“Ladies and gentlemen, the NCAA promotes good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches and spectators. We request your cooperation by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial, or sexist comments, or other intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the site of competition. Also, the consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages at the site of competition is prohibited.”
I’ve heard this so many times in the past decade or so it rolls off the tongue (or fingers) in a flash. But it often seems like there are some fans who need a reminder. I have it on good authority that the NCAA has heard some of the reports we’ve seen from playoff games this season and while I don’t think this year is any different than previous years, incidents are coming to the attention of those who are in a position to do something about them.
Consider this, fans, especially you students out there. These are big games, no doubt, and it’s great to get excited about them, but these players do not deserve your abuse. A Division III football player gets no special treatment above and beyond what you get. They’re not on scholarship, don’t get special dining halls or treatment in the classroom (in fact, you can count on some professors being harder on football players than on the rest of the class).
I would be in favor of immediately kicking anyone out of the stadium who is in violation of the sportsmanship agreement. So what if you paid $5, $8, whatever to be there? Act like a grownup, since that’s what you allegedly are.
If you need to get all liquored up in order to enjoy a football game, stay home. The football should be reason enough. If you’re of legal age, there’s plenty of time to drink after the game — that’s one of the benefits of a noon kickoff.
Pat good thought. Unfortunately alot of the people who are doing the dirty deeds won’t see this. I sat next to a very boisterous group the other day. They weren’t all students at Wesley but were there to cheer on someone from their high school. They were put in their place by a person whom shall remain nameless, But they were in the main stands so I think that they were embarressed. As for the other idiots who chastized some of the Bridgewater fans I too wish they would have been dismissed from the game. Actually I was suprised they weren’t because at a few of the games I had been too this year there were people taken out for certain violations.
There are some bad apples in every bunch … but I think they were trying to beat each other into applesauce after that game.
I will have no further comment.
Amen, brother. I’ve alluded to it in blogs past, but I’ve read stories in my alma mater’s student publication proudly reporting incidents of verbally abusive behavior directed towards the opposing team or fans. It does not belong in DIII….or any level for that matter.
i agree wtih you guys about no profane language should be tolerated a student or fan should be remove immediately for it, but i do agree with heckling remember theres a purpose for home field advantage. its the coaches job to get his players mentally prepared for that invironment.
I don’t mind students giving players from the other team a hard time, as long as they aren’t using profanity. It’s part of the home field advantage and the student presence is a huge reason why college football is so successful and fun to be part of. But if anyone ever sees me yelling at or harassing 18-22 kids (especially those playing without a scholarship) when I am 50 years old you have my permission to shoot me. And I can tell you my family wouldn’t press any charges.
Unfortunately everything starts at a higher level. Let me explain hopefully briefly. The players themselves bark at the fans which in turn gets the fans riled, a vicious cycle. But look at the pro’s it starts there, filters thru college and on down. I think some of the worst fans I have ever encountered in any sports are wrestling fans. I have been to tournaments over the years where the kids are booed, 15 and 16 yr old kids. How do we stop it? Unfortunately I am afraid we can’t
One start in stopping this sort of behavior would be to simply enforce the warning given above. A warning could be followed in short order by summary dismissal from the event if the fan didn’t quiet down. This doesn’t strike me as a particularly difficult concept. I disagree that such behavior cannot be stopped. It most certainly can be.
Another step would be to more clearly define unacceptable forms of behavior, rather than leaving it to the fans’ common sense, which is often in rather short supply, especially during the excitement of a game.
PAWesleyfan,
You are a class act. I was not impressed at all by some of the other Wesley fans at the game. I hope the good apples can put the bad ones in their place. I am glad you represent your school well. Here’s to an injury-free weekend of D3 football.
Reading the responses indicates clearly I am in the minority. I don’t believe home field advantage is gained in any way by heckling the visitors. It is gained by loud and boisterous support for the home team. Talking trash between players is viewed today as a form of psychological warfare. I see it as unsportsmanlike. I know, I know….I am hopelessly outdated for some of you.
Well said lg1970–agree 100%.
Watched a show on ESPN recently about why TO’s showboating/actions on the field are not his fault. Poppycock!!! Showing class is a choice. Has a variety of reasons why he is the way he is, etc. One of them being the evolution of showboating/showbiz aspect going back many years to professional wrestling, boxing, football, and others. It is true that this has been somewhat of an evolution. Problem is, each generation has to out do the previous generation. All in the name of “entertainment”. I call it unsportmanlike. Here’s a novel idea. How about entertaining me with performance on the field. Not signing a football with a Sharpie or making a cell phone call to mom. There used to be a rule about making a travesty of the game. As I stated previously, guess I am just old school. If you want to be “entertained” by outrageous stunts, professional wrestling has room for a few more fans.
Ok, all you youngsters out there. I’m sure I’ll get pounded for this post. Bring it on! 🙂
lg1970:
I am a little younger then you (Wabash ’83), but I guess I have to be put in the “outdated” category, also. Whatever happened to making a good catch or a nice tackle, getting up and going back to the huddle? No, today’s players have to stand over the opponent and woof, or maybe thump their chest a few times. I was a mazed while watching a game a few weeks ago. A DB made a pretty good hit agoinst a guy who had just gained about 8 yards and made a first down. The DB jumps up and chest bumps one of his teammates. Or maybe even worse–a player will score a touchdown and perform some elaborate, attention-seeking spectacle when their team is trailing 35-10. At some point, coaches have to take some responsibility.
Bad sportsmanship also reminds me of all the name calling the Mt. Onion fans participate in with the entries they post. Of course most of the fans of Mt. Onion are good people.
Mt. Onion sounds great.
Let’s leave the politics out.
So why, SeanGOP, in a thread about sportsmanship, do you feel this pathlogical need to insult MUC by calling the school “Mount Onion”? Pot, meet kettle.
As a long time, die-hard Augie fan, I disagree with the statement that “Mt. Onion sounds great.” The ideas of good sportsmanship and mutual respect in the context of intense and meaningful sports rivalries are what sound great to me. I see D3 football as one of the last remaining showcases of relatively pure, untainted college athletics.
In this context, poor sportsmanship on the part of the fans is even less excusable than it is with “big time” scholarship or professional football. D3 football is very special, and I believe that we as D3 football fans would do well to remember that.