How to treat other fans?

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

With respect or... without it?

This is the question that has plagued all major sports world-wide. I can't help but think that the best fans in the world belong to the European soccer clubs and that they are the ones that get down-and-dirty.

Are good fans the ones that remain relatively calm throughout the game, treat opposing fans with respect, and cheer as loud and hard as propriety allows?... or do they truly intimidate the opposing team and its traveling fans?

The link below is a clip of OGC Nice, a French club. They definitely follow the latter course and in my opinion, it's all for the better. (it's a really cool clip, too, you 'gotta see it)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpEA4I5NqLY

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

that clip is crazy, Flares and whatnot

My motto in terms of respect towards opposing fans is...during the game Little Respect, after the game...Full Respect

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

full respect...always...

If they are not worth respect...they are not worth playing.

 

[scooper]

full respect...always...

If they are not worth respect...they are not worth playing.

We are not fans of Ohio State. Be as loud as you can, but don't be a jackass to fans in the stands.

 

[IRISHFOOTBALL919]

teat them like they treat you thats what i think

 

[ShivaIrish]

This is actually a big issue, I think, and a good post. What worries me is that for many people, sport no longer becomes a venue to vent or redirect aggression, competition, and what not. That's when it becomes worrisome. People sometimes die from this stuff! Sport is great, but it must be contextualized. Isn't that one of things we love of ND so much, that it competes, but only in the context of such things as God, family, country, academics, etc.? If we expect our players do be respectful toward the other team, we must be respectful of the other fans. Above being fans, after all, we are all humans, and when sport starts taking priority over that, peole get hurt and dehumanized. It's good to cheer, make noise, and support the team, but only for respect for all involved. As difficult as that may seem, that includes USC, Miami, and Mich.

 

[scooper]

This is actually a big issue, I think, and a good post. What worries me is that for many people, sport no longer becomes a venue to vent or redirect aggression, competition, and what not. That's when it becomes worrisome. People sometimes die from this stuff! Sport is great, but it must be contextualized. Isn't that one of things we love of ND so much, that it competes, but only in the context of such things as God, family, country, academics, etc.? If we expect our players do be respectful toward the other team, we must be respectful of the other fans. Above being fans, after all, we are all humans, and when sport starts taking priority over that, peole get hurt and dehumanized. It's good to cheer, make noise, and support the team, but only for respect for all involved. As difficult as that may seem, that includes USC, Miami, and Mich.

Great post. We are, afterall, N D.

 

[ACamp1900]

We are not fans of Ohio State. Be as loud as you can, but don't be a jackass to fans in the stands.

Ohio State fans, sharing the title of worst fans in all of sports with Red Sox nation

here's to both of them

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Yeah, I tend to agree that the Buckeyes have the worst fans in all of sports. They are one of the few fan-bases that is willing to give death-threats to its own players (Ryan Hamby after the Texas game).

I've never had much exposure to real Red Sox fans, so I can't give much of an opinion on them. It does seem to have a ton of band-wagon fans, which incidentally is one of the biggest problems with our program---those damn 'summer soldiers and sunshine patriots'..

 

[iloveirish_12]

I don't think about the other teams fans. I don't care about them, so I don't think about them. I wouldn't say anything to them, but I don't like them and I don't care about them.

 

[Vince Young]

I dunno, I found the Ohio State fans at the Fiesta Bowl to be pretty classy actually. Even had some guy in an AJ Hawk jersey take one look at my Smarj jersey after the game, then he smiled and stuck out his hand and said "Rematch next year for the championship?" I told him I hoped so, and we shook hands on it. And it was actually an ND fan about 10 rows back of me who was so rowdy that security kicked him out of the stadium early in the 1st quarter. Of course, the rest of us NDers were glad to see him go, since he was clearly trouble waiting to happen.

But then again, that was a neutral site game, so the atmosphere was different than in Columbus. But still, that was by-far the best set of opposing fans I've ever dealt with at a game.

 

[irish4life99]

Never been to a tOSU game in Ohio, went to one in Florida and it was a NIGHTMARE. My 5 year old son was wearing a ND hat to breakfast and some swamp moron in overalls stopped at the table and said, "hey son a bird shi... on your head"! I just about got up and punched him in the nose. Then the fans were just aweful to us. We won, so it was all good. But I'll NEVER go back to the swamp. Good luck Urbie!

