College Football: Choosing a 2011 Theme Song for Every Preseason Top 25 Team
Theme songs set the stage, amplify an underlying meaning or tell a story.
Television programs, movies and even certain individuals (i.e. “Hail to the Chief” for the President of the USA) have their own theme songs.
In the world of sports many individual programs and even teams have their own thematic music.
The musical lead in to ESPN’s “Sports Center” the cheesy background music at the Master’s, Monday Night Football’s original instrumental opening, “One Shining Moment” at the end of CBS’s coverage of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and original numbers such as the 1986 Chicago Bear’s “Super Bowl Shuffle” all come to mind.
But why shouldn’t each team and each season played have its own theme music?
A song that captures the essence of a certain moment in time, which tells a story or simply provides an introductory lead-in to what will become a full season of play.
The following slideshow attempts to do just that and assigns each 2011 preseason Top 25 College Football team with a “theme song.”
As a note, the Top 25 list utilized in this presentation is from ESPN’s CFB Live Preseason Poll that was released last week.
25. Arizona State
1 of 25
What Have You Done for me Lately: Janet Jackson
“What have you done for me lately?
Ooh ooh ooh yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh ooh ooh yeah”
Though hopeful for a better season in 2011 the Sun Devils must be asking fifth year coach Dennis Erickson something along the lines of “What Have You Done for Me Lately?”
Since going 10-3 in 2007, a season that included a share of the Pac-10 title and an ugly loss to Texas in the Holiday Bowl, Arizona State has skidded to a 15-21 mark in the past three seasons.
Janet will stop singing when something has been done.
24. West Virginia
2 of 25
Thriller: Michael Jackson
“It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream but terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes
You're paralyzed
'Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one's gonna save you from the beast about strike
You know it's thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight”
Last season offensive mastermind Dana Holgorsen took an Oklahoma State offense that ranked No. 56 in scoring in 2009 to a No. 3 rank nationally in 2010.
In 2011 Holgorsen will be at the helm of the Mountaineer offense that returns eight starters from last season.
A thrilling offensive explosion is about to occur in Morgantown, West Virginia.
The beast is about to strike.
23. Missouri
3 of 25
With or Without You: U2
“Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away”
Though stellar QB Blaine Gabbert “gave himself away” to the outstretched arms of the NFL draft the Tigers return virtually all of their 2010 team this upcoming season.
Yes, there are questions in the secondary, but the Tigers would have been primed to win big in 2011 “with or without” NFL bound Blaine Gabbert.
"And you give yourself away" makes the NFL draft seem even sleazier.
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22. Auburn
4 of 25
The Way We Were: Barbara Streisand
“Misty water colored memories of the way we were
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then or has time rewritten every line
If we had a chance to do it all again tell me would we could we
Memories may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember we simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter we will remember
Whenever we remember the way we were the way we were”
Rebuilding an entire team is just not easy, especially when you play in the SEC west.
But, at least the Auburn Tigers will have the memories of the glory of 2010 to help them along in 2011.
And, the parts that are too painful (and may come back to haunt them) they can “simply choose to forget.”
21. Mississippi State
5 of 25
I Will Survive: Gloria Gaynor
“Did you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no, not I
I will survive
oh as long as I know how to love
I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive
I will survive
I will survive...!”
The road has never been easy for the Mississippi State Bulldogs; but you’ve never seen them whine about it (at least with Dan Mullen at the helm).
They may have to overtake Auburn, Alabama, LSU and Arkansas to finally take the next step in their program’s history but they don’t seem daunted.
20. Texas
6 of 25
The Times They Are A-changing: Bob Dylan
“Don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times, they are a changin’”
You can have the Longhorn Network, you can have the lion’s share of the revenue sharing, you can have the highest paid coach, the best recruits, and, you can still only have five wins.
Though 2010’s dismal performance in no way signals the end of the glory days in Austin let’s remember that at the end of the day, football, like life, tends to be cyclical.
19. Virginia Tech
7 of 25
Back in Black: AC/DC
“Yes, I'm in a bang,
With a gang,
They've got to catch me if they want me to hang.
Cause I'm back on the track,
And I'm beatin' the flack,
Nobody's gonna get me on another rack.
So look at me now,
I'm just makin' my play,
Don't try to push your luck, just get out of my way.
