Part II,' but it's as simple as this — we don't want to win and have some of our fans walk away upset with their experience at the game."

"Even Gary Williams came out and said, ‘You know it's really hard for us; it's really, really bad for us,'" Sparks said. "So I think the students and Gary even said it doesn't make his players play better. It's something [the fans] do for themselves, and I think we need to start thinking about the whole team."

Student conduct at Terp sporting events has long been an issue at this university, with fan behavior ranging from singing the lewd version of "Rock and Roll, Part 2" to chanting "F--- Duke" at games not involving the Blue Devils.

Appearing before students at yesterday's pep rally, Williams was adamant about stopping the use of profanity at sporting events, urging, "We've got to get rid of that ‘F--- Duke' chant. ... You've got to help us."

A video message from university alumnus and ESPN SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt asking for improved behavior was also played.

Obscene cheers, however, were still prevalent throughout the game, and the a cappella version of "Rock and Roll, Part 2" rang through Comcast Center shortly after pregame introductions.

Groff said that the song might still be played at Saturday's game against Wake Forest. But until fans stop the rude chants, Sparks said, he has no problem not playing it.

"We're not censoring the students here," Sparks said. "The students are doing it on their own."

schneider@umdbk.com