I greatly appreciated a phone call I received from Chancellor Tom Hallman of USC Aiken the morning after last Monday's USCA-Augusta State University basketball game at Aiken.
Chancellor Hallman graciously offered me his sincere apology for the behavior of his fans and students, especially the rush onto the court that knocked down several ASU players after the final buzzer.
What happened at Aiken was entirely out of keeping with the NCAA Division II goal of a positive game environment for all contests. It was a negative and, for many fans, even a frightening experience. It shouldn't have happened, and I know that Chancellor Hallman, Athletic Director Randy Warrick and others at USCA will take every possible step to make sure that nothing similar ever happens again at the Aiken Convocation Center. This is good.
But I know from many firsthand reports, and from my own presence at the game, that some ASU fans also engaged in behaviors and statements that are hardly conducive to a positive game environment.
It's no secret that I'm an enthusiastic Jaguar fan. I love it when our team wins, and I hate it when we lose. At basketball games I sit next to our students' section because I like to see and feel their enthusiasm -- and join in. But disrespectful behavior, including ugly or threatening statements about opponents or officials, has no place in intercollegiate sports.
I've always been proud of our students at basketball games. Enthusiasm is high. Cheerleaders, the Blue Crew, the Jaguar Pep Band, the dance team -- all add to the excitement. And it's positive.
That's what we expect at our home game against USC-Aiken Wednesday night. To help make sure that everything is positive, we'll have extra security, we'll make sure that the entire seating section behind the Aiken team's bench is reserved for Aiken fans, and we'll remove from the game anyone -- from Augusta or Aiken -- whose behavior is disruptive or threatening.
The ASU-USCA basketball rivalry is an exciting part of the collegiate experience in this area. We want to keep it this way: very exciting, at times tense, offering both the thrill of winning and the disappointment of losing, but always a positive, proud experience for both schools.
Bill Bloodworth
Augusta
(The writer is president of Augusta State University.)
Check the videotape. Expel the students who did this and jail everyone else.
This is a one time shot; a chance to get it right: The schools --both schools-- must cooperate to aggressively go after the offenders with all means available. This means using the resources of teachers and coaches to identify and track down the offenders, and first suspend or expel them from school, then bring criminal charges, and, as this took place on government property (school), the courts should assess the enchanced penalties which come with that, as well as pursue civil suits against the aggressors. Only if both schools come down quick and medieval on this kind of behaviour will it be nipped in the bud. If the schools believe the solution is more security, they are mistaken, security can never be adequate to the sheer numbers; it is the certainty this kind of behaviour leads to consequences, period. Hand wringing is a sign of surrender; this calls for action or it will become the norm.
"What about the freedom to express ones self after a hard-fought exercise in game play."....by acting like animals?
justus brings up a good point...too bad the point is dull and without validity, however. Why is it that when a team does lose, they are not worthy of complaining of the way the winning team demonstrates?
Justus, if this were "sour grapes" as you suggest, then the Chancellor would not have contacted the President of ASU to offer an apology for the offense. The term "sour grapes" originates from an old fable about a fox who attempts to reach some grapes in a tree to eat them. Once the fox realizes that he is not going to get them by his approach of jumping as high as he can, he gives up and declares that they were probably just sour anyway. Clearly the President of ASU, who just so happens to be an ENLIGHTENED individual, is not perpetuating a level of "sour grapes" as you so accuse. This is a letter to the editor to announce that an apology was made, and that violence no matter what team you cheer for will not be tolerated. As for "What about the freedom to express ones self after a hard-fought exercise in game play.", evidently you need to research the not-so-fine-line between celebration and battery. Afterall, your freedoms exist up until they infringe upon the freedoms of your other fellow citizens.
Justus4 - you obviously have no idea what happened so don't make an ignorant comment about the situation. Dr. Bloodworth was fair in his assessment. You obviously don't understand that some humans were acting like animals, and that's a far cry from "the right to express yourself". Get a clue.
I hope that Christenberry is intimidating to opposing teams and fans. I am not advocating violence but I don't think we should welcome opponents--especially arch rivals.
Any one complaining about foul language or rude behavior at a sporting event probably hasn't attended one in person.
downtown...perhaps you should look for a better class of fans...............
Real Jaguar fans do not condone what downtown jaguar is asserting. There should never be foul language or rude behavior. The only time I've seen that at sporting events is when the fans are drunk. You obviously never were an athlete or a real fan until recently...huh?
What exactly did I condone noway? I am not saying people should use bad language. However, I am sorry that you live a sheltered life.
Stop complaining and be happy that there even are students at your D-II basketball game, because all of my friends who go to ASU hate the school and the sports.
jmon366--why do they hate ASU and its sports?
I wasn't at the game, nor do I usually attend sports events, however I am an ASU alumna and It is my hope that anyone that represents ASU and attends any function public or private would comport themselves in a respectful and polite manner. I don't mean to pontificate, but there was a time when just the presence of women or children demanded crude behavior be curtailed. Incivility and rudeness have been tolerated for far too long. Here's a quick and easy rule of thumb: "If you wouldn't want a 5 year old child to hear you say it, see you do it, or tell him or her about it, then don't do it, say it, or speak about it." Our respect for ourselves is a reflection of our respect for others. Good manners and conduct are something that everyone can afford and are indispensable in maintaining a civil and orderly society.
Most of them feel like ASU is a "last resort" school for those who fail to afford or get into a more prestigious institution.
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