'Cause I'm back, yes I'm back,
Well, I'm back, yes I'm back,
Well, I'm back, back,
Well I'm back in black,
Yes I'm back in black”.
QB Tyrod Taylor and backs Darren Evans and Ryan Williams are gone but that doesn’t mean the party is over in Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech has successfully undergone rebuilding projects before.
Since the ACC was expanded for the 2005 season the Hokies have won four of the six ACC Coastal division titles and gone on to win three ACC crowns.
And, one of the coolest uniform tweaks in 2010 was flat black helmets that made a limited appearance.
Back in black in Blacksburg, baby . . .
18. Florida
8 of 25
The Boys are Back in Town: Thin Lizzy
“Guess who just got back today,
Them wild-eyed boys that'd been away,
Haven't changed, had much to say,
But man, I still think them cats are crazy.
They were askin' if you were around,
How you was, where you could be found.
Told them you were livin' downtown,
The boys are back in town, (the boys are back in town).
I said The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town.
The boys are back in town, (the boys are back in town).
The boys are back in town, (the boys are back in town).”
Only a few teams could make an eight win season seem so disappointing; Florida is one of those teams.
After only one year out of the SEC championship mix and one year out of the BCS the Gators should be “back in town” in 2011.
17. Notre Dame
9 of 25
Welcome Back Kotter: John Sebastian
“Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out.
Welcome back to that same old place that you laughed about.
Well the names have all changed since you hung around,
But those dreams have remained and they're turned around.
Who'd have thought they'd lead ya (Who'd have thought they'd lead ya)
Back here where we need ya (Here where we need ya)
Yeah we tease him a lot cause we've got him on the spot,
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.”
After going 24-26 over the past four seasons 2011 is more than likely the year that the Irish will be “back.”
Back over nine wins, back in the BCS mix and maybe even back for more than that.
You don’t have to like them, and you may not want to extend them a warm welcome; but Notre Dame just might be back.
16. Michigan State
10 of 25
Do You Believe in Magic: Loving Spoonful
“Believe in the magic that can set you free
Ohh, talking 'bout magic
Do you believe like I believe
Do you believe in magic
Do you believe like I believe
Do you believe, believer
Do you believe like I believe
Do you believe in magic”
Last season there was a load of magic up Sparty’s puffy sleeves; the overtime thriller against Notre Dame; the two touchdowns scored in the final two minutes to come back against Northwestern on the road; 22 points in the fourth quarter to come back against Purdue and barely surviving a 19 point fourth quarter charge by Penn State in the season finale, preserving a six point victory and a piece of the Big Ten pie for the first time in 20 years.
Do you believe in more magic?
15. TCU
11 of 25
Staying Alive: Bee Gees
“Whether you're a brother
or whether you're a mother
you're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin'
and everybody shakin'
and were stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive”
Most of the starring cast is gone from TCU’s amazing Rose Bowl run in 2011. In fact, only 10 total starters return for the Horned Frogs in 2010 (and two are special teams’ starters).
But, this is a team that has proved resilient over Gary Patterson’s stunning decade at TCU, and with a final Mountain West schedule to smooth out the rough patches; TCU will more than likely be “Staying Alive.”
Wouldn’t you love to see Patterson in a low cut jump suit with a bunch of gold chains?
14. Wisconsin
12 of 25
Born to Run: Bruce Springsteen
“We're gonna get to that place
Where we really want to go
And we'll walk in the sun
But till then tramps like us
Baby we were born to run”
With QB Scott Tolzien gone it will be up to the dynamic duo of backs James White and Montee Ball to keep the Badgers moving down the field and up the charts.
This is a team that will be defined by running the ball successfully; a race that might end as winners of the first ever Big Ten Championship game.
13. Nebraska
13 of 25
There’s a New Kid in Town: The Eagles
“There's talk on the street, it sounds so familiar
Great expectations, everybody's watching you
People you meet they all seem to know you
Even your old friends treat you like you're something new
Johnny come lately, the new kid in town
Everybody loves you so don't let them down
Everybody's talking 'bout the new kid in town
Everybody's walking like the new kid in town
There's a new kid in town
I don't want to hear it
There's a new kid in town
I don't want to hear it
There's a new kid in town
There's a new kid in town”
It’s hard not to be excited about Nebraska standing on the verge of their first ever Big Ten campaign.
