You Can Call Me Al - Use of Song in Live Sport Events, Political Campaigns, Etc.

Use of Song in Live Sport Events, Political Campaigns, Etc.

• The song is used as an unofficial theme for the Florida Gators basketball and volleyball teams (the school's mascot is Albert the Alligator). Traditionally, the pep band waits until the under eight minute or under four minute timeout to play the song. At a pep rally celebrating the Gators' victory in the 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, Chevy Chase appeared with a trumpet and danced to the song, in reference to the music video. The Pride of the Sunshine has also begun playing the song during football games as well, typically during the 4th quarter. Usually, the band and the student section cup their ears and lean toward the piccolos during their solo before counting the rest of the band back in for the last chorus.
• The song is also traditionally played after every home football game by the Appalachian State University Marching Mountaineers.
• The song has also recently been used in basketball again, this time the opening bars being played after three-pointers scored by New York Knicks player Al Harrington.
• The song is also traditionally played during stoppage time at St. John's Red Storm basketball games.
• The song is commonly played by the University of Washington Husky Marching Band at home football and basketball games.
• The song is often played by the organist at Wrigley Field as Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano walks up to the plate before an at-bat.
• This song has also been played by the Cornell Big Red Marching Band on many occasions. During the segment of the song in which Paul Simon and Chevy Chase dance in the music video the Big Red Saxophones also do the same dance around the drum major's ladder.
• During the 1992 campaign for the Presidency of the United States, politician Al Gore used the song as part of his bid for Vice President, which he campaigned for alongside running mate Bill Clinton.
• The song is often played by the Rutgers University marching and pep bands. A unique pre-choreographed dance is performed by each instrumental section while the piccolo solo is taking place.
• The song is normally played after a big save by New York Islanders goaltender Al Montoya.
• The song was used in campaign ads for Mario Cuomo when he ran for a fourth term as Governor of New York in 1994 against George Pataki. The premise of the ads was that Pataki was a puppet of then-Senator Al D'Amato, so you may as well call him Al. Cuomo was defeated by Pataki in a very close election; D'Amato was defeated for re-election four years later by Chuck Schumer.
• The song is often played by the Marquette University Pep Band at home basketball games, as a tribute to legendary former mens basketball coach Al McGuire.