What defines a Lynah fan?

[WillR]

I was approached by someone at the game who asked the question "who are the Lynah faithful"?  I have been trying to think of a succinct answer but so far i don't have one. I think the people who could be confused for statues in section B are not the Lynah faithful but then i might consider the townie who has been going to games for 20 years as Lynah faithful even if he is little more animated.

This seems like a logical group of people to ask the same question.  Is everyone at Lynah the faithful or must one travel to away games to earn the title or is there some middle ground here? Thoughts anyone?

[Robb]

I'd say it depends on context.  If a reporter writes that "the Lynah Faithful made the rafters tremble," I can imagine that everyone at the game is screaming together - we're all part of the Faithful at that point.

On the other hand, if you're trying to draw a line between the "elite" Faithful and the others in the crowd, my personal rationale would be that you have to take your passion for Cornell hockey to a point where most other people's reaction would be, "For a hockey game???"  

This could be a moment of particular fervor (e.g. when I flew from Texas to Michigan to catch the games at MSU) or a lesser level but sustained over a long period of time (e.g. only missed a couple home games during their undergrad years).  The gods among men are those who manage both - e.g. when Age had his ridiculous streak of not missing ECAC games, home OR away, and when Greg made all the home games while living in Chapel Hill, NC.

[ftyuv]

I think it's fair to just say the the Lynah faithful is a term for Cornell men's hockey fans.  The word "fan" itself covers a range from "everyone in the venue" to "hard-core fanatics," and since as Robb pointed out that range is used for the Faithful, I think you don't need to go about folding hard-core-ness into the definition of the Faithful.  We don't need to be elitist about everything...

[ebilmes]

You wouldn't call a Duke student who goes to one game a Cameron Crazie or however it's spelled. Collectively, we are the Lynah Faithful, but I would define a Lynah Faithful as someone who knows the cheers. To me, it's an easy distinction: have tickets and come to games, you know the cheers. Townie who's been to a lot of games? You know the cheers. Alum who makes it to a few games a year and lurks on eLynah? You probably also know the cheers. Someone who has B tickets but hardly ever comes and makes no effort to cheer? You are a facetimer.

[ftyuv]

Well, but you probably wouldn't call that Duke student a real fan of whatever it is they play there (basketball?).  I don't see the reason to try to prove how awesome and special we are by defining a completely separate term which has the same range of meanings as "fan."  Coining the phrase "Lynah faithful" is fine because it makes things specific and reflects our specific history and traditions, but there's no reason to make the definition any more complex than it is.  A Lynah Faithful is a Cornell men's hockey fan.  What makes you a member true of the Faithful?  Well, what makes you a true fan?  It's the same thing.

[Killer]

If you bleed when the boys lose, though you have no visible wounds, you're among the Faithful.

[French Rage]

[quote Killer]If you bleed when the boys lose, though you have no visible wounds, you're among the Faithful.[/quote]

So Jesus is a Lynah Faithful?

[CowbellGuy]

[quote Robb](e.g. only missed a couple home games during their undergrad years)[/quote]

Facetimers...

[Killer]

He might be, but I'm guessing nail holes count as visible.

[Trotsky]

Nominalist fallacy.  There's no definition and certainly no bill of requirements for membership among the Lynah Faithful.  There are probably some things which disqualify you from consideration (favorite college hockey team somebody other than Cornell; contracting syphilis while in Potsdam), but otherwise...

Odds are, if you're reading this and are not covered by either of the prior two exceptions, you're in the club.  Bring chips.

[mttgrmm]

i think clapping in rhythm to the cowbell should be a strict requirement, or at least having the good sense to know that the cowbell is not a speed-up-as-you-go cheer a la "LGR" or "seiveseiveseiveseive" (which don't necessarily have to speed up either, they just always do)

[Trotsky]

[quote mttgrmm]i think clapping in rhythm to the cowbell should be a strict requirement, or at least having the good sense to know that the cowbell is not a speed-up-as-you-go cheer[/quote]

This eliminates at least 90% of every Lynah crowd since November 1981.

[cornellhockey4eva13]

A Lynah faithful is one who looks forward to watching these men skate, who supports the team through thick and thin, and who loves Cornell forever after they become a fan. These are the Lynah Faithful

[French Rage]

[quote mttgrmm]i think clapping in rhythm to the cowbell should be a strict requirement, or at least having the good sense to know that the cowbell is not a speed-up-as-you-go cheer a la "LGR" or "seiveseiveseiveseive" (which don't necessarily have to speed up either, they just always do)[/quote]

Well, that basically eliminates everyone on the face of the earth under 20, as youngun's today seem to think they can speed up any cheer until it's ineffective.  See: "De-fense!" in basketball.

[Rosey]

[quote mttgrmm]i think clapping in rhythm to the cowbell should be a strict requirement, or at least having the good sense to know that the cowbell is not a speed-up-as-you-go cheer a la "LGR" or "seiveseiveseiveseive" (which don't necessarily have to speed up either, they just always do)[/quote]
What really annoys me is that I can't hear the g*ddamned bell in G over the out-of-rhythm clapping.  I've had to resort to watching the claps in B and replaying the cadence in my mind to get the "fight!" at the right time.  It's oddly successful, but still irritating.

Kyle