Is Penn State Axing Neil Diamond‘s ’Sweet Caroline‘ Over ’Touching You’ Lyrics?
- Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:21pm by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
There‘s been some intriguing speculation surrounding Penn State’s decision to stop playing Neil Diamond’s popular song, “Sweet Caroline” at Nittany Lions football games. The well-known tune is popular among stadium crowds, at weddings and among pop culture enthusiasts. So, when the university decided to axe it, some wondered if the lyrics, in light of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, may have been at the root of the decision.
Jerry Sandusky (left) and Neil Diamond (right) (Photo Credit: AP/MCA Records)
On Monday, The Altoona Mirror originally reported the following about the musical changes that football fans may notice during the upcoming 2012 season:
The non-band-related music will feature mostly what has been part of the mix inside the stadium the past few years. And while the Boston Red Sox, Pitt football and others have elevated “Sweet Caroline” to a staple for their games, that popular PSU tradition may be interrupted or discontinued.
Some concerns by university officials about its lyrics – “touching you touching me” – and the perception of people singing along to them in light of the recent scandal have been expressed.
In an update to the original story, though, The Mirror presented the university’s response to this alleged scandal. Greg Myford, PSU associate athletic director for business relations and communications, told the outlet that none of the musical changes slated to take place at Beaver Stadium have anything to do with lyrics.
Watch Diamond perform the iconic song, below:
“Sweet Caroline” has apparently been on the chopping block during previous years as well, considering that it is played at other venues and “has no real origination at Penn State.” Due to this usage and the fact that there’s no reason for continuing to play the song (i.e. the school has no attachment to it) — at least from a school spirit or historical standpoint — Myford said that it was switched out. This is a review process that the official claims is undertaken each year.
Music, though, isn’t the only thing changing in the wake of the Sandusky controversy. Team members will no longer arrive at the stadium on game day in uniform; they will come to the school out of uniform and will arrive on campus earlier than they did previously. According to The Daily Caller, “The new measures seem to be an attempt to downplay the once-revered squad and make the entrance less of a glorified moment.”
With all of this in mind, when it comes to “Sweet Caroline,” what do you think: Manufactured controversy or denial on the part of Penn State officials? You decide.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 697 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 527 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 353 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 353 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 346 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 346 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 353 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 265 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 346 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (33)
Willik
Posted on August 29, 2012 at 7:54amWhat PC idiocy!!!
Report Post »mmmmarilyn
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:56pmActually is WAS about the lyrics.
Report Post »They are changing ‘Sweet Caroline’ to ‘Sweet Carl or Ryan’
garylee123
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:25pmMaybe they should take 20 years of recordings from Neil and say they never happened.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:06pmAnd the actual name of Sandukys auto biography………..TOUCHED.
Report Post »as_mad_as_hell
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 7:37pmWhen did he write a biography about his car?
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:13pmWell the University of Wisconsin starts the 4th quarter with “Jump”, and the stadium shakes. Penn State can use this song and grope everyone around you at the beginning of the 4th quarter.
Report Post »sallyredneck
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:12pmJust goes to show how dumb the elites really are.
Report Post »merik59
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 5:53pmSo now they think they have to monitor the music played at sporting events? Are these people bored or just incompetent? So touching is out of style now or politically incorrect as well? Okay, should we just reach out & hammer them then? Or maybe something a little more brutal – Reach out & axe them. Reach out & grab them. Reach out & stab them. I understand poking may be out of line also. Hypersensitivity is a terrible thing to promote. Is there such a thing as feeling too much? Isn’t this an individual problem or something? Neil Diamond will be crushed, I’m sure. It’s tragic when adults behave this badly & tweak something completely out of context. Touching must lead to all sorts of bad things. Don’t love thy neighbor & for God‘s sake don’t get caught touching them either. The song must be the reason people behave badly. The song made me do it. Is anyone else not buying this?
Report Post »Mmaysr
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 5:22pmIt just shows once again academia id the definition of moron. Do they have any common sense? We lowlife sub-college graduates just sit back and laugh at the stupidity they display!
