General Information About Item:

• Verbal Lore, Customary Lore, Song, Countdown Ritual
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States (New Hampshire)
• Informant: Josh Greene
• Date Collected: November 4th, 2021

Informant Data:

Josh Greene is a twenty-year-old male from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He is currently a football player for the Dartmouth Big Green, playing the specialist role of long snapper. Prior to playing at the collegiate level, he earned his varsity letters at the Benjamin School before being recruited to play Division I football at Dartmouth College.

Contextual Data:

Josh Greene currently attends Dartmouth College, which was founded in 1769 and features a storied history of both academic and athletic excellence, especially in football. After playing his first collegiate football season, he was exposed to traditions that have been passed down the team for decades. Before and after every game, the football team practices a multitude of traditions that are meant to invoke school pride, foster a sense of community, and energize the players in preparation for a hard-fought game.

Item:

Following a victory, an assortment of time-honored songs is sung by the team which are collectively referred to as the “Dartmouth Football Medley.” Immediately after the conclusion of the medley, players count up how many points were scored in the game in order to bring the tradition to a close. This is done as a form of celebration for a job well done and victory against an opposing football program.

Transcript:

Stand and shout for Dartmouth

Cheer when the team in green appears

For all the strength of Harvard

When they hear our mighty cheers

Ra! Ra! Ra!

Fight, fight, fight for Dartmouth

And plunge on down the field

Touchdown! Touchdown! Dartmouth

For the old Crimson strength must heal

Dear old Dartmouth, that’s her name

We sing of her fame

For dear old Dartmouth, dear old Dartmouth

Dear old Dartmouth, that’s her name

Whether in defeat or in victory

We are loyal just the same

And we’ll sing to dear old Dartmouth

Just for her we’ll fight for fame

Collector’s Comments:

This medley was really interesting to me because it contained so much history and connects the football team’s historical legacy with the school itself. Dartmouth’s traditions and history are intricately interweaved with its football program in this song, even referencing other schools in the process.

Collector’s Name: Jonathan Hu

Tags/Keywords:

• Verbal Lore
• Customary Lore
• Medley
• Counting Up Points
• Countdown Ritual
• Dartmouth College
• Football
• Locker Room Tradition