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The Cameron Crazies are the fabled student section at Cameron Indoor Stadium, home of the Duke Blue Devils. The Crazies are known for their enthusiastic and creative chants, which have become a model for other colleges and universities across the country. Duke basketball cheers have a long history, with traditions such as camping out in Krzyzewskiville, a makeshift city outside the stadium, and preparing dirt sheets containing information and embarrassing facts about opposing players. Over the years, Duke's basketball cheers have evolved, with a focus on responsibility and inclusivity, while still maintaining the energy and passion that make the Cameron Crazies one of the best student sections in college basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Cameron Crazies |
| Number of students | 1,000+ |
| Location | Section 17, Cameron Indoor Stadium |
| Traditions | Chanting "Air ball, air ball", "Not Our Rivals", "Go, Devils, Go", "Baby!", "Hi, [name]", "See ya!", "That's alright, that's okay! You will work for us one day!" |
| Traditions | Cheering begins 90 minutes before tip-off |
| Traditions | Camping outside the stadium in Krzyzewskiville/K-ville |
| Traditions | Preparing "dirt sheets" with information about opposing players |
| Traditions | Shaking hands when an opposing player fouls out |
| Traditions | Bonfire celebrations |
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What You'll Learn
The Cameron Crazies: Duke's student section
The Cameron Crazies are the dedicated student fans of the Duke Blue Devils, the basketball team of Duke University. The Crazies are renowned for their passionate support and creative, original chants. They stand courtside in a 1,200-seat student section, making Duke games some of the best to watch. Their name became widely known as Mike Krzyzewski's program.
The Cameron Crazies are known for their enthusiasm and dedication, with students camping out for days or even weeks before big games to secure the best seats. This tradition of camping out began in 1986 when a group of drunk students rented a tent and camped out before a game. Over time, this evolved into Krzyzewskiville, a makeshift city outside Cameron Indoor Stadium, where over 1,000 students pack the lawn in tents to secure the best seats for the big games.
The Crazies are famous for their chants and cheers, some of which have gained nationwide popularity, such as the "air ball" cheer. They prepare for games by consulting "dirt sheets" or "cheer sheets" containing information about opposing players, which they use to create targeted chants. They have also been known to throw objects onto the court, such as noodles, Twinkies, and pizza boxes, as part of their pranks.
While the Crazies' enthusiasm is admired, they have also faced criticism for their sometimes obscene and vulgar chants. In the 1980s, Duke University President Terry Sanford asked the students to change their cheers to be more "wholesome, witty, and forceful." More recently, as part of a D.E.I. initiative, the student government encouraged fans to refrain from using slurs and to heckle opposing players responsibly. Despite this criticism, the Cameron Crazies remain a source of pride for Duke University and have become a model for student cheering sections at other colleges and universities across the country.
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Chanting Air ball
The Cameron Crazies are the fabled student section at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the home of Duke University's Blue Devils basketball team. The Crazies are known for their enthusiastic and creative chants, and they are considered by some to be the best fans in college basketball.
One of the most well-known chants attributed to the Cameron Crazies is the "air ball" chant, which is done when an opponent misses the basket, rim, and backboard entirely with their shot. The chant, which is considered one of the greatest taunts in sports, involves the crowd rhythmically chanting "air ball, air ball" in unison until play resumes. The Cameron Crazies claim to have started this chant in 1975 or 1979, although the exact origins are disputed.
The "air ball" chant has been the subject of academic research, with English professor Cherrill P. Heaton publishing a paper titled "Air Ball: Spontaneous Large-Group Precision Chanting" in 1992 (or 1995, according to another source). Heaton's research noted that the chant invariably begins on the note F ("AIR") and ends on D ("BALL"). The "air ball" chant has become so popular that it is now used by student sections across the country.
The Cameron Crazies have also popularized other famous cheers and taunts, such as tossing bags of uncooked noodles at Georgia Tech's Craig Neal, who stood at 6'5" but weighed only 160 pounds. They have also been known to throw Twinkies at Georgia Tech's Dennis Scott because he was overweight and to toss pizza boxes at North Carolina State University's Lorenzo Charles after he was caught stealing pizzas.
In addition to their creative chants and pranks, the Cameron Crazies are known for their dedication to the team. Before big games, over 1,200 students will camp out in Krzyzewskiville, a makeshift city outside the stadium, sometimes for up to three months in advance. The Crazies are also organized and prepare before games, handing out ""dirt sheets" containing embarrassing information about opposing players and cheer ideas suggested by Duke's student team of line monitors.
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Cheering begins 90 minutes before tipoff
Cheering for the Duke Blue Devils begins 90 minutes before tipoff. The Cameron Crazies, the name given to the 1,000-plus undergraduate students who pack Section 17 of the Cameron Indoor Stadium, are known for their intense game-day traditions. They are famous for their creative, original chants and their enthusiasm, which makes Duke games some of the best to watch.
