What should be done to combat fans’ rude behavior?
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Members of the Hawks Nest student section yell the work "sucks" after each member or the Howard Bison basketball team is introduced Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The UI Athletics Department has so far been unsuccessful at stopping the traditional cheer despite making suggestions for other things for the students to yell. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)
A football fan spat on a University of Iowa student’s father, who was wearing a UI shirt. Another fan chucked a full can of beer at an Iowa State University cheerleader’s head, and others yelled obscenities from an apartment balcony at an ISU student in Iowa City for the UI-ISU football game in September.
Those are just a few examples of sports-fan behavior that many think has plummeted to the trashiest level in years.
“Everyone can cheer on their school and boo the other team, but I think it gets too personal with fans singling people out or calling them names, something that should have nothing to do with a football game,” said Alexa Probst, a sophomore cheerleader at ISU. “I had to witness one of the cheerleaders on my squad getting a full beer can thrown at her head just because she was wearing an ISU uniform.”
Poor sportsmanship has caught the attention of top UI officials. As trash talking degenerated early in the football season, President Sally Mason urged students before the Oct. 20 Penn State game to start behaving.
What would you suggest for UI officials to combat rude fan behavior at sporting events?
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We have not been to Kinnick stadium for over 10 years. The last time we were there, wearing our Michigan sweatshirts and politely cheering for our team, we were the victims of some very offensive comments and an attempt to spit on us. I recall t-shirts saying “F**k Michigan”.
In general, I am an advocate of free speech but in a forum such as this some basic level of decency is needed. I would advocate aggressive enforcement of some standards of decency regarding what people wear, say or do. I would have security guards monitoring the stands and removing offensive people.
FYI, I have attended football games in most Big 10 stadiums and, based on my observations, Iowa is the worse in this regard.
Rich, Do I get to define decency?
Therein lies the flaw of your thinking.
“I would advocate aggressive enforcement of some standards of decency regarding what people wear, say or do”
Okay, I’ll bite, where would one find these “standards of decency”?
This is like pornography. It’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it. Throwing things (beer cans) at people, spitting on people, using foul language orally or on your apparel all qualify.
As far as I am concerned, anything that is intended to be offensive to the other side is inappropriate. Why can’t people focus on cheering for their side as opposed to demeaning the other side?
I’m not that knowledgeable regarding Iowa law but I think spitting, and certainly throwing things, at a person would constitute assault — a crime. Foul language is another matter and, to an extent, is in the eye of the beholder. I am not (!) a sports fan and cannot imagine harboring ill will against an opposing team let alone the fans (it’s just a game, or should be!) win or lose. I just don’t get it. Perhaps if I was a rabid fan I might understand it.
Just an idea, but why don’t we all just follow the examples of our fine elected leaders. There’s a standard to strive for. ;o{)
I know this is only an amateur sporting event with a relatively small fan base, but you could always look to association football (soccer) to see how they prevent hooliganism. The easiest ways would be for the governing body to fine the team who’s fans are responsible or to make the teams play to an empty stadium.
Be happy these are just drunk and rude individuals. If the fans ever gain true passion for their teams and end up starting firms, then the use of riot police may be in order.