During a little spring cleaning for the athletics department, you might find dirty cleats or scuffed baseballs — and, apparently, the occasional gong. Yes, UR’s varsity cheerleading squad in the late ’70s hosted its very own version of The Gong Show at every football and basketball game.
Scott Hall, B’80, was a member and equipment manager of the cheerleading squad that banged the gong for two seasons. According to Hall, the squad hit the gong during basketball games when an opposing player missed their first free throw — hoping the noise would cause them to miss the second one, too.
The gong was only one of the ways the cheerleaders invigorated crowds of Spider fans, but these creative energies weren’t without some risk. Squad captain Lynn Korink Hall, W’79, often met with athletic director Chuck Boone about acceptable cheers. In one instance, then-president E. Bruce Heilman intervened because of a cheer during football games called “Shoot the Moon,” fearing it involved “mooning.” Kimberly Olsen, W’79, recalls being called to the president’s house to perform it.
“We all went over there, as if called to the principal’s office, and did the cheer for him so he could see it was harmless,” Olsen said. “It all ended in laughter.”