javasaurus (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
javasaurus) wrote2003-12-12 01:23 pm
javasaurus) wrote2003-12-12 01:23 pm
(no subject)
When you think society couldn't get worse, it does. Repeatedly.
A coupl eof years ago,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
blueeowyn and I were able to attend the Orange Bowl, where we saw Terps fans throwing beer bottles (yes glass bottles!) at fans further down in the stands. On the one hand, you might think, "well, why the hell were they serving glass bottles of alcohol to football fans, anyway?" I certainly thought that at the time, but it doesn't excuse the behavior.
Cheers at Maryland home football games are rude and obnoxious. The fans incorporate the words "you suck" into a popular pep tune played by the band, while pointing at the small group of opposing fans. The fans are also loud and obnoxious when the other team is trying to kick an extra point or (during basketball) make an extra shot. Yes I know that a certain amount of such behavior is commonplace at many sporting arenas, and has been for as long as there have been sports. But over the last decade it has gotten noticeably worse, more rude, less sportsmanlike. And there is nothing that anyone can do about it.
The current Maryland football coach has indicated that such behavior is not appreciated, and another coach (soccer or lacrosse?) has told fans that he'd rather they stayed home than root their team in such a fashion. But the fans continue to devolve into repugnance. A recent WTOP article indicates that students see nothing wrong with being rude and destructive in support of their school and team. You may recall that after recent major Maryland games (during the last two years of football and basketball) Terp fans have caused major damage with bonfires and gatherings in the streets of College Park, including breaking front glass displays of some businesses and stealing furniture from area houses to add to their bonfires. They openenly defy police (who in turn do little more than form a line and try to look menacing). And students complain that it was all in good fun...
A coupl eof years ago,
blueeowyn and I were able to attend the Orange Bowl, where we saw Terps fans throwing beer bottles (yes glass bottles!) at fans further down in the stands. On the one hand, you might think, "well, why the hell were they serving glass bottles of alcohol to football fans, anyway?" I certainly thought that at the time, but it doesn't excuse the behavior.Cheers at Maryland home football games are rude and obnoxious. The fans incorporate the words "you suck" into a popular pep tune played by the band, while pointing at the small group of opposing fans. The fans are also loud and obnoxious when the other team is trying to kick an extra point or (during basketball) make an extra shot. Yes I know that a certain amount of such behavior is commonplace at many sporting arenas, and has been for as long as there have been sports. But over the last decade it has gotten noticeably worse, more rude, less sportsmanlike. And there is nothing that anyone can do about it.
The current Maryland football coach has indicated that such behavior is not appreciated, and another coach (soccer or lacrosse?) has told fans that he'd rather they stayed home than root their team in such a fashion. But the fans continue to devolve into repugnance. A recent WTOP article indicates that students see nothing wrong with being rude and destructive in support of their school and team. You may recall that after recent major Maryland games (during the last two years of football and basketball) Terp fans have caused major damage with bonfires and gatherings in the streets of College Park, including breaking front glass displays of some businesses and stealing furniture from area houses to add to their bonfires. They openenly defy police (who in turn do little more than form a line and try to look menacing). And students complain that it was all in good fun...
no subject
Not that all of the problems are caused by the Greeks, but I'm more than willing to believe that they've let up on them as well, from what I've heard... and that contributes quite a bit to the problem as well. Heck, not actually cracking down on alcohol on campus despite claiming they will doesn't help.
IF that coach really wants a change, he's going to have to start with the Cheerleaders *and* the Greeks. I doubt that it's changed, but I know that the Cheerleaders used to be positioned directly in front of the Greeks' section, and they *did* get them to participate. If that happened again, it could spread to the rest a bit. And the tv cameras used to focus on that section because it was the only one much was happening... as the tickets were so limited to students that you weren't guaranteed one per game... too many alumni wanted them.
Campus (and PG) cops and the Greek system need to get their acts together... Unfortunately, unless they grab *and* procecute those who are causing trouble, there's not much the University can do against that garbage when it happens off campus... which it generally does.