With only a few notable exceptions, I’ve seen the NCAA’s banner with those words in every football stadium and basketball gymnasium I’ve been in this year.

If only the fans were paying it any heed.

NCAA Tournament games are different in a lot of ways. In many places you’ll be paying more because of ticket sale prices required by the NCAA. (In some places, paying at all is a change of pace.)

The seating is required to be divided by a specific formula. The public address announcer is instructed to be neutral. The starting lineup is to be announced in alternating fashion, one player from Team A followed by one player from Team B. Artificial noisemakers are prohibited. Etc., etc., etc.

However, fan decorum should not be limited solely to NCAA Tournament games. And I’m sad to say that some places I’ve been this year this has been sorely lacking. In fact, I recently saw four games in a row in four different venues were a fan was kicked out.

Folks, what’s the deal? Can’t you enjoy the game without insulting each other? Without drinking all afternoon before tipoff?

I’ve said this before on other sites and I’ll say it again here: 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).

Just support the participants in a positive manner.