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Whoosh Shane

Participate During: BYU men’s basketball games, in the ROC section

Tradition Challenge: Hold up your Y at the free-throw line, and if it makes it, shout "Whoosh Shane" with the ROC.

A Tradition Renamed with Every President
As soon as the referee hands the ball to a BYU shooter at the free-throw line, the ROC claps and holds up a sign-language Y. If the shot goes in, the whole section yells "Whoosh Shane," pointing toward BYU President Shane Reese in the stands.

The chant dates back to 2004, when a group of freshmen started calling out "Whoosh Cecil" to get a reaction out of a stone-faced President Samuelson during free throws. It worked—he started giving the ROC a thumbs up after every shot—so the tradition stuck. Every president since has inherited the chant, making it a BYU tradition that changes with time but never goes away.

How To Participate:
  • Sit in the ROC student section at a BYU men's basketball game 
  • When BYU steps up to the free-throw line, clap and hold up your Y 
  • If the shot lands, shout "Whoosh Shane" with the crowd and point to President Reese 
  • Submit your participation on Traditions Keeper to complete the challenge and consider sharing a photo or video with us!