Sportsmanship vs. Atmosphere

There has been a lot of recent debate in the papers and on the internet concerning the behavior of University students, especially in the context of the conduct of Gopher fans during and around sporting events. Issues range from complaints from the larger Minneapolis community about rowdy behavior on weekends and in the late hours of the night, to issues with the student section using foul language to intimidate opposing teams at games.

On one side of the issue, people take the side of the students: after all, they are college students, and they're doing "what college students are supposed to do." It is ridiculous to assume that fans of college sports will sit idly on their hands and applaud as if they were watching a golf tournament, and then go home and peacefully drink tea: college sports are special because of the fans and the atmosphere surrounding the games. It's no coincidence that 21 of the 22 largest stadiums in the U.S., including all of the top ten, house college football teams.

On the other side of the issue is the assertion that students are representatives of the University of Minnesota, and should conduct themselves as such. They should respect the community, opposing teams, and fellow students in the name of good sportsmanship. This does not necessarily mean “no fun,” but there are serious issues to be addressed in the conduct of some fans that are deeply engraved in their vision of the “college experience.”

It is here that we find ourselves at an impasse: the administration and community-at-large would like to see more respectful students, but students are unwilling to give up the culture and traditions that have developed on campus for the past 150 years. Both are advancing their agendas in the name of creating a "better game day experience." They are equally admirable goals, and are part of what makes our University great.

Possibly caused by the infamous "hockey riots" following the Gophers' 2002 and 2003 NCAA Hockey Championships, the University of Minnesota has repeatedly imposed sets of rules on the student body in a well-intentioned but feeble attempt to control fan behavior. These have taken many forms: the "Student Code of Conduct," the "Fan Bill of Rights," and most recently, the "Fan Code of Conduct."

Through all of these additions and changes to policy, one thing has remained constant: the University of Minnesota has not taken any real steps toward improving the atmosphere at sporting events. Yes, the rules technically absolve the University of any wrongdoing or responsibility for fans' actions (after all, it is ultimately up to the individual to obey rules), but if the University is truly serious about improving fan conduct, they must do more than develop guidelines for fans.

First, they must directly and non-arbitrarily enforce the rules that are in place. Aside from the alcohol policy, the "Fan Code of Conduct" is largely a joke--has anyone ever seen someone get kicked out of a game for swearing at the referees? Disciplinary action is currently only taken for offenses that are otherwise punishable under the letter of law. Publishing a newsletter doesn't do anything to influence fan behavior short of increasing the number of paper airplanes thrown on the field. If the rules in place are not enforceable, they should be replaced with ones that are.

Second, the University must actively help to replace the practices that they oppose. Tradition, no matter what it is, is still just that--tradition. For a tradition to "die" peacefully, a suitable alternative must be proposed and accepted. Currently, when the administration does manage to exact a change in the cheers (usually by prohibiting the band from playing the appropriate cues--hardly a good solution), students are liable to act out in ways that are worse than the original "offense." This is the cause of the viscous cycle in which we are currently trapped, resulting in increasingly Draconian policies dictating behavior that--as previously mentioned--are rarely enforced, and an overall disdain for said rules among the fans they are prescribed to.

To date, both the students' and administration's actions have been similarly polarizing to the opposite party. Admirably, neither has compromised their primary principles. It is an unfortunate consequence of the human condition that University policy is much more flexible than the mob mentality of 10,000 students; the University must begin to work proactively with fans to change the common perception of a “college atmosphere” to the kind of game day experience we can all enjoy.

Battle for The Axe

It can be said that I have a strong dislike for the University of Wisconsin's athletic teams. I was born in the Twin Cities, and was raised as a Golden Gophers fan. I received a degree from the University of Minnesota, and participated in the Minnesota Marching Band. As such, the Gophers' rivalries are engraved in my mind, including the "Border Battle" between the Universities of Minnesota and Wisconsin, truly one of the best in all of sports.

But let me clarify: I do not "hate" the University of Wisconsin, or its athletic teams. I have always tried to remain in good spirits about the Border Battle; to see through the intense emotions, posturing, and slogans that inevitably arise every time the Gophers and Badgers take the field together, in order to enjoy the rivalry for what it is: a classic contest between two storied Universities, adding yet another chapter to a long tradition of competition. I have always respected the University of Wisconsin, as a quality institution, with a successful athletics program.

So, this weekend, as I cheered on my Gophers against their rivals from across the St. Croix River, I tried my hardest to exhibit nothing but the best sportsmanship. Fully aware of all of the slogans that inebriated students love to scream at anyone within earshot (especially toward those wearing red), I graciously welcomed fans of the Badgers to my home state, or at the very least let them be, hoping for them to enjoy their game day experience in Minneapolis.

At the game, I sat in my seat in the upper deck of TCF Bank Stadium, which happens to be directly in front of one the blocks of seats that are sold to opposing teams' fans. Again, I let the steady stream of Badger fans pass by me without incident; I was there to cheer on my team, not to ridicule and harass their opponents. As the clock expired, resulting in a Gophers loss, I accepted the fact that I would have to cheerfully endure yet another year of the good-natured ribbing that goes hand-in-hand with a rivalry such as this.

I sat in the emptying stadium, immersed in my own thoughts about how wonderful it would have been to see my Gophers hoist The Paul Bunyan's Axe Trophy in victory. I watched with quiet envy as the University of Wisconsin Football team cheerfully paraded around the field with the coveted prize, something that they had earned the right to do after a well-fought football game.

Then, I saw something that instantly made my dejection turn to silent rage.

Following the game, I stood and removed my hat to sing Hail! Minnesota (our Alma Mater) with the band, football team, and student section at the end of the game, as we do at every game. As I began to sing, the Wisconsin Football Team, Axe Trophy in hand, ran in between the Minnesota Football Team and Band, and began to "chop" down the goalpost that stood there, while fans of the University of Minnesota were singing their Alma Mater.

I have attended a decent number of contests between the Gophers and the Badgers; it seems that all too many of them ended in disappointing losses. I was mere yards away from the decisive touchdown in the 2005 "Miracle in the Metrodome." I was at the game at the Kohl Center when the Badgers' Men's Hockey team ended the Gophers' 22-game unbeaten streak in 2006. I was there when the Wisconsin Women's Hockey team defeated Minnesota for the National Title. But after none of these games did I ever say, as I do now:

Today was the day I lost my respect for the University of Wisconsin.

The University of Wisconsin football team should be reminded that they are not only an athletics team, but also are representatives of their institution and the state for which it is named. Today, in their rude and disrespectful actions following their victory against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, they have utterly failed in that role.

Now, I too can state with certainty: "When you say 'Wisconsin,' you've said it all."