Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil - Mike Sorensen

[LA Ute]

Please excuse me if someone's already posted this piece by Mike Sorensen. It's a good read. In esence, Mike says that if it's really true that the problems on both sides result from 5% of fans, then the 95% of fans who are not troublemakers take over and become part of the solution:

Christensen wonders why BYU can't have a big banner in front of its stadium welcoming the University of Utah to the big game and vice versa. Why can't each university hold a reception for the visiting marching band and set up tailgate space for opposing fans like Notre Dame does?

What else can be done?

It seems to me, if it is just 5 percent of fans at each school causing the problems, then the other 95 percent have to take ownership and not let the rowdy fans get away with it. They need to speak up when an opposing player's family is being harassed or if other inappropriate behavior is going on. If the peer pressure of a group of "good" fans getting after the rowdy fan doesn't work, then security should be notified to take care of the problem.

Ideally, we shouldn't have to have Big Brother watching over us at games, but perhaps at some point, universities will have to employ techniques used by the NFL and have numerous cameras aimed at the fans, watching for unacceptable behavior. Rowdy fans who make things uncomfortable for others should be thrown out of the stadium.

If you go to another team's stadium you hope to be treated with respect, and you deserve to be. I've been to stadiums all over the country from Georgia to LSU to Nebraska, and the fans always seem more hospitable than the ones around here. For instance, Nebraska fans have a tradition of standing and applauding the opposing team's players as they run out of the stadium after a game.

Sure, but it's not a rivalry game, you say. So what? Can't we still treat opposing fans the way we want to be treated?

Some fans may already be plotting their actions for next year's Utah-BYU football game or for this years basketball games. How about this novel idea? Behave yourself and be nice to the other fans. There's a way to have competitiveness in a fun-loving way rather than a mean-spirited one.

Since next year's game is at RES it seems to be the burden is on us Ute fans to make sure things start to change. That seems like a more productive approach than arguing about whose fault the problem is.

I'm off my soapbox now, but I reserve the right to get back on.

[SeattleUte]

Please excuse me if someone's already posted this piece by Mike Sorensen. It's a good read. In esence, Mike says that if it's really true that the problems on both sides result from 5% of fans, then the 95% of fans who are not troublemakers take over and become part of the solution:

Christensen wonders why BYU can't have a big banner in front of its stadium welcoming the University of Utah to the big game and vice versa. Why can't each university hold a reception for the visiting marching band and set up tailgate space for opposing fans like Notre Dame does?

What else can be done?

It seems to me, if it is just 5 percent of fans at each school causing the problems, then the other 95 percent have to take ownership and not let the rowdy fans get away with it. They need to speak up when an opposing player's family is being harassed or if other inappropriate behavior is going on. If the peer pressure of a group of "good" fans getting after the rowdy fan doesn't work, then security should be notified to take care of the problem.

Ideally, we shouldn't have to have Big Brother watching over us at games, but perhaps at some point, universities will have to employ techniques used by the NFL and have numerous cameras aimed at the fans, watching for unacceptable behavior. Rowdy fans who make things uncomfortable for others should be thrown out of the stadium.

If you go to another team's stadium you hope to be treated with respect, and you deserve to be. I've been to stadiums all over the country from Georgia to LSU to Nebraska, and the fans always seem more hospitable than the ones around here. For instance, Nebraska fans have a tradition of standing and applauding the opposing team's players as they run out of the stadium after a game.

Sure, but it's not a rivalry game, you say. So what? Can't we still treat opposing fans the way we want to be treated?

Some fans may already be plotting their actions for next year's Utah-BYU football game or for this years basketball games. How about this novel idea? Behave yourself and be nice to the other fans. There's a way to have competitiveness in a fun-loving way rather than a mean-spirited one.

Since next year's game is at RES it seems to be the burden is on us Ute fans to make sure things start to change. That seems like a more productive approach than arguing about whose fault the problem is.

