The Stampede was created to make a European Atmosphere for the Raging Rhinos. We are found in section 404 down at pitch level. Everyone is welcomed, we stand and sing the entire match, to give the Rhinos a true home field advantage.
This page covers five years of Rhino supporting by our group and other groups who are no longer with us. If this is your first year with us, then this will give you a detailed pastiche of what we have dealt with and come across.
So it was not fun at first, getting into verbal arguments match after match but things changed soon.
The break up- A few weeks into the season when things started to slow down a bit, a new group joined us in section 406 (our first home). It was a group comprised of 8 english lads, who were very avid fans and very vocal for the Rhinos. So much that some of the songs they sang, were not looked upon kindly by other Sam's Army members. Tension between the two sides mounted and things finally erupted during an international friendly. When the Rhinos played Galatasaray in a friendly, the Rochester faction of Sam's Army was sick of the crude language by the English lads and packed up their things and left. They moved underneath the new roofed section. Their present at FF soon was gone leaving a small group of young lads pitch side.
The Hoolifan Age- The remaining matches at FF turned ugly and the still named Sam's Army section took up old terrace behavior. Many disturbing acts were down up in the stands (which I will not name, but if asked will share), new things were also added. Trumpets drums and whistles were the new sound in 406 along with an ever so growing vocal support.
side story: Once we even tried to bring flares to the section to make things more European. 3 fifteen minute flares were lit after on goal, and they were the worst idea ever brought to 406. A few Sam's Army tee shirts were sparked and one English Nats Jersey had seen better days (considering it had about 10 burn holes in it). The idea of bringing flares to a match are long gone and hopefully never brought back up... Unless we are a bit more careful next time.
Well things continued like this, and as bad it was getting, we seemed to be growing as a group.
side story: This was also the first time that away supporters entered FF. Of course the Stampede group got behind the stands of the "Thunder" and chanted and jeered them. What happen next? The applauded us and gave us smiles. It was eerie (of course if this was a season earlier, trouble would have started and things would have got ugly, oh well), so the Thunder just got back to losing and sitting on their hands, so we left laughing at them.
Side story: Well not really a story but in our destructive path to the open cup finals we ran over Dallas at FF. I think we all remember the post game, where Jason "I choke in big games" Kreis whined about the field size at FF. Beware, anytime you come across one of the four Dallas Burn fans, they will still bring up that argument.
Well another great season and the tradition was growing.
Well 2000 things did get better in 404. With the help of the Rhinos Web boards, The Stampede could organize itself and get things rolling. This new invention also has kept supporters in touch in the off season also. But the Stampede Curse happen once again in 2000, new faces came in and some other went out. But these news faces seemed to be staying for a long time. We finally got more organized and got together a new culture in Rochester soccer. That season we started to pre-game at nearby pubs, we got closer with management and even got a meeting with "El Presidente" Frank DuRoss. After such meetings we acquired the bullpen as a second home. In there we could behave any which way wanted and we were no longer cramped in 404 (our group was growing that much). A moved seemed to be good, but some new faces decided that staying in 404 was better and there was almost a second split among the group. Once again the Rhinos marched on to the finals and we won at home to Minnesota again. A pitch invasion ensued, it was a stampede lead by the Stampede. Fans and supporters sung songs of enjoyment alongside the players when the Trophy was handed to our side (possibly the greatest time I have ever had at FF).
Side Story: This was probably my favorite from 2000. After we were allowed to go inside the bullpen, there were only two rules: 1) We could not go on the grass, and 2) we could not cover up the PTP sign with any of our signs. Well one of those rules were broken on our first time in there. One of the members of our group (who I will not name), sat on the railing and knocked off the PTP sign. It dropped 8 feet to the ground, and what did this Russian who supports Spartak Moscow do? He jumped off the railing to save the sign. He got quite dirty but he did saved the sign. (it was just another case of "You give the boys a toy and they will break it").
Finally it I would like to say that after all this has happened it has been quite disappointing seeing so many people pass on by and do other things. After all I am the only original member left in the stands but that does not mean I run anything. This is for all of Rochester to take part in and leadership should never be under one head. Come one, come all and join us in making Rochester a true city with rich football history.
If I have left your name out in this section, it does not mean that you have not made an impact with the Stampede, it means I can't remember names well. Blame it on me, I know there are a few people that have been holding strong since 1998 and I hope anyone who joins us stays with us forever.
Cheers
StampedeMike
