Actions of the Utah State University student section during basketball games are being scrutinized by school officials and the public. The question of “how far is too far?” is being debated.
USU students were called classless and disrespectful after a win over Brigham Young University on Nov. 11.
Arguments on Facebook, Twitter and comment boards quickly emerged after the game about the conduct of USU fans.
“I used to like the USU Aggies, but the vulgar t-shirts and signs in the crowd were just embarrassing,” Britney Gale, a USU fan said.
More comments similar to Gale’s could be seen on comment boards such as the Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune and other news websites.
USU fans chanted and held up signs saying, “pull it out,” and “don’t tell.”
These chants were directed at BYU forward Brandon Davies. Davies was kicked off the team for breaking the school honor code when he had pre-marital sex late last season.
Some say that the chants were uncalled for and were a display of terrible sportsmanship.
“I’m a true USU fan and I love the rivalry between USU and BYU, but I felt embarrassed by some of our cheers,” Lauren Berrett, a senior at USU said. “I think a players personal life should be left out of basketball games.”
Many agree with Berrett.
“The personal attacks on Davies were uncalled for,” Joey Bennion, a USU fan said. “I’m just glad none of my kids were in there. I want to watch my team play, not listen to a bunch of sexual innuendos.”
The USU students were chastised by President Stan Albrecht and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes.
“We were disappointed and disturbed, however, during the recent basketball game against BYU. Some fans chose to conduct themselves in ways that went far beyond mere school rivalry, fair play and — most importantly — basic human decency,” Albrecht and Barnes said in a letter that was published on the school website. “We have to be able to find some way to display incomparable enthusiasm and school spirit without resorting to crude language, outright vulgarity and deeply personal insults chanted at an opposing player. It is inappropriate for us to invite a guest to come into our home and then have to suffer the language and personal insults tossed at him.”
Sean O’Sullivan, a student at USU said that Albrecht didn’t do anything about the heckling during the game.
“Sure he comes out and says all that after the game but I didn’t see him attempt to stop the chanting or announce anything during the game,” O’Sullivan said.
Conner Simmons, a junior at USU disagrees with Albrecht’s statements in his letter.
“It’s all part of the game,” Simmons said. “You can’t expect us to be nice to teams, especially BYU. Funny cheers and crowd unity is what makes it so hard to play us at home.”
(s.o'sullivan)
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