Pitt Fan Goes Viral for Singing '90s Rock Hits at College Basketball Game

Pitt Panthers band members belted Goo Goo Dolls, Creed, and more to distract Stanford Cardinal players during the ACC Tournament.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 12:53am

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A Pitt Panthers fan, senior drum major Soren Henkle, went viral for belting out classic '90s rock songs like the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris" and Creed's "Higher" during a college basketball game against the Stanford Cardinal at the ACC Tournament. Henkle and his fellow band members used the tactic throughout the game to try and distract the opposing team, with the Pitt band also singing The Cranberries' "Linger" and the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" during other moments.

Why it matters

College basketball fans are known for creative ways to support their teams and distract opponents, and Henkle's viral singing stunt highlights the lengths some fans will go to in order to give their team an edge. The Pitt band's '90s rock singalongs also showcase the enduring popularity of that musical era, even among younger generations.

The details

During a free throw attempt by a Stanford player, Henkle began belting out the Goo Goo Dolls' hit "Iris," much to the amusement of the game announcers. The Pitt band also sang Creed's "Higher" and The Cranberries' "Linger" at other points in the game in an attempt to throw off the Stanford players. The Goo Goo Dolls themselves even took notice of Henkle's singing, tweeting about it. Henkle and his bandmates said they had been using the '90s rock singalong tactic occasionally throughout the Pitt basketball season to try and get in the opposing team's head.

  • On March 14, 2026, Henkle and the Pitt band sang "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls during a Stanford free throw attempt.
  • During the Pitt-Stanford game, the Pitt band also sang Creed's "Higher" and The Cranberries' "Linger" to distract the opposing team.

The players

Soren Henkle

A senior drum major for the Pitt Panthers band who went viral for belting '90s rock songs during a college basketball game to distract the opposing team.

Nicholas Morris

A junior trombone player in the Pitt Panthers band who said the band had been using the '90s rock singalong tactic occasionally throughout the basketball season.

Goo Goo Dolls

The band whose 1998 hit song "Iris" was sung by Henkle, with the Goo Goo Dolls themselves taking notice and commenting on the viral moment.

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What they’re saying

“And it didn't even throw him off.”

— Goo Goo Dolls (Twitter)

“That's just fun to sing and it captures people's attention.”

— Soren Henkle, Pitt Panthers drum major (The Athletic)

“We did it occasionally during the season to try and get in their head a little bit. It was spur of the moment. We thought it'd be kind of funny.”

— Nicholas Morris, Pitt Panthers junior trombone player (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Pitt Panthers will continue their postseason run, hoping to make a deep tournament push while their band keeps the crowd entertained with more '90s rock singalongs.

The takeaway

Pitt's creative fan engagement through '90s rock songs shows the lengths college basketball supporters will go to support their team and get under the skin of their opponents. The viral moment also highlights the enduring popularity of classic '90s rock hits, even among younger generations of fans.