I have oft wondered to my self, and aloud, why and how Bronco Stadium is loud.  Is it because of some acoustic anomaly?  Doubtful. Perhaps its the artificial crowd noise being pumped through the sound system? Impossible, I'm not sure those speakers are capable of reproducing sound. Maybe its a supernatural amplification of our voices by God of His chosen fan base. This seems the most likely to me.

I ask the question because I have always looked around at Bronco Stadium while jumping up and down, screaming at the top of my lungs a constant "oooooooooooh"  sound (which I believe is far more effective than yelling actual words like "go broncos!") and wondered why myself and my buddy are the only ones making noise for several people in all directions, and why is this sentence so long?  I get very frustrated and start doing the "come on, lets make some noise palms-up-arm-flappy thing" and try to get people to stand and make noise.  Even in the student section I often do this and am often the most raucous which is sad because I am not, nor have ever been a student at BSU.  

After reading a comment by Inkforareason on the fanpost Good Job Bronco Fans by Blue and Orange I think I know the answer.  It is often said the 10% of the  people do 90% of the work, and I think this may be the case with Bronco Nation at Bronco Stadium. I know that I (and ink) give 100% of my energy and voice on most pre-snap defensive plays, even when the game is well in hand and the non-fans are heading for the exits.  I don't think this is so for 90% of the fans at Bronco Stadium.

This is how I perceive the breakdown of pre-snap vocal workload. Its going to get percenty up in here, so bare with me.

(que Brian Fantana quotes)

10% - (being generous) give 100%, 90% of the time.

10% -  give 100%, 10% of the time (3rd or 4th down)

30% - give less than 100%, 10% of the time (3rd or 4th down)

the other 50% - only make some kind of noise after the conclusion of a big play, TD, INT, sack, etc. and do the Helen Keller before the snap.

If by now you are starting to get defensive and feel you stand in angered disagreement, I give you this example of my frustration, at times, of Bronco fans at games.

October 14, 2007. Boise State and Nevada are nearing the end of regulation in a tight game. I'm on my feet, half delirious from screaming out of my mind for the better part of four quarters of back and fourth play and lead changes. I'm looking around for more help from the crowd and notice that the entire West side of the stadium is still on their butts. At this point I begin screaming futilely across the stadium for them to stand and make some noise. 

By the start of the first overtime, the whole of the East side of the stadium and end zones are on their feet. The West side? Butts.

2nd overtime...West side fans? Butts. 

3rd overtime....Butts

At this point I'm more worked up at the West side (in this case not the best side) fans than I am about our inability to stop the Nevada offense, and I'm losing my mind, and my voice, screaming at the West siders to stand up and do something with their lives!

Just before the 4th overtime....finally, like the Grinch hearing the first Who in Whoville start singing daboo doray, faboos foray with more and more Whos joining hands and taking up the chorus, the West side of the stadium begins to stand one by one. By this time the East siders are already jumping and stomping on the aluminum bleachers and Bronco stadium is awash in a torrent of sound I have never heard before or since.  My heart swelled 3 sizes at that moment and a single tear ran down my cheek, for a miracle had happened. All of Bronco Nation stood. And most of them made noise.

Here are a few questions for you to help me get an OBNUG pulse on this issue. Answer none, some, all, whatevs.

How much noise do you make at games; what percent do you give pre-snap?

When during the game do you stand?

What kind of fan waits 4 overtimes to stand?

Have you been asked to sit down by someone sitting behind you? (this happens to me quite often, even in the student section of all places)

Have you turned around annoyed at the person behind you blowing a vuvuzela before a big 3rd down play? (this also happens to me a lot and yes, I have a bsu vuvuzela I use to spell my voice, and no I'm not 8 years old)

How can we make Bronco Nation louder, especially since there will be a lot less cow bell?

What percentage of people do you think give 100%, or any percent for that matter?

Have you ever sat at the game like a mime, just watching and clapping? (if so, please don't attend games anymore because your body acts as a sound sponge actually reducing the crowd noise in the stadium. A couch and a TV suits you more.)

Finally, do you think we should revoke the season tickets of the mute (by choice) and useless? (I think there should be Gestapoesque security pulling the mannequins out of the stadium never to return.)

Get at me, Obnuggets!