“Great expectations, everybody’s watching you . . . Even your old friends treat you like you’re something new.”
12. Arkansas
14 of 25
Don’t You Forget About Me: Simple Minds
“Will you stand above me?
look my way, never love me
rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
down, down, down
Will you recognize me?
call my name or walk on by
rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
down, down, down, down
Hey, hey, hey, hey
ooh, oh
Don't you try to pretend
it's my feeling, we'll win in the end
I won't harm you or touch your defenses
vanity and security
Don't you forget about me
I’ll be alone, dancing, you know it baby
going to take you apart
I’ll put us back together at heart, baby
Don't you forget about me
don't, don't, don't, don't
don't you forget about me
As you walk on by
will you call my name?
as you walk on by
will you call my name?
when you walk away
Or will you walk away?
will you walk on by?
come on, call my name
will you call my name?”
Even though Arkansas is without the services of QB Ryan Mallett and will have to play another season in the stacked SEC West they are still ranked No. 12.
But, who’s talking about the Razorbacks? Who thinks they can overtake LSU and Alabama who are both ranked in the top five?
Is everyone overlooking the fact that LSU has not solved its own quarterback issues and that the Tide have lost three of the best skill players in the nation?
Don’t forget about Arkansas.
11. Texas A&M
15 of 25
We’re Not Going to Take it: Twisted Sister
“Oh We're Not Gonna Take It
no, We Ain't Gonna Take It
oh We're Not Gonna Take It Anymore
We've Got The Right To Choose And
there Ain't No Way We'll Lose It
this Is Our Life, This Is Our Song
we'll Fight The Powers That Be Just
don't Pick Our Destiny 'cause
you Don't Know Us, You Don't Belong
Oh We're Not Gonna Take It
no, We Ain't Gonna Take It
oh We're Not Gonna Take It Anymore
Oh You're So Condescending
your Gall Is Never Ending
we Don't Want Nothin', Not A Thing From You
your Life Is Trite And Jaded
boring And Confiscated
if That's Your Best, Your Best Won't Do
Oh.....................
oh.....................
we're Right/yeah
we're Free/yeah
we'll Fight/yeah
you'll See/yeah
Oh We're Not Gonna Take It
no, We Ain't Gonna Take It
oh We're Not Gonna Take It Anymore”
Maybe the third to last verse should be sung as a serenade to the Longhorns and Sooners.
Second best, third best, fourth best NO MORE!
This is the Aggies best opportunity to play for a conference title in well over a decade.
This is their chance to “not take it anymore.”
10. Ohio State
16 of 25
Breaking the Law: Judas Priest
“So much for the golden future, I can't even start
I've had every promise broken, there's anger in my heart
you don't know what it's like, you don't have a clue
if you did you'd find yourselves doing the same thing too
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
You don't know what it's like.....
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law, breaking the law
Breaking the law......”
The song says it all.
9. Oklahoma State
17 of 25
Respect: Aretha Franklin
“R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB
Sock it to me
Sock it to me.”
In 2011 Oklahoma State is playing for what Big 12 teams like Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas and Iowa State have dreamed of since the conference began in 1996 . . . knocking off Texas, Missouri, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, winning the conference title and finally earning a new level of RESPECT.
8. South Carolina
18 of 25
Here I Go Again: White Snake
“I don't know where I'm going
But, I sure know where I've been
Hanging on the promises
In songs of yesterday
An' I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time
But, here I go again
Here I go again
Tho' I keep searching for an answer
I never seem to find what I'm looking for
Oh Lord, I pray
You give me strength to carry on
Cos I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
An' here I go again on my own
Goin' down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
An' I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time”
In 2010 the Gamecocks set out again on the long lonely road to win the SEC East, requiring the undoing of the likes of Florida and Georgia. If that goal can be accomplished then it’s on to winning the SEC championship over a real cupcake like Alabama or LSU.
If this is the year and they “ain’t wasting no more time” South Carolina could capture its first SEC title in its almost 20 year history as a conference member.
“Oh Lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on . . . Cos I know what it means to walk alone the lonely street of dreams . . .”