 

[maison bleu]

Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

The Golden Rule. It applies (alas) even to Buckeye fans.

 

[jiggafini19]

They have no bearing on my enjoyment of my team or the game in any way.

 

[Fighting_Irish9]

Cheer hard for your team
Scream at the top off your longs when they lineup on offense.

Shake their hands and offer to buy them a beer after the game

 

[irishnd31]

Never been to a tOSU game in Ohio, went to one in Florida and it was a NIGHTMARE. My 5 year old son was wearing a ND hat to breakfast and some swamp moron in overalls stopped at the table and said, "hey son a bird shi... on your head"! I just about got up and punched him in the nose. Then the fans were just aweful to us. We won, so it was all good. But I'll NEVER go back to the swamp. Good luck Urbie!

And this is where you have to draw the line. I, as a father, look forward to nothing more than taking my son to OUR first ND game together (I have been to several, but my son has only been to 4 Spring games). I want to go to a game with him and not have to worry about some idiots swearing and carrying on throughout an entire game and having my son hear or see something that would cause him worry. There is a difference between supporting your team and acting in a way that is a safety issue to those individuals causing the problem or the individuals in the vicinity of the problem.

As for the Gator fan who said that to your son, I'd be in jail.

 

[jiggafini19]

Every team has bad apples.

What my dad and I saw in October from USC fans was a mixed bag. There was a real asshole on the shuttle bus picking on some old man in a Notre Dame hat. Total L.A. jagoff...it was written all over him. It was ugly. I wanted to say something to this Jagbag, but my father talked me out of it. He could tell I was getting angry. Then after the game a couple of bimbo broads were doing their "V" salute and talking up a big game at ND fans. I walked past them and yelled out "Hook 'Em Horns." Drew some laughs from some nearby ND fans, but I'm sure those two scuzzbags didn't get the reference.

There were a few Latin American USC fans tailgating by where we parked and they were very cool. Offered us food and drink, talked some ball with us. Great guys. Humble SC fans to the point that they basically prediced they were going to lose at least once that season. Maybe it helped that they were Catholics like us.

I went to a "yankee" college in a conference full of schools from Tennessee and Kentucky. I've had sodas, game programs and batteries thrown at me. They say some very nasty things to you. They have a roster, so name and number were right there. The ones who could read could be pretty mean, directing nasty Italian insults my way. Lucky for me, not only did the North win the Civil War but we won most of those games.

I don't let fan bases of other teams bother me. Growing up White Sox in Chicago probably helped me with this. They are really of no consequence to me whatsoever unless what they do or say is directed specifically at me. Then, we could have issues. Otherwise, I pretty much ignore the trolls and morons of the world, ND fans included.

 

[Fighting_Irish9]

Never been to a tOSU game in Ohio, went to one in Florida and it was a NIGHTMARE. My 5 year old son was wearing a ND hat to breakfast and some swamp moron in overalls stopped at the table and said, "hey son a bird shi... on your head"! I just about got up and punched him in the nose. Then the fans were just aweful to us. We won, so it was all good. But I'll NEVER go back to the swamp. Good luck Urbie!

I'm confused

When did we play Florida at the Swamp?
Whe did we play Florida in the state of Florida?

We played them once in New Orleans, but never in Florida

Unless you saying we won, you are talking about a Different We than Notre Dame

 

[irish4life99]

And this is where you have to draw the line. I, as a father, look forward to nothing more than taking my son to OUR first ND game together (I have been to several, but my son has only been to 4 Spring games). I want to go to a game with him and not have to worry about some idiots swearing and carrying on throughout an entire game and having my son hear or see something that would cause him worry. There is a difference between supporting your team and acting in a way that is a safety issue to those individuals causing the problem or the individuals in the vicinity of the problem.

As for the Gator fan who said that to your son, I'd be in jail.

I stood up and he moved on. I wanted to do more, but then what would I be teaching my son.

 

[irish4life99]

I'm confused

When did we play Florida at the Swamp?
Whe did we play Florida in the state of Florida?

We played them once in New Orleans, but never in Florida

Unless you saying we won, you are talking about a Different We than Notre Dame

Without getting into compete detail, they were seperate incidents. One in Ocala, and one at the FSU game.

