Popcorn Popping? Really?

[statman]

For the last three years, my seats have been within 5-10 rows of the band. In that three year period, I have NEVER heard "Popcorn Popping" played by the band. Not once. I usually get in my seat within about 5 minutes of kickoff, and I usully leave promptly when the game is over, so maybe they play it either before the game or after. But I really haven't heard it during the games. At all.

Is it actually being played and I'm just blocking it out? Or is this one of those apocryphal things that everyone talks about, but no one really ever witnesses?

(BTW - I know they used to play it in the past. Back in the day of flying tortillas, Popcorn Popping was the time when everyone chucked tortillas all over everywhere).

[BigFatMeanie]

I don't recall them playing it at all last year (although I don't ever pay particular attention to what the band plays). I think they've played it less as they've received negative feedback about it.

[SCcoug]

For the last three years, my seats have been within 5-10 rows of the band. In that three year period, I have NEVER heard "Popcorn Popping" played by the band. Not once. I usually get in my seat within about 5 minutes of kickoff, and I usully leave promptly when the game is over, so maybe they play it either before the game or after. But I really haven't heard it during the games. At all.

Is it actually being played and I'm just blocking it out? Or is this one of those apocryphal things that everyone talks about, but no one really ever witnesses?

(BTW - I know they used to play it in the past. Back in the day of flying tortillas, Popcorn Popping was the time when everyone chucked tortillas all over everywhere).

My understanding is that they only play it during the final minutes of the game if BYU is blowing out the opponent. I've heard it played in the last 3 years but couldn't tell you what game.

[wally]

I think that the BYU "popcorn popping" tradition falls into what I consider prescriptive rivalry smack. We Utah fans have mocked it so consistently for so long that it is prescriptively true. The same goes for "belligerent drunken Ute" smack. Never mind that I personally have never witnessed it, I accept, and embrace it.

[Eddie]

I've heard the tubas playing it as the band is leaving the stadium - and I mean they are already down the tunnels and walking under the stadium towards the gate when I've heard it. Aside from that, I don't recall hearing it much.

Personally - it is stuff like Popcorn Popping that my youngest daughter LOVES to hear at the games. Something familiar to her. So I'm good with that - anything that brings her good memories of attending the game with Dad is a positive in my book. I don't find the song annoying or bothersome enough to care one way or the other myself.

[Uncle Ted]

I just asked my daughter who is in the BYU band (going on her 4th year) and she said they can play "Popcorn Popping" any time but they don't do play it all that often because people find it "too silly for a football game". She also said that the donors get kinda mad because, apparently, "the band supposed to be super serious all the time".

I miss the day of the flying tortillas.

[chrisrenrut]

I've never really heard about the throwing tortilla's think. How long ago was that, and what started it?

[beelzebabette]

I've never really heard about the throwing tortilla's think. How long ago was that, and what started it?

I think the real driving force behind that was Macey's.

[Blueintheface]

I've never really heard about the throwing tortilla's think. How long ago was that, and what started it?

I was indoctrinated during its height back in the 80's. I didn't understand it but knew it was uniquely BYU. Scoring in the 40's and 50's so frequently in that decade made for quite a mess.

[Uncle Ted]

I've never really heard about the throwing tortilla's think. How long ago was that, and what started it?

It was back in the early 80's or so.

I am guessing that Utah fans started throwing beer (and haven't stopped) so BYU fans started throwing tortillas.

[statman]

I've never really heard about the throwing tortilla's think. How long ago was that, and what started it?

I think the roots of it started in 1984 with the Baylor game - only it was with cup lids and not tortillas. IIRC, it was free souvenier cup of sprite day - or something like that. After one of BYU's TDs, students in the endzone section started throwing the lids of their cups around. Pretty soon, the whole stadium was doing it. It was a long, hot, boring game. By the end of 1984, there were students throwing tortillas around after scores instead of lids. There was a guy on my floor at DT who'd have his brother bring up cartons of them from SoCal for home games (they were still kinda hard to get in bulk in Provo at that time). We all went to the games with a couple bags of them.

It really started in earnest while I was on my mission - 1985 & 1986 seasons. When I got back for 1987 season, there were tortillas everywhere in the student sections. Pretty soon, the Administration cracked down (as they are want to do), they disappeared pretty quickly after that. I'd guess that by the early '90s they were pretty much gone, except for the few freshmen who'd heard great tortilla stories from their older siblings and tried to restart the trend.

Runnutz was posting on it in 1999: http://www.utefans.net/rivalry/top10_game_at_byu.html

Apparently there was a mini-tortillagate at BYU as late as 2002: http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/39772 and http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar.../sp/sp03a.html
http://www.usustatesman.com/2.5355/c...ros-1.572342#5


And again in 2004 as the Utes prepared for the Fiesta Bowl: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont..._1s21utah.html


So it started in the 80's and has made a few comebacks.

[BlueHair]

I hear "Popcorn Popping" at least three times a year. It's usually very late in the game. We're not "beat the traffic" kind of people, so it might even be after the game when they play it.

[PolyCougar]

I think the roots of it started in 1984 with the Baylor game - only it was with cup lids and not tortillas. IIRC, it was free souvenier cup of sprite day - or something like that. After one of BYU's TDs, students in the endzone section started throwing the lids of their cups around. Pretty soon, the whole stadium was doing it. It was a long, hot, boring game. By the end of 1984, there were students throwing tortillas around after scores instead of lids. There was a guy on my floor at DT who'd have his brother bring up cartons of them from SoCal for home games (they were still kinda hard to get in bulk in Provo at that time). We all went to the games with a couple bags of them.

It really started in earnest while I was on my mission - 1985 & 1986 seasons. When I got back for 1987 season, there were tortillas everywhere in the student sections. Pretty soon, the Administration cracked down (as they are want to do), they disappeared pretty quickly after that. I'd guess that by the early '90s they were pretty much gone, except for the few freshmen who'd heard great tortilla stories from their older siblings and tried to restart the trend.

Runnutz was posting on it in 1999: http://www.utefans.net/rivalry/top10_game_at_byu.html

Apparently there was a mini-tortillagate at BYU as late as 2002: http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/39772 and http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar.../sp/sp03a.html
http://www.usustatesman.com/2.5355/c...ros-1.572342#5


And again in 2004 as the Utes prepared for the Fiesta Bowl: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont..._1s21utah.html


So it started in the 80's and has made a few comebacks.

I think I remember a kick returner for Texas A&M getting pegged right in the face mask back in '96. I could be wrong, but I remember laughing for a while, then realizing that was probably pretty dangerous... great toss though.