ORUTerry Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 My comments weren't addressed to the NDSU fans per se..... my assumption is that they are spirited, but well-behaved. I am thinking of some of the more 'boisterous' student sections around the country who seem to revel in chanting vulgarities and personal insults at opposing coaches and players. I am amazed that administrations and coaches allow that to happen. It reflects poorly on the schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FargoBison Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I was sitting directly in front of the student section in the fourth row of actual seating of the visitor's section. The front row stays empty and is not used. My original question on the road trip thread involved some question about security at the basketball game for visitors. Although I was quite vocal for ORU during the game, I was never verbally abused. I engaged in some light-hearted banter with the fans behind me on the next row up. The NDSU fans were pumped that they were actually defeating the mighty Golden Eagles. I think that many of them had come to the game not expecting their team to win at all and here they were soundly beating the conference leader. I am surprised that so much is being made out of one guy making some comments. I did not hear him use vulgarities. Perhaps when the coach turned around, something like that happened but it does not do the general behaviour of the fans in that building justice to make so much of this point. I was right behind the kid and he or somebody next to him did drop the F word once but I think a few other things he said were far more offensive. I won't say them here because it will just blow this up even further. It was just one kid who was taking things too far, not the entire student section and not a small group. My friend next to me even commented that he had seen that same kid making similar comments at other games. Some people are just like that, it is sad but as long as they are an ignored minority it isn't a big deal. You could move the student section and end up with a person just like that one in that seat. Idiot fans come in all ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 ORUTerry, I fully agree with you that such behaviour is out of place and should be shut down. The game should remain the focus and the rivalry carried out on the floor. The athletes and coaches that have prepared themselves for the night's match deserve the focus to be put there. Judging by what I am reading here tonight, it is indeed amazing how much negative impact even one fan can have on the reputation of a school. That is why I have interjected myself into this discussion so much to try to put this heckler's comments in perspective. I don't believe that NDSU in general deserves that reputation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUalum Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 reading this thread, i just keep getting the mental image of some guy peppering coach sutton with the likes of: "Yah, you betcha' the Bison are kicking your tail" or "You're darn tootin' were running yah outta' the gym" i just can't picture Fargo w/a whole lot of foul mouthed hecklers. those people are just too nice up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FargoBison Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 ORUTerry, I fully agree with you that such behaviour is out of place and should be shut down. The game should remain the focus and the rivalry carried out on the floor. The athletes and coaches that have prepared themselves for the night's match deserve the focus to be put there. Judging by what I am reading here tonight, it is indeed amazing how much negative impact even one fan can have on the reputation of a school. That is why I have interjected myself into this discussion so much to try to put this heckler's comments in perspective. I don't believe that NDSU in general deserves that reputation. I appreciate it ron. I agree that the attention should be kept on the court as well. Personal insults and vulgar chants serve no purpose and do reflect poorly on the school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I was right behind the kid and he or somebody next to him did drop the F word once but I think a few other things he said were far more offensive. I won't say them here because it will just blow this up even further. It was just one kid who was taking things too far, not the entire student section and not a small group. My friend next to me even commented that he had seen that same kid making similar comments at other games. Some people are just like that, it is sad but as long as they are an ignored minority it isn't a big deal. You could move the student section and end up with a person just like that one. Idiot fans come in all ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 reading this thread, i just keep getting the mental image of some guy peppering coach sutton with the likes of: "Yah, you betcha' the Bison are kicking your tail" or "You're darn tootin' were running yah outta' the gym" i just can't picture Fargo w/a whole lot of foul mouthed hecklers. those people are just too nice up there. I believe that this was the jist of most of the comments. I also agree with the nice people bit. After all, they're almost Canadians up there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FargoBison Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 If this is a regular occurance, however, perhaps someone should speak to this gentleman to indicate that such behaviour is not wanted. At the beginning of the game there was an announcement that said that vulgarities would not be put up with and people that don't act respectfully would be removed, or did I misunderstand? I think somebody from the athletic department did talk to the guy, don't know what was said though. If he would have gone on swearing, he probably would have been gone. Vulgarities/racial comments are not allowed but unless a person is completely out of control, they will get warned first and then removed if they don't knock it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmh8286 Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 I kind of hate it that I even brought the incident up at this point, but I thought it was interesting to see what was said about it on the NDSU board, since I'd heard Geoff and Coach Sutton talk about it in the post-game show. Actually, what I think is pretty nice, is that NDSU has a section of seats reserved behind the bench for the opposing teams' fans. I know there are usually a few seat for those immediately connected with the team, but ORU is one of the few places I've been to that allows opposing fans to sit in the seats directly behind their team's bench. Usually opposing fans are either widely scattered around the upper areas of an arena, as we were at OU, or are stuck high