Classless fans

[Texas Tider]

When I go to an away game I expect to be harassed, don't you?

Sure, but isn't it nice when you aren't? When you meet some nice people you can tailgate with and talk football with? So we should do the same with fans of visiting teams. "Do unto others..."

 

[bobstod]

No, I don't expect to be harassed; and if I am, I try not to condemn the entire fan base for the abuse.

More importantly, what other fans do has no bearing on our responsibility as fans of the Crimson Tide of Alabama. We are supposed to be better than other fans in every way. We yell louder, we hurt more when we lose, and we show class ALL THE TIME!

 

[Bryant Disciple]

When I go to an away game I expect to be harassed, don't you?

No. I might expect it from people with no class. I'll never forget UCLA fans in Los Angeles shouting "look at all these rednecks!" in 2000. There's just no excuse for that sort of behavior. It's one thing to cheer for your team; quite another to hurl hateful insults and epithets at fans.

Alabama fans should always take the high road. We do our talking on the field.

 

[RollinOnBayou]

Sure, but isn't it nice when you aren't? When you meet some nice people you can tailgate with and talk football with? So we should do the same with fans of visiting teams. "Do unto others..."

You're telling me, you really care if you meet friends at a game? This isn't a matter of stooping to their level or doing onto others, it's understanding it's going to happen, and getting over it. YOU can tailgate with visiting fans, and a few JERKS can harass them, you cannot control them. You do your thing others do theirs, we should stop worrying so much about it. So many times after games I've seen more "OMG our fans were rude" post's, than other posts, SO WHAT. It happened this week and I'll go out on a limb and say it'll happen every week from here untill there is no more college football.

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

Great job! I was at the game as well, but fortunately, didn't hear anything like that. I sat next to a Tennessee fan and remained respectful the whole time and wished him well on his drive back to Nashville.

There's no sense in that crap yelling at families. I'm embarassed for the hillbilly that yelled it.

 

[RollinOnBayou]

No. I might expect it from people with no class. I'll never forget UCLA fans in Los Angeles shouting "look at all these rednecks!" in 2000. There's just no excuse for that sort of behavior. It's one thing to cheer for your team; quite another to hurl hateful insults and epithets at fans.

Alabama fans should always take the high road. We do our talking on the field.

Realize one thing today please... It's going to happen, YOU just do your part in making sure YOU act with class. You and I can do nothing to make sure all fans act right.

 

[lnadell]

Guys I see both sides of this, yes I have witnessed bad fans UCLA fans were unexpectedly very bad and the Michigan fans after the Orange Bowl were terrible, and yes it did turn me off and it makes it hard for me to pull for their teams now. That said its not like we've been all nicey, nicey with UT and their fans for a long time anyway, they hate us and we for the most part hate them, expecting these two fan bases to get an A for plays well together on their report cards is insane. All schools have bad fans, and most fans know that, I do try to make up for some of the bad Alabama fans if I witness them at a game, and I hate that there are some who act that way but its part of sports, and truth be told I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. Some of the best rival fans I've seen at an away game that made the experience great were the OU fans and also the Hawaii fans, we were invited to tailgate at the hawii game with some Hawaiians and it was fantastic really made paradise even better, but lets face it California and Hawaii were not and would not have been ruined by bad fans.

 

[Texas Tider]

You're telling me, you really care if you meet friends at a game? This isn't a matter of stooping to their level or doing onto others, it's understanding it's going to happen, and getting over it. YOU can tailgate with visiting fans, and a few JERKS can harass them, you cannot control them. You do your thing others do theirs, we should stop worrying so much about it. So many times after games I've seen more "OMG our fans were rude" post's, than other posts, SO WHAT. It happened this week and I'll go out on a limb and say it'll happen every week from here untill there is no more college football.

You're telling me you don't see anything wrong with an Alabama fan yelling "Go to hell, hillbillies" to two grandparents and their teenage grandaughter who were just walking back to their car and minding their own business? And yes I would much rather make friends at a game than enemies. I just don't see the point in being hateful to visiting fans. Yes, if they dish it out, they should be able to take it, and would deserve everything they got back, but that is not what happened here.

 

[RollinOnBayou]

You're telling me you don't see anything wrong with an Alabama fan yelling "Go to hell, hillbillies" to two grandparents and their teenage grandaughter who were just walking back to their car and minding their own business? And yes I would much rather make friends at a game than enemies. I just don't see the point in being hateful to visiting fans. Yes, if they dish it out, they should be able to take it, and would deserve everything they got back, but that is not what happened here.

Yes I see the problem!!! That's what I've been saying! I have just come to terms that it's going to happen. You just do you part in being classy. Inadells post was a great post, just read that.

 

[lnadell]

Its about time I get some recognition around here for being the classy fan that I am (lol). No seriously guys, there are just certain places you go to games and certain teams you play that you should know to expect it. When we play UT, LSU, Auburn or Florida on the road, you just know that some of their fans and some of our fans are going to have a problem with each other its unavoidable. Same thing happens at every sports venue for every sport played, there is no such thing as a game where every fan of both teams get along 100%. Alabama is lucky that for the most part our fans are pretty darn good and treat other fans well even when their fans that we secretly hate, but that cannot be said for all of our fans. I'm a huge Cubs fan and most of their fans are good too, but let the Cubs play the White Sox in interleague and both fans are really ugly to each other some teams just bring out the worst in each other (not that its hrad to bring out the worst in Sox fans who resemble Auburn fans a lot) and lets face it Alabama and UT fans bring out the worst in each other also.

 

[Bama-94-00]

I'd be willing to lay odds that the guilty party had never set foot in a classroom at the University of Alabama, ..

