03-18-2009, 02:05 PM
I am writing in response to an earlier post about the Atlantic Sun tournament and the way that the fans were acting. I was in the same section as the guys who had the crazy outfits and hair and found it very amusing the way they were acting.
Anyone who watches sports on a regular basis would expect fans to act like those guys did. Turn on ESPN sometime and watch schools that are two or three times our size. They have double the fans and EVERY single one of them act like those three guys were. It is part of the game and no harm was done.
From a players prospective, they should not have even payed attention to what those guys were saying. At the level of basketball they are playing, they should have learned long before now to not let fans get into your head. Don't pay attention to them. It is not the ETSU fan's fault that Allen could not block out the noise. What is the difference between yelling at a particular player compared to screaming when the other team shoots a free throw? I overheard some of the ETSU players actually thank the guys that were yelling at Jacksonville. One player said "Dude, that was awesome. I could hear you all the way out on the floor. You had those guys torn up." If our players don't care, why should our "fans"?[/font]
No matter how bitter anyone is towards these guys actions, ETSU needs more fans like them. Look at the student section next time you go to a game. Most students are only there for free food and give aways. They aren't really there to support the team. They come, get their free gifts, and leave with 5-10 minutes left in the second half. They don't cheer, they don't chant, they don't stand up, and it's a miracle if a handfull actually clap when something happens in the Bucs favor. If other "fans" get upset with students supporting their university sports, I'll be surprised if any students show up. College athletics are part of the whole college experience. Kids grow up watching the fans of schools like Duke, UNC, UT, Michigan, etc. painting their faces and bodies, wearing goofy hair, holding up signs, yelling at refs, yelling at players, and most importantly doing anything they can to let their team know they are there for support. Should that just be taken away?
College athletic events are not designed with anything political in mind. Most college fans could care less what your name is, who your parents were, how much money you have, or what kind of car you drive. If that is the sport enviroment you want then start going to watch NFL, NBA, or the MLB. There is always the slogan throw around that "if it isn't broke, don't fix it!" There was nothing wrong with that small section of fans making the noise for the Bucs, so don't cause a fuss. Let the students have their fun and support their team.
Final thought is that ETSU won the tournament. They played their hearts out. Jacksonville obviously could not handle the pressure of the Bucs nor their fans. I would hope that everytime a player steps on that court that he steps on that court to win. I hope that he steps on that court and steps on that court to represent his University. That is actually why fans should pour into the Dome. If you are going to go to the games, get loud. Let the players know that you are there, and let them know that you stand behind them no matter what!!!
Anyone who watches sports on a regular basis would expect fans to act like those guys did. Turn on ESPN sometime and watch schools that are two or three times our size. They have double the fans and EVERY single one of them act like those three guys were. It is part of the game and no harm was done.
From a players prospective, they should not have even payed attention to what those guys were saying. At the level of basketball they are playing, they should have learned long before now to not let fans get into your head. Don't pay attention to them. It is not the ETSU fan's fault that Allen could not block out the noise. What is the difference between yelling at a particular player compared to screaming when the other team shoots a free throw? I overheard some of the ETSU players actually thank the guys that were yelling at Jacksonville. One player said "Dude, that was awesome. I could hear you all the way out on the floor. You had those guys torn up." If our players don't care, why should our "fans"?[/font]
No matter how bitter anyone is towards these guys actions, ETSU needs more fans like them. Look at the student section next time you go to a game. Most students are only there for free food and give aways. They aren't really there to support the team. They come, get their free gifts, and leave with 5-10 minutes left in the second half. They don't cheer, they don't chant, they don't stand up, and it's a miracle if a handfull actually clap when something happens in the Bucs favor. If other "fans" get upset with students supporting their university sports, I'll be surprised if any students show up. College athletics are part of the whole college experience. Kids grow up watching the fans of schools like Duke, UNC, UT, Michigan, etc. painting their faces and bodies, wearing goofy hair, holding up signs, yelling at refs, yelling at players, and most importantly doing anything they can to let their team know they are there for support. Should that just be taken away?
College athletic events are not designed with anything political in mind. Most college fans could care less what your name is, who your parents were, how much money you have, or what kind of car you drive. If that is the sport enviroment you want then start going to watch NFL, NBA, or the MLB. There is always the slogan throw around that "if it isn't broke, don't fix it!" There was nothing wrong with that small section of fans making the noise for the Bucs, so don't cause a fuss. Let the students have their fun and support their team.
Final thought is that ETSU won the tournament. They played their hearts out. Jacksonville obviously could not handle the pressure of the Bucs nor their fans. I would hope that everytime a player steps on that court that he steps on that court to win. I hope that he steps on that court and steps on that court to represent his University. That is actually why fans should pour into the Dome. If you are going to go to the games, get loud. Let the players know that you are there, and let them know that you stand behind them no matter what!!!