in a corner, like we were at Kansas and SMS/MSU. It's nice that NDSU has reserved five rows behind the visiting bench for their fans. I think that's a classy thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmh8286 Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 Okay, I actually heard the guy make some comments as well and when I said before that I hadn't heard any vulgarities, I actually meant that I hadn't heard any "swear words". Our founding president's name has been abused in many different ways and most people attached to ORU have probably heard examples of this. Someone made a couple of remarks in this direction but I have conditioned myself to ignore this. It doesn't reflect well on the person making the remarks. It is unfortunate that these individuals are not aware of how foolish they themselves appear in other's eyes. Those of us who spend much time on our opponent's message boards have seen PLENTY of this over the years, ron. I usually check out the boards of other conference teams several times over the course of the season to see if there are any interesting discussions, particularly around the time that we're playing them or when anything in particular is going on, such as when the law suit was served to ORU last fall. I can honestly say that the NDSU board was one of the few that I visited that wasn't full of disparaging posts directed at Oral Roberts or the University in general. The fact that they steered clear of slinging mud our direction caused me to have a high degree of respect for their program and their fans that won't be changed because of one loud-mouthed fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUTerry Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I have to agree Tim.... the NDSU fans have not taken advantage of the recent turmoil to denigrate ORU. I know our team has heard every variation of derogatory thing said about ORU & Oral Roberts.... most of it is not humorous or even original. I heard a story a few years back about how the student section was heckling our guys before a conference game and Sutton pulled the guys together to say something like: "Do you hear what they are saying about YOUR school? It is up to you to defend the name and honor of ORU." True or not, I love the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Boy Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 OT, have you ever been to a football OR basketball game in Stillwater and sat near or behind the visiting team? I promise you, joe average OSU fan is at least as challenging on the Cowboys' Big 12 opponents as NDSU fan was on SS. And for the record, OSU's not even close to the most obnoxious fan base in the Big 12. That said, I absolutely agree that it is a growing monster and someday someone somewhere will get physically hurt. For all the grief Bob Knight has been abused with over the years throughout the Big Ten and more recently the Big 12, it's shocking he hasn't absolutely gone nuts on an unruly opposing fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUTerry Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 It's not like he has not been baited..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmh8286 Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 It's not like he has not been baited..... Boy, ain't that the truth. You know, people are kinda like chickens - if a chicken gets a little blood on it, especially on it's comb, other chickens will pick that spot till they literally kill the injured bird. People will hone in on a particular weakness, like BK's temper, and ride him till he breaks - and THEN act SHOCKED at his lack of self-control!! The control issue actually lies with the fans in a situation like that. But you rarely hear fans being chided for their behavior. I missed the article that OT was talking about, but I'm going to check it out. I think that fan behavior is becoming a real problem in sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUIsbig Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I am pretty sure there will need to be a Sherriff in front of our section at the tournament. We are not very nice to the opposing bench. I remember last year i was giving Homer what for through my infamous mega phone, and one of the assistants stared me down. This year, we will have a whole section of MEGA PHONES! Look people, geering is part of the game. NO there should not be foul language, but sutton should have never responded. Last year at the tournament we were getting the refs pretty good. Then they did something good and i showered him with praise. He turned around and starting joking with us. I knew he was hooked. NO WAY a ref should be talking to a fan. I single handedly turned that game!!!!(jk). Point is, its our job to try to rattle them. Its their job to ignore it. As long as it's clean and fair, its part of the game. I hope that when ORU Ed drops a "freeken" on the refs- i hope he doesn't get escorted out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djenkins13 Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 I am sure that the fans at Ark. were a lot worse overall. OT, I have read the Sports Illustrated article and it is amazing what they let fans say at certain places! It reflects badly on those schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORU_Ed Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 While I agree that the vulgarity and rude/derogatory comments have no place at any event, I would love for whoever happens to be near the opponents bench to "let them have it" during the game. Every foul, missed shot, coach rant, etc, should be exaggerated and played upon to get them flustered. I have no problem with the Bison fans getting after Scott like we do with Hunter and others. I can sure understand why Coach would have engaged this particular time. It was a very frustrating game from all sides. It's like last year's conf. tourney when we got the refs to start interacting with us. He said that if we thought we could do better to get a striped shirt can get out there. To which I responded, I'd love to. The next night one of the other refs of that crew brought me a whistle. My point is that yes the nasty junk has to stop, but to not want the home fans to attempt to "get to" the opposing players of coaches is defeating some of your home court advantage. Where is that happy medium? I'm not sure. It starts with self policing. Fans keeping the unruly people under control. Don't have a mob mentality but forget sitting on your hands and keeping your mouth shut. Stay home and watch the game if that's how you're going to Help your team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmh8286 Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 Okay, I've shown this pic before - where does this behavior fit into this discussion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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