The Crazies prepare before games by camping out in Krzyzewskiville, a makeshift city outside the stadium, and consulting "dirt sheets" containing embarrassing information about opposing players. They are organized and prepare before games, handing out "dirt sheets" containing embarrassing information about opposing players, often focused on academic irresponsibility or run-ins with the law, as well as cheer ideas suggested by Duke's student team of line monitors.
The Crazies have received criticism over the years for their overly enthusiastic behaviour, such as tossing objects onto the court and targeting opposing players with hurtful cheers. However, their consistent fervour lends Cameron Indoor a reliably electric energy, making it one of the toughest places to play in the country.
The Crazies popularized many now-famous cheers and taunts, the most widely known of which is the "air ball" cheer in 1979 after North Carolina player Nick Yonakor's shot missed the rim and backboard entirely. Other pranks included tossing bags of uncooked noodles at Georgia Tech's Craig Neal, who stood at 6'5" and weighed 160 pounds, and throwing Twinkies at Georgia Tech's Dennis Scott because he was overweight.
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Not Our Rivals
The Cameron Crazies are the dedicated student fans of Duke University's basketball team, the Blue Devils. They are known for their passionate and enthusiastic support of the team, as well as their creative, original, and sometimes controversial chants and cheers.
The Crazies have a long-standing tradition of camping out before games to get the best seats in what is known as Krzyzewskiville or K-Ville, a makeshift city outside the Cameron Indoor Stadium. This tradition dates back to the 1980s and has become an integral part of the Duke basketball experience.
While the Crazies are known for their energetic and colourful chants, one of their most famous chants is a simple denial of a rivalry. When Duke plays against the University of Maryland, a long-time rival, the Crazies chant, "Not Our Rivals". This chant is often repeated if Maryland loses the game.
This chant is a way for the Crazies to dismiss the notion of a rivalry with Maryland and assert their dominance. It is a playful yet defiant statement that adds to the lively atmosphere of Duke basketball games. The Crazies are known for their wit and creativity, and this chant is a perfect example of their unique style of cheering.
Over the years, the Crazies have gained a reputation for their passionate support and colourful chants, becoming an iconic part of Duke University's basketball culture. Their dedication, enthusiasm, and creativity have made them one of the most well-known and respected student fan sections in college basketball.
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Go, Devils, Go
The Cameron Crazies are the fabled student section at Cameron Indoor Stadium, home of the Duke Blue Devils. The Crazies are the most passionate and enthusiastic fans in college basketball, and they make Duke games some of the best to watch. The fun begins in Krzyzewskiville, a makeshift city outside of Cameron Indoor Stadium, where students camp out in tents to get the best seats for big games.
The Crazies are known for their creative, original chants and cheers, and for being "in-your-face" type fans. They prepare before games by consulting "dirt sheets" or "cheer sheets" containing information about opposing players, as well as suggested chants and cheer ideas. One of their most popular chants is "Go, Devils, Go". This chant is simple, direct, and instructive, encouraging the Devils to go out and win the game. It is a classic example of the Crazies' style of cheering: enthusiastic, passionate, and supportive of the Duke Blue Devils.
The Crazies have also popularized other now-famous cheers and taunts, such as the air ball cheer, which is chanted when an opponent misses the rim and backboard entirely. They have been known to toss objects onto the court, such as bags of uncooked noodles, Twinkies, and pizza boxes, as part of their pranks. The Crazies have toned down their act in recent years due to criticism and restrictions, but they remain one of the most dedicated and animated fan sections in college basketball.
"Go, Devils, Go" is a great example of the Cameron Crazies' style of cheering. It is a simple, catchy, and easy-to-remember chant that any fan can join in on. By chanting this, the Crazies are showing their support for the Duke Blue Devils and encouraging them to play their best. This cheer is a staple of the Crazies' repertoire and is often heard during Duke basketball games, helping to create an exciting and energetic atmosphere in the stadium.
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Frequently asked questions
The Cameron Crazies, Duke University's student section of basketball fans, are known for their enthusiastic cheers and creative chants. Before games, they prepare "dirt sheets" or "cheer sheets" containing embarrassing information about opposing players. They are also known for popularizing the "air ball" cheer in 1975 (or 1979, according to another source).
Some examples of Duke basketball cheers include "Air ball, air ball", "Go, Devils, Go", "Baby!", "Not Our Rivals", and "See ya!". They also chant "Hi, [name of opposing player]" instead of "sucks" after an opposing player is introduced, as requested by Mike Krzyzewski, who despises profanity.
The Cameron Crazies are the dedicated and passionate student fans of Duke University's basketball team, known for their energetic and sometimes controversial antics. They often camp out in Krzyzewskiville, a makeshift city outside Cameron Indoor Stadium, to get the best seats for games.