 

[irish4life99]

Every team has bad apples.

What my dad and I saw in October from USC fans was a mixed bag. There was a real asshole on the shuttle bus picking on some old man in a Notre Dame hat. Total L.A. jagoff...it was written all over him. It was ugly. I wanted to say something to this Jagbag, but my father talked me out of it. He could tell I was getting angry. Then after the game a couple of bimbo broads were doing their "V" salute and talking up a big game at ND fans. I walked past them and yelled out "Hook 'Em Horns." Drew some laughs from some nearby ND fans, but I'm sure those two scuzzbags didn't get the reference.

There were a few Latin American USC fans tailgating by where we parked and they were very cool. Offered us food and drink, talked some ball with us. Great guys. Humble SC fans to the point that they basically prediced they were going to lose at least once that season. Maybe it helped that they were Catholics like us.

I went to a "yankee" college in a conference full of schools from Tennessee and Kentucky. I've had sodas, game programs and batteries thrown at me. They say some very nasty things to you. They have a roster, so name and number were right there. The ones who could read could be pretty mean, directing nasty Italian insults my way. Lucky for me, not only did the North win the Civil War but we won most of those games.

I don't let fan bases of other teams bother me. Growing up White Sox in Chicago probably helped me with this. They are really of no consequence to me whatsoever unless what they do or say is directed specifically at me. Then, we could have issues. Otherwise, I pretty much ignore the trolls and morons of the world, ND fans included.

I was lucky with the USC fans I met last year. After the pep rally my son and I was walking back and stopped in the Eck where ND was playing USC. Hung out with some of the old crew including Bobby Bayliss. Met some of the USC players that had already finished their matches. One even took my son out on the court and hit with him. He liked that, but he's still a ND fan. I even escorted a few of the USC parents around that night and showed them a good time. Sorry for your bad experience. Just typical, some good and bad. The only school that dosen't have any bad fans is ND of course!

 

[meangreenarmy]

some fans deserve respect. some dont.
i have yet to meet or read a post by a classy ohio state fan but maybe thats just me.
my wife and i went to the notre dame -nebraska game at south bend a few years back.
the nebraska fans were first class all the way.
and anyone who was there will tell you there were ALOT of them. very nice crowd of people. and they understood and respected the history of the irish.

being from ohio and now living in syracuse i frequent an ohio high school football message board. mostly to keep up on my old high school.
there is a college football forum and i will say the ohio state fans are just amazing in their complete hatred of notre dame.
any thread that is started for notre dame is quickly hijacked by the obnoxious buckeye fans.
and it si not only there that this happens.
i dont have any experience with the fans at a game but i have heard that they are the worst.
oh well at least the irish have some great fans.
GO IRISH GO!!

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

I think Ohio State fans are worried about ND becoming the dominant force in the midwest again.

They would honestly prefer Michigan to us.

 

[tgolden]

my wife and i went to the notre dame -nebraska game at south bend a few years back.
the nebraska fans were first class all the way.
and anyone who was there will tell you there were ALOT of them. very nice crowd of people. and they understood and respected the history of the irish.
QUOTE]

I was at that game- the red sickened me, but you're right. all the fans that I encountered were wonderful. they really caused me to respect their program.

the ony really bad fans I've encountered were Michigan in 04. they were horrible before the gbut as the game progressed, they shut up.

my opinion, ND fans should always treat opposing fans with respect. that doesn't mean don't cheer as loud as you can, just no need to harass opposing fans.

 

[jiggafini19]

I think Ohio State fans are worried about ND becoming the dominant force in the midwest again.

They would honestly prefer Michigan to us.

That's really sad if it is true.

Frankly, I find that hard to believe.

Then again, I saw Michigan fans wishing tOSU good luck before the Fiesta Bowl. To me, those aren't real Michigan fans and the Buckeye faithful who would rather see Michigan surpass them instead of Notre Dame aren't real Buckeye fans either.

ND has nothing to do with Ohio State and vice versa. Michigan has EVERYTHING to do with Ohio State and vice versa.

 

[irishnd31]

I stood up and he moved on. I wanted to do more, but then what would I be teaching my son.

Agreed. You did the right thing.