First Person Story –
Al Perone, ’81, GR ’84

Al Perone cheering on the Sycamores

Singing with Sycamore Spirit

During Homecoming week last year Coach (Trent) Miles called and asked if I would be willing to attend practice and teach the Sycamores the ISU fight song. Optimist that he is, he wanted the team to be able to sing it after it won the Homecoming game.

Although I found the prospect of singing in public, let alone to the football team, a little intimidating, I said, “Yes” to the request without hesitation or reservation.

I arrived at Memorial Stadium toward the end of that day’s practice to find Angie Lansing, ISU athletics business manager and senior women’s administrator, sitting in the stands. I sat down next to her, and, after some conversation, I learned that she had been recruited for the same mission.

At the end of practice, Coach motioned for Angie and me to join the team in the locker room.  Once inside, we were introduced to the team, and the players were told why we were there.

We quickly got down to business. Copies of the fight song were distributed to the players. Angie and I sang it once and then the team joined us. We sang it twice with the team, and I was impressed with the seriousness with which it approached the task.

The rest of that week, every time I passed a player on campus, I was greeted with a friendly “Hello!” and a chuckle.

To listen to the fight song, ISU Fight Song (audio file).

Editor’s note:  that Saturday after learning the ISU fight song, the Sycamores snapped their 33-game losing streak during Homecoming 2009.  Al Perone, ’81, GR ’84, is the associate dean of students at Indiana State University.

Al Perone is the associate dean of students and student ombudsman at Indiana State University.