Everywhere I go, I am asked about how I think fans will react to what will certainly be a great football victory over the University of Michigan Saturday. I think fans will celebrate with tremendous noise, enthusiasm, gusto – and respect for the team, Ohio State, themselves and even our worthy opponent. What I am concerned about is the behavior of jerks, who often call themselves fans but do not deserve the name.
You may recall that after the tremendous OSU victory over the University of Texas, the news coverage locally and nationally was not about how the team had dominated Texas and played with skill and class. Instead, it was all about the idiots, many of them students, who set about 50 fires off campus. A few people justified their actions by claiming that setting fires and being disruptive was how “true” Buckeye fans show support for the team. They were wrong. Their actions were a danger to themselves and others and cast our university in a negative light across the nation. The team, the coach and true fans here and everywhere were embarrassed for the university and angry that the dangerous and illegal actions of a few had stolen the attention the players so richly deserved.
Everyone – student, alumnus, OSU sports fanatic – has a decision to make this weekend. Are you going to be a fan or are you going to be a jerk?
Fans cheer for their team – loudly and proudly.
Jerks are more interested in drawing attention to themselves.
Fans treat visiting teams, bands and their fans with respect.
Jerks insult, abuse and berate our opponent.
Fans celebrate with class, as the coach, team captains and fellow students have asked.
Jerks act like, well, jerks and behave in dangerous and classless ways.
Fans honor the Buckeyes’ tremendous season and attract positive attention to OSU.
Jerks dishonor the team by their stupid behavior and draw negative national attention to OSU.
Fans do not let their friends be jerks.
Jerks cite the bad behavior of others to justify their own bad behavior.
Fans wear scarlet and gray.
Jerks wear vulgar shirts defaming the opponent.
Fans tell age appropriate Michigan jokes.
Jerks scream obscenities in front of little kids and old ladies.
Fans know when to say when.
Jerks drink too much and get sloppy, nasty or destructive.
Fans wake up on Sunday afternoon feeling good about themselves, the Buckeye victory and being part of a great university.
Jerks wake up in jail facing criminal charges and about to receive a notice suspending them from OSU.
Bottom line. True Buckeye fans act like champions 100 percent of the time – win or lose. The minute you slide over into jerk behavior you forfeit the right to call yourself a fan.
If you are a true Buckeye fan, this weekend will be about as exciting as it gets. So cheer and celebrate extra hard. It will be very special game, one that you’ll want to remember and retell for years – the day that OSU and Michigan clashed in Ohio Stadium for the right to be No. 1 at the end of the season. Do not let jerks turn the focus away from this historic game and put the spotlight on themselves and their stupid behaviors. This should not be about them.
The student Sportsmanship Council campaign theme “Best Fans in the Land” says it all. I believe we are the best fans in the land. Let’s prove it to the nation this weekend.
Go Bucks.
Rich Hollingsworth is the vice president for student affairs. He can be reached at [email protected].
