There is something special about the excitement of a sporting event. The rush when your favorite team wins, the heart-in-your-throat terror we all feel at pivotal moments and even the somewhat bittersweet pride in suffering through a loss with your head held high. These are part of the common experience enjoyed by every sports fan. Or at least they should be.
What I would like to correct is a growing trend that I notice and abhor more with each passing game I attend: the presence (and then infuriating absence) of fair-weather fans. There are a few general rules of conduct that any true fan should follow. You may be thinking that you aren’t a true fan, and that these rules don’t apply to you. If so, I beseech you not to attend important games – we don’t need you messing up our extra man vibes. No joke. They are real, and they work.
The list is short and unbelievably simple. Many people will probably read this and think, “Why, that’s all common sense!” I would respond with “You are correct,” and that is why it’s so infuriating to see people disregarding these rules.
You shouldn’t bring non-N.C. State fans into the student section. I know how it happens, your girlfriend goes to UNC and you want to go to the game together. Even so, it’s important you realize she doesn’t belong in our student section. If you are so proud of your inter-college romance that you want to broadcast it at sporting events then be the big spender and buy your goat-lady a ticket for the general seating section.
It’s wrong to bring a fan of the opposing team into our student section because that is supposed to be the sea of deafeningly loud, red-clad students proudly supporting our teams. Taking a seat away from a real NCSU fan is doing the team a disservice.
Also, don’t ever boo your own team. I don’t care if they miss every shot — they won’t get better if their own fans turn on them. I should counsel you that this is so infuriating to everyone around you that you may eventually be assaulted by a fan who fully understands the importance of being positive and supportive when your team needs you most. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Finally, I shouldn’t even have to say this, but don’t leave before the game is over. Obviously if you are ill or have some sort of emergency then you have to leave. But it’s obnoxious to be in that mass exodus of fair-weather fans at the point when the game is obviously lost.
You are distracting everyone and disheartening the team further. They can see you and you’re telling them that they should give up because their fans have. These fans should realize that they are missing all the greatest comebacks in history. And more importantly, if you care at all, you should stay and support your team. It’s not over until it’s over.
Tell Kate how you show your support of N.C. State. E-mail her at [email protected]
