If you've ever been to a sporting event, you've heard the chant. When there's a violation committed the crowd explodes into a rousing chorus of cheers, followed by the following famous words.
 
"You can't do that!"
 
Things like chants at sporting events seem like they have always been a part of our culture, but each chant had to have started somewhere. The 'you can't do that' has an origin story to tell, and it started at Oakland University.
 
The story begins in 2006. Public address announcer Kevin Beers was in year two of his now 19-year tenure and he was looking for things to enhance the experience in the O'rena.
 
"I had been saying 'Thaaaaaat's traveling' whenever an opponent was called for a travel that season," said Beers.
 
It was clearly a hit with the fans, but Beers knew there was potential for the saying to really pop. Something came over him in one of the biggest moments of the season.
 
"It was about mid-way through the 2nd half of a game against one of our biggest rivals. It was a close, intense game and the atmosphere in the arena was great. At a key moment in the half, an opposing player was called for traveling. I opened the mic and said, "Thaaaat's traveling!" as always," said Beers.
 
Suddenly, he decided to go for it.
 
"Then, with no forethought whatsoever, out came "and you can't do that!" Immediately, there was a buzz in the crowd."
 
It wasn't just the audience who took notice, some on the court showed their approval as well.
 
"On the court, OU senior forward Vova Severovas was walking down the court to the offensive end after the turnover. The look on his face was priceless and made the whole thing worth it. He looked at the crowd, then to the refs, then to his bench, back to the refs and to the crowd, to the Valpo bench, and then to me. He laughed out loud, then jogged the rest of the way down the court."
 
Beers could not believe the reaction, but he knew it was something that needed to become a staple.

"I was a little stunned, as I hadn't planned to say the phrase, nor had it even occurred to me prior to the exact moment it was spoken into existence. Jim Norton, one of the Athletics administrators at the time, came running over to me and said, 'Beersy! You gotta keep saying that. Everyone's talking about it!' And I've been saying it ever since."

When things are at their best, it is a team effort. Although Beers got the ball rolling, that was the end of his contribution. The next season, the Oakland student body did the rest.

Matt Dudek was a member of the band from 2004-2010, and remembers the birth of the saying.

"At the time, the band led most of the cheering in the Orena. Grizz gang was still in its infancy and was not consistently what it would become," Dudek said.

They took what they heard from Beers, and made it into what is heard today.

"Kevin would give us "that's traveling" and the band and students would give the "and you can't do that!" with the chant after. The first time we heard it from the announcing table we were in a bit of disbelief. Like, did he just say that?! It absolutely fired us up and became a legend of chants in the Orena."

Dudek realizes the specialness of the chant, citing even with how much has changed at Oakland, the saying lives on.

"I never realized it would stick. A lot of things have come and gone over the years as band members/Grizz gang traditions and people change. But Kevin has cemented that one!"

Not only has it stuck at Oakland, it has spread nationwide. Whether at high school events, professional sports on TV, or at a college game, the chant has caught fire. Beers recalls hearing it at the football national championship game as the biggest event he has heard it at.

Current Oakland University employee and basketball season ticket holder Anthony Gallina was a student in the Grizz Gang at the time of the origin of the chant. He takes pride in hearing the famous words when watching sports.

"It's such a great feeling knowing that something as great as this tradition has made its way across the country," Gallina said. "I hope it continues to creep into stadiums across the country."

He also hopes it continues inside the O'rena for many years to come.

"This has become a tradition during game days here at OU that I hope stands the test of time."

Everywhere else the chant is spoken it might get a laugh, or make some people happy to be saying it. At Oakland, however, it is a point of emphasis in the gameday experience that fans have taken to the next level.

"People often tell me how disappointed they are when they go to a game and the opponent does not get called for traveling," Beers said. "That makes me smile every time. Word has gotten back to me over the years that opposing players are very aware of it and absolutely hate it when it happens. I love that!"

Both the men's and women's basketball teams hope to hear the chant loud and clear on Saturday for their senior days. The women tip off at 2:00 p.m. against IUPUI, while the men take on rival Detroit Mercy at 6:00 p.m.