In football, unlike in any other sport, the crowd can actually help to determine the outcome of the game. Vernon Davis Youth Jersey. No, Im not talking about the adrenaline rush an athlete gets when the fans have turned up the volume and are raising the roof in support of the home team; that type of energy injection can help athletes in every sport, and its why the phrase "home field/ice/court advantage" was created. In sports like hockey, basketball, baseball and soccer, chants from the crowd can be helpful at times and disruptive at others, but rarely if ever do they actually contribute to the success or failure of the athlete on the ice, diamond or court. Outside of the occasional free throw in basketball, the game is pretty much free flowing. However, in football, where communication in the process of play calling on offence is so important to the success or failure of the play, an enthusiastic crowd can actually influence the outcome of a game. Case in point: in the aftermath of an opening night loss to the Blue Bombers, in which rookie right tackle Simeon Rottier had a tough outing on the offensive line, head coach Marcel Bellefeuille suggested that the noise level in Canad Inns Stadium was so high that the Cats first overall pick in 2009 couldnt even hear the snap count, had to actually look in at the ball being snapped, and therefore had his technique and fundamentals suffer as a result. Similarly, although the Montreal Alouettes ended up beating the BC Lions in Week 3 of the season at Empire Field, they did it without scoring a major in the game. Head coach Marc Trestman, while not using it as an excuse, said that his team was "caught off guard" by how loud it was in the close confines of the temporary stadium and that it really limited their ability to communicate on the field. He went on to say that, had he known what was coming, he would have actually put together a very different and perhaps simpler game plan. Of course, it is well documented how difficult it is for the visiting team to play a game in Mosaic Stadium, where the "Rider Nation" knows exactly when to make it hard on the opposing quarterback by turning up the volume so loud that it can be heard from every corner of the province and maybe even into Alberta and Manitoba on either side. This year the power of crowd participation is magnified by the fact that, for the first time, quarterbacks have small speakers in their helmets and are trying to listen over a radio frequency to a head coach or offensive coordinator. Its safe to say that, come the Labour Day matchups, we will see QBs with both hands over the ear holes of their helmets and, even then, the visiting pivot is likely out of luck to get the play call. The fan participation this year has been outstanding, with sellouts already in Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and of course Regina. As mentioned earlier, Winnipeg didnt need a sellout for the crowd to be a difference maker, and just imagine if the Bombers keep winning and it does start selling out. The fans may not make a tackle or throw a pass but they can certainly influence the game. It would be interesting one day to count up the number of off-sides and illegal procedure calls against the visiting teams in Mosaic Stadium as opposed to other venues. When the crowd is that involved and engaged in the game, it is a tremendous atmosphere to be a part of, and it truly has the ability to bring a city together, as thousands "make some noise" and, as a result, make it tough on the visitor. So keep it up, football fans. It is awesome to see and hear...unless of course youre a visiting quarterback. Authentic BenJarvus Green-Ellis Jersey. Returning to his hometown of Phoenix was still at the top of the list, but he figured it was worth at least listening to other teams. 49ers Jerry Rice Jersey. For the 2008-2008 NBA season, Im looking at ten teams that I think have some value. Lets start on the positive side of things. The number one team in my preseason NBA Power Rankings, the Los Angeles Lakers, is the high team on the board at 54. Alex Smith Super Bowl Jersey.C. - After more than a year of trying, the Carolina Hurricanes are getting their wish: their top minor-league affiliate is coming to North Carolina. Alex Smith Jersey.