What's with shoe throwing from the Zamboni at Yost

Submitted by James Burrill Angell on
Primarily for the reason of having another kid, I made my first few games at Yost since the 2010-11 season. Was hoping someone could explain when and how the tradition of the kids riding the Zambonis during intermission at Yost chucking their shoes came from. Thanks in advance.
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kevin holt

December 22nd, 2013 at 8:47 PM ^

If they no longer tell the kids they will get kicked out for throwing shoes, then I posit they can no longer be the Best Kid Ever. The true BKE was a few years back when they told the kids their family would be removed and the kid did it anyway and ended a long drought. Also, anyone else remember the girl a few years ago who removed both shoes, her socks, and then reached to take her shirt off? The student section went from "YEAH!" to "NO NO NO NO NO! STOPSTOPSTOP!" so fast. It was actually really hilarious because she stopped (otherwise that might have been the end of the shoe tradition). Almost got us all on a list for that one.

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Raoul

December 22nd, 2013 at 3:17 PM ^

Upvoted because I had never heard of this "tradition" before and because someone still doesn't get that this is a Michigan sports blog—not a Michigan football blog.

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Michigan Arrogance

December 22nd, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^

About 10 years ago, the student section would try to get the kids to wave at them. Then raise the roof, then chicken wings, etc etc. It just started snowballing over a season or two- to the extreme that they would try to get the kids to give the "shocker" hand sign. Eventually, they turned to getting the kids to take a shoe off, throw it, take socks off, etc.

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Doc Brown

December 22nd, 2013 at 3:25 PM ^

It started a few years ago, don't remember when (been going to games on a regular basis since 2006). The CoY were getting bored with the kids on the Zambonis just following our hand motions. So of course we want to up to the ante. We got one kid to take off his shoe and throw. they ended up being the "Best Kid Ever." The shoe throwing and Can't Turn You Loose dance in the 2nd intermission are my favorite Michigan fan traditions. 

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LSAClassOf2000

December 22nd, 2013 at 7:43 PM ^

I saw this thread and remembered there was one that was posted with questions about this a few years ago after the Daily wrote a piece on "The Children Of Yost". That thread - if anyone is interested - is right here - as well as a link to the article. 2008 was a pretty common answer, and the article was written in 2010, so it is at least that old. 

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icegoalie1

December 22nd, 2013 at 3:28 PM ^

Not sure exactly when it started but it has been at least 7 years now since my little guy rode the Zamboni a couple times between 7 and 8 years ago. Think it started from the students egging kids to mimic things like waving their arms etc. and progressed into throwing shoes.
Back when my little guy rode they specifically told him not to throw his shoes but now it seems like it is accepted my the drivers and have someone ready to pick them up on the ice.

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gwkrlghl

December 22nd, 2013 at 3:31 PM ^

was a shoe throwing incident. It's rare for you to get the 'perfect' kid for it which ime is a kid who is hesitant at first but gives in. Usually you'll get kids who either refuse to do anything or kids who obviously know the routine and happily throw off their shoe. One time there was a girl riding the zamboni who was in the latter group (she knew what was up) and was possibly way over-enthusiastic to participate.

She took off her first shoe..then her second..then her first sock...then her second to the increasing cheers of the student section. Apparently emboldened by all this she went to start taking her hockey jersey off and the whole arena was like "NOOO NOOOOOO" while all simultaneously doing the "FG no good" hand motion.

That's in my top Yost moments along with most St Pattys day games (esp. when the Blue Bros dance became a section wide thing) and the "Shot. on. Goal." game in 09(?) where we held Western without a shot in the 1st period.

So to answer your question...I dont know. I started going in the 08-09 season and can't remember if we already did it then. I think we did. Im guessing, like most Yost traditions, a small group just decided it would be funny and it caught on in true Yost fashion

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ppToilet

December 22nd, 2013 at 4:05 PM ^

That we'd try to get the kids to throw their shoes. It's evolved over the years.

But then again, I was drunk in those years and I'm old now so who knows if that's true.

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Bando Calrissian

December 22nd, 2013 at 4:29 PM ^

I -think- the first shoe-throwing incident was during the 2005-6 season. Either that or 2006-7. A particularly funny kid was on the zamboni doing particularly funny things, and the student section (not the "Children of Yost," which didn't exist at the time) somehow egged the poor kid into throwing a shoe. It may very well have been that the kid took his shoe off on his own accord, and then was convinced to throw it, now that I think of it.

It wasn't an every game thing, but like so many Yost things that were absolutely hilarious the first few times, it's been assumed to be an every-game thing to the point that it isn't really a novelty anymore.

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