I'm off my soapbox now, but I reserve the right to get back on.

yeah right. Since the hate speech we don't want to be civil. We're not interested. All we want is to shove their faces into the RES toilet bowls. To hell with beer.

[LA Ute]

yeah right. Since the hate speech we don't want to be civil. We're not interested. All we want is to shove their faces into the RES toilet bowls. To hell with beer.

You'd have a lot more credibility if you ever actually showed your face at a game . . . .

[venkman]

Home fans can be better hosts, and visiting fans can be better guests. I can't speak for RES, but from my observation, most visiting ute fans "abused" at LES seem to have brought it on themselves by being total dickheads.

[YOhio]

You'd have a lot more credibility if you ever actually showed your face at a game . . . .

cliche. find some new material.

[cougjunkie]

LOL its a rivalry but lets welcome them with open arms and maybe some of the blue haired donors can give up their 50 yard line seats for the less fortunate Ute fans. How about opening up the tent for the legacy members to Ute fans that also would help.

[LA Ute]

LOL its a rivalry but lets welcome them with open arms and maybe some of the blue haired donors can give up their 50 yard line seats for the less fortunate Ute fans. How about opening up the tent for the legacy members to Ute fans that also would help.

[YOhio]

When you invited me to your party, you said that I had to sit in the kitchen. I don't think you're ready for the demands that civility requires.

[LA Ute]

When you invited me to your party, you said that I had to sit in the kitchen. I don't think you're ready for the demands that civility requires.

You can earn your way into the living room. Start now - you have 11.5 months.

[Portland Ute]

Why can't each university hold a reception for the visiting marching band and set up tailgate space for opposing fans like Notre Dame does?

Well, for one thing, Notre Dame has the deepest pockets in the country. I'm sure that setting up receptions and tailgates for opposing fans is a drop in the ND athletic budget.

It would be a big expense for non-BCS programs to do those kinds of things.

However, it might go to further relations between the fanbases, and who isn't in favor of relations?

[TripletDaddy]

Please excuse me if someone's already posted this piece by Mike Sorensen.

I don't remember your posting this piece, but I do recall your posting some slight mocking and contempt for those fans that show up at an opposing stadium and have the gall to expect civil treatment.

Apparently you wish to retract that comment and get with the more civil, common sense approach?

[LA Ute]

I don't remember your posting this piece, but I do recall your posting some slight mocking and contempt for those fans that show up at an opposing stadium and have the gall to expect civil treatment.

Apparently you wish to retract that comment and get with the more civil, common sense approach?

No, you are supposed to tell me if you have found the unicorn in the piece where you think I said that, and you haven't gotten back to me on that yet. I am thinking it was the unicorn who made the statement you attribute to me.

[TripletDaddy]

No, you are supposed to tell me if you have found the unicorn in the piece where you think I said that, and you haven't gotten back to me on that yet. I am thinking it was the unicorn who made the statement you attribute to me.

I think you said that you laugh when people expect civil treatment or something of the like.

[Fiyero]

When you invited me to your party, you said that I had to sit in the kitchen. I don't think you're ready for the demands that civility requires.

Hey at least you have a seat. I'll be the one in a penguin suit

[LA Ute]

I think you said that you laugh when people expect civil treatment or something of the like.

My bestest recollection is that I said it's a little naive to show up at your rival's stadium in your team's full gear and not expect to get at least some poor treatment, even if it's just verbal smack. Anyway, I hereby affirm that I did not mean that statement as any endorsement or approval of treating rival fans badly. Just as an observation of what's realistic.

Reminds me of a time I saw a Yankees-Red Sox game in Yankee Stadium, and noticed a few people who showed up in Red Sox gear head to toe. When a Yankee fan would insult the ancestors of those people 3-4 generations back, they would act shocked and outraged. What did they expect?

But I am hoping that we BYU and Utah fans will all answer to a higher law to and Mike Sorensen's call, and treat each other much better in the future. If not us, who? If not now, when? Etc.

I forgive you, by the way.