Being a fan 101

Today I stumbled across a link leading to some of the exciting moments from the Illinois/Indiana game from a few nights back. Now normally this wouldn't catch my attention, but I noticed the description stated that Gus Johnson called the game for the Big Ten Network, so there was no way I could pass it up. If you haven't heard about my infatuation with The Gus, then you probably don't spend enough time around me...your loss (then again, I basically just admitted that I have a man crush on someone). Anyway, Gus didn't disappoint and had some of his vintage calls thanks to a highly contested game and an exciting enough finish, nearly causing my favorite announcer to have a stroke. But then something mind-boggling occurred. Indiana fans stormed the court. Excuse me? The once proud University of Indiana student section was storming the court...because they beat the 24th ranked team in the nation? Wow. My buddy Kyle also pointed out that BYU students fled their seats after taking down the undefeated, 4th ranked San Diego State Aztecs. Okay. So this is a little more acceptable, but BYU was ranked 9th and playing at home. Is that really enough cause for a fan to step foot on a basketball court? Allow me to answer said question along with a few others regarding proper fan etiquette. Trust me, I'm qualified to do so because I attended Sussex Hamilton High School, home of the best (rowdiest) student section in the state of Wisconsin. So please step into Professor Radcliffe's office for a quick lesson on the fan's code of conduct.


A young sixth man following proper fan etiquette (By the way, that's Kyle on the right)

Chapter 1: The rules of court storming

Rarely these days do we see a justified court-storming. Kids these days think they have the right to storm a court/field basically anytime an upset occurs and I'm almost ashamed to be a part of such a generation. Let me give you an example of a proper field storming. On October 16th, #19 Wisconsin faced off against #1 Ohio State at Camp Randall Stadium and came out victorious in the biggest victory for Wisconsin football in a decade. Now there's a reason for jumping the railing and stomping all over the artificial field turf (which I did rather clumsily...FYI, I'm on Camp Randall's turf in my Twitter pic). The following is how I personally feel fans should judge whether or not they can run onto the playing surface for both college basketball and college football, basically the only two categories we see such an event occur.

1. If your team is unranked and the opponent is ranked in the top 5.
2. If your team is unranked and your opponent is ranked in the top 10 AND a rival.
3. If your team is ranked outside of the top 15 and the opponent is ranked #1.
4. If your team is ranked outside of the top 15 and the opponent is ranked in the top 5 AND a rival.
5. If some sort of unbelievable streak has been snapped (See: UCLA 88 game win streak OR haven't beaten opponent 20+ times in a row)

I can't think of any other conceivable reason why fans should have the right to storm. Even if Ohio State should be considered a rival of Wisconsin (they're not), then the rules allow for a field storming. I think I've made myself clear.

Chapter 2: When to get behind your team

Ideally, it would be nice for the crowd to be ruckus during every possible second of a sporting event, but we all know this isn't realistic (or maybe I'm just missing something). Obviously, the rules vary with each sport, so I'll go through the four major sports played in this great country...and Canada (By the way, these should all be common knowledge if your a true sports fan).

FOOTBALL
- NEVER make noise* while your team has the football on offense
- Make noise on every opponent 3rd down
- Make noise on every snap when the opponent is backed up near their own goal-line
- Make noise on every snap when the opponent is knocking on the door of your team's end zone

BASEBALL
- Make noise when your team is threatening (multiple runners on base) and at-bat
- Make noise when the opponent is threatening** and your team's pitcher is trying to get out of a jam (especially with 2 strikes on the batter)
- Constantly make noise in the 9th inning when your team's closer is in trying to make a save
- Make noise when your team is attempting to mount a comeback in the 9th (down 1, no one on-base; down 2+, 1+ on-base)

Basketball
- Make noise when your team is making a run to get back into the game
- Make noise when your team has made a run to distance itself from the opponent
(Normally, coaches make the smart move of calling time-out when a team is making a run against them to take the crowd out of the game. Who says the crowd doesn't make a difference in a game? Mo-men-tum certainly doesn't)

Hockey
- Make noise when your team kills a power-play
- Make noise every time your team clears the puck when they are shorthanded
- Make noise when your team had multiple shots on goal, even if they failed to score
***

*Fans should not for any reason make noise when their team has the ball (unless a big play is made/touchdown). The quarterback needs to communicate with his players in case of an audible and to call out the cadence. In other words, celebrate a first down or whatever, but then shut the hell up.

**Baseball is weird like that. Making noise affects both teams in tense situations, but in different ways. When your team's player is up to bat or pitching with the team in a bind, he knows the cheers are to help encourage him and get him through a tough situation. Complete opposite for the opponent. Whether you're in the pitcher's or batter's shoes for the home team or the away team, it's up to them to thrive or falter under these circumstances. I was a pitcher throughout my baseball career because I loved being in control...to be the one who everyone counted on to get through tough times...whoa. Sorry. I got caught up there for a moment.

***No matter what the sport, if your team is surging back/pulling away, you have to get behind them. This also applies to when a certain player is going on some kind of insane run (a baseball player going 4/4 or striking out 16; a basketball player dropping 45; a hockey player notching a trick). Hopefully it's clear to you guys that cheering for a home run, a goal, a touchdown, a basket, a walk off victory and a win of any sort goes without saying (whoops...I said it anyway). Also, if your team is struggling over a multiple game stretch, this is even more reason to show your support more often than not throughout a game.

Chapter 3: When to show displeasure at a sporting event

When the official/umpire/ref effs up.

(I know that I'm in the minority when saying this, but NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER should a fan boo their team. NEVER. I don't care if you're upset about something they did. You have that right. But you also have the responsibility to support your team through thick and thin...through bone-head decisions...through flat out horrific play...through faltering in the clutch. It happens. It happens to all of us. As for the officials...let 'em hear it!)

That's all I've got for now. Three chapters. A rather short book, I know. Please let me know if I'm missing something obvious here because I probably had a brain-fart somewhere along the way. Back next week with a Super Bowl preview! Peace.