Report Post »Eastinfection
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:45pmThey‘re going to replace it with Blink 182’s “What’s My Age Again?”
Report Post »shadjak
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:15pmRidiculous…If anything, they should be singing Niel Diamonds “Song Sung Blue”.
Report Post »HeDied4U
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:12pmState Penn, I have an idea for you. Quit hiring pedophiles and quit allowing your head football coach to cover up felonious activitites for 14 years and I think you will be fine.
Report Post »nostromo
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:55pmSeriously? The GOP convention is at hand, a hurricane is about to strike the Gulf coast, Israel may strike Iran before the election, the Euro is collapsing, and Sweet Caroline will now be dropped from PSU football games.
Report Post »merik59
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 6:02pmYeah, but I hear the lyrics are criminal & we need to get up in arms about it because someone somewhere else is & we have to blame something. Frankly, I think it must be a hidden agenda for no one usually takes responsibility for these situations. Guess I’m not much of a Neil Diamond fan but I did like his album Stones. I wonder if Together In Blue Jeans has perverse overtones as well? Too bad they can’t attack rap. That claptrap just begs to be defiled. I vote we censor all rap.
Report Post »GaryInTheMiddle
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:05pmMore usless over reaction!
Report Post »angryredsucka
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 3:02pmdont hate on my school. the students and alumni had nothing to do with this mess.
Report Post »Eastinfection
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 4:49pmum, dude… Sandusky was a student there, and is now alumni.
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 2:13pmthe song has NOTHING to do w? TOUCHING YOUNG BOIS DAFT SCHOOL
Report Post »woodyee
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:55pmGood for Penn State!
Next to being a breeding ground for child molesters, they compound the miserableness of being a Penn State “student” by eschewing common sense for political correctness. I wouldn’t send one of my family there if the school paid the tuition and the room and board. Penn State puts child molesters above children – why would you think the curriculum is any better? PS – Porn Studies…
Report Post »Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:54pmThey should axe it because it jumped the shark 20 years ago.
Report Post »Exidor
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:40pmAxe the pedophiles instead.
Report Post »Mapache
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:37pmNon-story…..unless it is replaced with “Its Raining Men”
Report Post »JRook
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:46pmAgreed and perhaps its time to let the students, remaining football players and new coaching staff get past the actions of one individual and a group of administrators who were misguided about their concern over reputation and cared too much about the money from football. At this point focus your attention on Sandusky and let the Penn State community get on with their lives.
Report Post »Mapache
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:46pmor Connie Francis singing “Where the Boys Are.”
Report Post »woodyee
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:55pmLOL w/ Mapache!!!
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:33pmWith all the stuff they’re going through, they’re entitled to be a little touchy–no pun intended–about things like this.
Report Post »Bloody Sam
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:52pmI agree. The song is outright creepy. I hate it.
Report Post »Neil Diamond wrote it about Caroline Kennedy in 1969.
Caroline Kennedy was born in 1957. She was 12 years old in 1969.
I don‘t care what PSU’s motivations are.
That’s just creepy and disgusting.
jackact
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:31pmHa ha ha ha ha …….. Touching you, touching me……..Ha ha ha…..
Report Post »Speaking of the Red Sox, Beckett got ‘touched’ in a 10 run shut out last in his premier Dodgers appearance…….Ha ha ha ha……steroids…… Ha ha ha…..
Go Yankees!
stloocardsfan
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:31pmCan you say over reaction? The people involved with the horrible events are gone. The song has been around for years and years. I could see their point if the song was titled ‘Sweet Jerry Sandusky’.
Report Post »hkyfan36
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:30pmReally its time to get a grip. Next thing you know they wont be able to have a kids clothes half off sale at Kohls. I tell you every body is going anal over this. I feel as though the English language is being raped of all its meaning.
Lighten up people
Report Post »LB
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:29pmGive me a break…nonsence.
Report Post »mattmo79
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:27pmWell, they did get in trouble for too much touching going on there! Might be best not to promote it anymore!
Report Post »