7. Stanford
19 of 25
Jolene: Dolly Parton
“Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can
Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene
He talks about you in his sleep
There's nothing I can do to keep
From crying when he calls your name, Jolene
And I can easily understand
How you could easily take my man
But you don't know what he means to me, Jolene”
The Cardinal are singing a bit of a retroactive tune as they look back longingly to Jim Harbaugh and the days of yore.
Just picture Andrew Luck singing this to 49ers owner Jed York (aka Jolene) who stole Harbaugh before he could finish his college career.
6. Florida State
20 of 25
1999: Prince
“I was dreamin' when I wrote this
Forgive me if it goes astray
But when I woke up this mornin'
Could a sworn it was judgment day
The sky was all purple,
there were people runnin' everywhere
Tryin' to run from the destruction,
U know I didn't even care
Say say two thousand zero zero party over,
oops out of time
So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999.”
The 1999 season was the last time the Florida State Seminoles won a national title.
In 2011 they want to “party like’s 1999”.
5. Boise State
21 of 25
Imagine: John Lennon
“Imagine there's no conferences, it isn't hard to do
No need to put in blue turf and no BCS too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Imagine no strength of schedule ratings, I wonder if you can
No need for comparison or inequality, a brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing for the world
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one”
The Broncos dreams of a world where they can go undefeated and make the BCS title game are expressed in song (tweaked for their specific purposes).
Chris Peterson dawns small round glasses, grows out his hair and sings the song that captures the imagination of a football nation torn by a system based on inequality and greed.
So moved are the voters they . . . leave undefeated Boise State out again because Alabama and Oklahoma remain unblemished too.
4. LSU
22 of 25
Welcome to the Jungle: Guns N Roses
“Welcome to the jungle it gets worse here everyday
You learn to live like an animal in the jungle where we play
If you got a hunger for what you see, you'll take it eventually
You can have anything you want but you better not take it from me
In the jungle, welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your kn-kn-knees, knees
I'm gonna watch you bleed”
The Tigers 2011 schedule is “the jungle” and it may bring them to their knees:
September 3 vs. Oregon (in Arlington, Texas)
September 15 at Mississippi State
September 24 at West Virginia
October 1 vs. Kentucky
October 8 vs. Florida
October 15 at Tennessee
October 22 vs. Auburn
November 5 at Alabama
November 19 at Ole Miss
November 25 vs. Arkansas
Somebody is going to bleed (or have too much to drink, and then bleed).
Alternatives for LSU: Les Miles as “Super Freak” or “Hot Child in the City”
3. Oregon
23 of 25
We Will Rock You: Queen
“Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
Playin' in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on yo' face
You big disgrace
Kickin' your can all over the place
Singin'
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you
Buddy you're a young man hard man
Shoutin' in the street gonna take on the world some day
You got blood on yo' face
You big disgrace
Wavin' your banner all over the place
We will we will rock you
Singin'
We will we will rock you
The theme song for the BCS runner up in 2010, the team that fell three points short of the whole enchilada; they got mud on their face, it’s really no disgrace because they WILL rock you in 2011.
2. Alabama
24 of 25
Pressure: Billy Joel
"Pressure
Pressure
Don't ask for help
You're all alone
Pressure
You'll have to answer
To your own
Pressure
I'm sure you'll have some cosmic rationale
But here you are in the ninth
Two men out and three men on
Nowhere to look but inside
Where we all respond to
Pressure
Pressure
All your life is Time Magazine
I read it too
What does it mean?
Pressure"
The favorite to win the SEC West, the favorite to win the SEC, the favorite to represent the conference in the BCS and the title game.
Pressure.
The favorite to overcome the loss of McElroy, Jones and Ingram without missing a beat.
Pressure.
The favorite in every one of their games in 2011.
Pressure.
1. Oklahoma
25 of 25
Up Where We Belong: Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
“Who knows what tomorrow brings
In a world few hearts survive?
All I know is the way I feel
When it's real, I keep it alive
The road is long
There are mountains in our way
But we climb a step every day
Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry
On a mountain high
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world below
Up where the clear winds blow
Some hang on to, 'used to be'
Live their lives looking behind
All we have is here and now
All our life out there to find”
I like to imagine Bob Stoops and Landry Jones singing this face to face with a nice, tight camera angle for the folks at home.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