There's may be some truth to that. But it's not a given either. It does seem like more of the unreasonable fans aren't alumni.

In any event we all should show class and act like we're been there before. Well done CarolinaTidefan.

 

[Texas Tider]

Yes I see the problem!!! That's what I've been saying! I have just come to terms that it's going to happen. You just do you part in being classy. Inadells post was a great post, just read that.

I do try to make up for some of the bad Alabama fans if I witness them at a game, and I hate that there are some who act that way but its part of sports, and truth be told I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

I read lnadell's post. Trust me, Bayou, I'm not losing any sleep over it. I slept much better Saturday night than I did Friday night before the game! But I'd be lying if I said it doesn't bother me.

I know that there are always going to be people who are rude to visiting fans, and it is always going to bother me when I hear it (or hear about it). It's great that it doesn't bother you. But I can't stand hearing stories like this one. No, I can't do anything about the rude 'Bama fans, and I accept that, but that is why it is important for people like Carolina and lnadell to step up and do what they have done.

 

[Proxigean Tide]

Bad fans embarrassment to the school

Just because a person doesn't participate in bad behavior doesn't mean its ok.

I attended the 2000 BAMA-LSU game in Baton Rouge with my girlfriend who was a Louisiana native and LSU fan. As I had bought LSU season tickets to give to my customers, less the Bama game of course, I knew we would be surrounded by purple and gold.

As I was wearing a crimson #29 jersey, I suggested she might like to wear some LSU gear in order to help identify me as at least a friend of the LSU program, but she had a cute green blouse she wanted to wear, so I was on my own. Of course, she assured me no LSU fans would hassle me because "Tiger fans are classy".

Well, the abuse started almost immediately upon exiting our car in the parking lot and continued as we milled around the stadium during the hour leading up to the game. 8-9 times during a one hour period, obviously inebriated students would litterally run up to me and crowding to within 2 feet scream "TIGER BAIT!" over and over at the top of their lungs.

After about the 6th or 7th incident, I told my girlfriend that I didn't care if they were just stupid kids, that the next guy who screams in my face is getting knocked on his butt. She then suggested we hit one of the shirt vendors and buy her an LSU jersey to wear. However, not before she was totally embarrassed by the behavior of the LSU fans.

Of note, the older ticket holders we were surrounded by during the game were all very nice to both of us. Of course, her jersey probably helprd. RTR.

 

[lnadell]

Hey Prox, LSU fans are notoriously bad they get very drunk all day and then abuse the visiting fans, you have to learn the places to expect it. I would never ever got to an LSU game and not be prepared for it, we should be thankful that for the most part we do not have that kind of reputation, most visiting fans are treated very well and have nothing but glowing things to say about their trip to T-Town. I don't like the bad behaviour but you are never going to be rid of it either, if you let it bother you too much you are simply being bothered by something that you cannot control, it is embarrassing and I hate seeing but I do and it happens, just be glad it doesn't happen alot with our fans.

 

[RollTideinGA]

Hey people! When you add alchohol to some people they have a complete disregard for morals or common sense. It happens at everyy sporting event no matter what team you are talking about. You wont have 100% class form every fan in the world.

Some people just take it a little too far. For the most part both sides seemed respectable of each other. Yes the dirty versions of Rocky Top were a plenty, but it had to be expected. I mean a full day of tailgating (beer, beer, and um beer) and then a very emotional game.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I've read the thread...

with interest. I find the "crap happens" argument to be a copout. I expect UA fans to be a cut above. I'll never accept it when they're not. I've had words in the past with jerk fans and I'll have words in the future. But I'll never accept it...

 

[RollinOnBayou]

with interest. I find the "crap happens" argument to be a copout. I expect UA fans to be a cut above. I'll never accept it when they're not. I've had words in the past with jerk fans and I'll have words in the future. But I'll never accept it...

You do understand that it happens and there's little you can do about it, but to do your part to be above them. And who decides who's a jerk and who's not? I don't think all trash talk is bad, but you might. I don't think booing the other team is classless, but you might. Talking sense to a drunk person about class after he's said something will only add fuel to the fire. Maybe accept isn't the right word to use... just know that you can't right every wrong person.

 

[Tennessee]

I think there's a huge difference in a little trash talk and being "classless"

I think trash talk when it's all in fun and when it's not taken to extremes is fun, and is part of sports...I think when it crosses a line is when it gets personal, when people start getting ****ed off, or when it has nothing to do with the game (such as phrases like "Your team sucks")...What is the point in that kind of statement...If my team sucks, then that means your team just beat a team that sucks...Good for you LOL...And, when a person/people are just sitting there and other fans walk by and start yelling at them...What's the point in that...

I do love tailgating with poeple of the other team, and cracking jokes and hearing the return jokes though...That's part of sports, IMO

 

[RollinOnBayou]

I think there's a huge difference in a little trash talk and being "classless"

I think trash talk when it's all in fun and when it's not taken to extremes is fun, and is part of sports...I think when it crosses a line is when it gets personal, when people start getting ****ed off, or when it has nothing to do with the game (such as phrases like "Your team sucks")...What is the point in that kind of statement...If my team sucks, then that means your team just beat a team that sucks...Good for you LOL...And, when a person/people are just sitting there and other fans walk by and start yelling at them...What's the point in that...

I do love tailgating with poeple of the other team, and cracking jokes and hearing the return jokes though...That's part of sports, IMO

That is 100% how I feel.

 

[BocaLance]

Every school has 'em.

Some people just lose all sense of dignity and humanity. Add a little liquor and they become downright prehistoric cave-folk. I've seen them at every university, pro, high school game I've ever been to -- including Alabama. :eek2: