Stadium experience and booing the service academies
This post isn't meant to be a lecture or to stir up a political debate. But I'm interested in having a discussion on whether it's appropriate to boo the service academies when they come to our stadium to play our team. It's a habit for the home fans in any stadium to boo when the opponent first comes out onto the field, but I've always been uncomfortable with this when it's one of the service academies.
Personally, I feel that it's in poor taste to show that sort of treatment to these young men who have signed up to serve our country. This is a completely separate debate from a foreign policy decision, but I had a rather alarming exchange on Twitter with someone who seemed to think that being opposed to US foreign policy made it okay to boo the players. I don't want to dismiss this, so I'm curious to hear other people's thoughts on whether it's ethical. Maybe it's not a big deal to some, but it is to me.
If this topic is too inflammatory then I have no problem with it being removed, but I think that we have shown before that we can be civil and respectful to one another.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:04 PM ^
I think it's in poor taste to boo anyone. Maybe a bad call. Maybe.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:11 PM ^
boooo
September 6th, 2019 at 7:18 PM ^
I kind of agree with you, although bad calls and dirty plays are fair game for booing to me. However, I was in the stadium twice with Woody Hayes. I booed. A lot. Would never boo the service academies.
September 6th, 2019 at 9:43 PM ^
Woody was a deranged, cranky bastard. You were right to boo that POS.
September 6th, 2019 at 7:37 PM ^
I was saying boooo-urns.
September 7th, 2019 at 3:02 AM ^
you rang?
September 6th, 2019 at 7:48 PM ^
Fuck Ohio.
September 6th, 2019 at 7:48 PM ^
September 6th, 2019 at 7:58 PM ^
You take this WAY too seriously.
September 6th, 2019 at 8:36 PM ^
I agree with you, people must of missed the video of the OSU fans singing “we don’t give a damn for the whole state of Michigan” outside of our locker room in 2016 after the game. It’s apart of sports, boo who you want, and cheer who you want.
September 7th, 2019 at 7:40 AM ^
September 6th, 2019 at 9:02 PM ^
That's what shitty Michigan fans do every other year for that last Saturday in November when they sell their tickets to people from Ohio... turning what should be a Senior Day celebration into a sea of fucking red.
September 6th, 2019 at 8:34 PM ^
Grand Central Snowflake
September 6th, 2019 at 10:44 PM ^
I never boo opposing teams unless their players do something ugly--even then I'm mostly shouting for the refs to make it right. I'm often opposed to U.S. foreign policy and think we spend way too much on the military but I would never boo servicemen. They're the ones who put themselves in harm's way because of the (sometimes) bad decisions of politicians. I have nothing but sympathy for them.
September 7th, 2019 at 2:00 AM ^
Ah. Trading scorn for condescension. Nice.
September 7th, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^
Posted twice.
September 7th, 2019 at 2:32 PM ^
Big words, not an intelligent take. Have no scorn for service people--indeed, my father and uncles all served, and well. My father was in counter-intelligence and took part in some extremely important phases of the late war and Cold War. I admit that I am not one who salutes every time the flag is run up the pole; to me that's not performing my obligations as a citizen or, for that matter, human being. To me the people who salute reflexively each time the flag is run up the pole are sheep. As are those who feel compelled to prove their patriotism by shouting loudest. Takes far more balls to speak up when you disagree. That, for example, is how you stop bullies, as well as dictators.
September 7th, 2019 at 2:49 AM ^
Keep your sympathy and shove it up your ass
September 7th, 2019 at 6:43 AM ^
I won't boo Army, but I find nothing wrong with a good harmless Boooo. That's what home field advantage is all about, making the other team feel unwelcome and making noise.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:11 PM ^
It's a game. It's all in good fun. People get too up in arms about chants and boos.
Are we actually booing the entities they stand for or for their choices? No
Is booing saying that we don't respect them as humans or service members? No
It's a part of the game and fandom. We cheer and we boo because of our support for Michigan and ideally want to create an intimidating atmosphere to play in (or the refs just blow). This isn't directed towards any one specific person or a comment of our disdain for them.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:15 PM ^
This is a good take.
I've traveled to many games with the team, and I can tell you, absolutely nobody on the Army team or associated with the Army team thinks, "Oh my God... they're booing THE Army!"
September 6th, 2019 at 8:14 PM ^
Whenever I find out that someone is a veteran or currently serving, I try to go out of my way to show them honor/deference. This take doesn't change for me the feeling that evenyoubrutus describes with regard to booing them. It may be in good fun. But there are many things that are "in good fun" that do not comport with showing extra honor.
September 6th, 2019 at 8:54 PM ^
My dad was in the army for 22 years, which included getting shot down in Vietnam. If he was still alive he'd say you're insane.
They're soldiers, not royalty.
September 6th, 2019 at 9:07 PM ^
Guilt. People feel guilty that we keep sending to die in godsaken places so they compensate by treating soldiers with reverence.
What they should be doing is making sure the VA is more than equal the needs of soldiers and that the government stops sending to die in far off lands for dubious purposes.
September 6th, 2019 at 9:28 PM ^
You're probably right. I never felt that guilt because I feel like my family is all paid up for a few generations.
I'm glad my dad didn't live to see our adventures in the middle east. After nam he came to believe that we should only fight when absolutely necessary, and then do whatever was required to win, no matter how terrible.
September 7th, 2019 at 12:09 AM ^
Yep - my dad was an Army infantry officer, buried in Arlington Cemetery (died when I was a senior at U-M). No fighting unless necessary, and if it came to that, bring all hell to the enemy. Very scary.
September 7th, 2019 at 1:16 AM ^
Great post SQ
September 6th, 2019 at 6:51 PM ^
Exactly for a few hours this is about a football game and that’s all. It has nothing to do with long term against any player on the field for Army. This is a college experience for all players on the field and booing goes along with sports I’m sure the army players would expect nothing less
September 6th, 2019 at 7:33 PM ^
This. These Cadets will face much harder things in their futures then some fans booing them.
They more then others know this is a game.
If you want to boo or razz them it will be fine.
September 6th, 2019 at 7:54 PM ^
For fucks sake. How are they supposed to defend the country if they can't take little booing? If they can't handle it, we are in deep shit.
September 6th, 2019 at 8:34 PM ^
Fair enough. My opinion is obviously short sighted and maybe a little pretentious. I'll have to reconsider my overall feelings on the matter.
September 6th, 2019 at 10:23 PM ^
^ atta boy ^
September 6th, 2019 at 10:27 PM ^
I thought I made it quite clear in the OP that I am open minded to the subject and was looking for other people's opinions. Why is this taken as such an unusual mentality? Does everyone just sit tight in their opinions and not give a shit about finding the truth?
September 7th, 2019 at 7:58 AM ^
Good point
September 6th, 2019 at 10:52 PM ^
I thought it a fair question, and to be honest with you... ANY other team, I might/do boo.
I have nothing against others that do boo the service academies, I personally would likely hesitate and stop if I started just out of habit when I realized who(m) I was booing... or maybe just a little quieter than normal.
September 7th, 2019 at 6:36 AM ^
Don't let some downvotes dissuade you. Courtesy is not dead. While booing or other form of displeasure is necessary at sporting events, it should be done sparingly (except perhaps in rivalry games). My take is that it is generally poor form for an adult to boo a child. If the students want to boo their peers, then I don't really have an issue with it.
I'm not really worried about the boo-birds for this game. It's the inane "you suck" chant that should be reserved only for MSU, OSU, and maybe a couple other teams. Certainly not service academies.
September 7th, 2019 at 8:26 AM ^
I, for one, hope we disrespect the troops by about 56-3 today.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:12 PM ^
Should we also cheer whenever they score a TD?
Its a football game. You respect the players, but when the game is on, you cheer for your team and boo the other team.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:13 PM ^
I'm not booing the US Army itself. I'm booing their football team when they play mine.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:16 PM ^
I won’t be there tomorrow, but I probably wouldn’t boo future soldiers as they run out on the field. I would probably still do the “you suck” at the end of the third down chant. I respect the hell out of those kids, but in those 3+ hours they’re an opponent. When they walk off the field, we’re all the same team again. That’s how I view it.
You know who it’s never okay to boo, though? Our guys. If you boo Michigan players, fuck you with a diseased dick. How stupid can you be? You paid good money to watch kids who are vastly superior to you athletically and who want to win much more than you want them to, and you’re going to boo them?! Not to mention there are double digit recruits and recruits’ parents in the stadium every week. How do you expect us to improve if the players that would make us better come to our games and hear our fans booing our own?
Sorry for the slightly off-topic rant, but I get really pissed off when I hear about Michigan fans booing Michigan players. It’s truly irrational Neanderthal behavior.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:21 PM ^
By the way I noticed on the broadcast Saturday I heard people adding “you suck bitch” on the end of that third down thing. Is that a new thing? So cringy and childish sounding. Hate it.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^
Yes, don’t love that. It’s nice and to the point with just “you suck”. Adding “bitch” is just tacky and overdoing it. It feels very Spartan.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:32 PM ^
Not meaning to be a wise ass, are you okay with booing the coaches or the play calling?
I don't boo players for the reasons you said but what about highly paid adults?
September 6th, 2019 at 6:42 PM ^
On the field there is no way to know what specific actions the fans are booing, so no, in my mind that’s still not okay. If you’re at a Michigan game, rooting for Michigan, you should not boo Michigan’s team. If for no other reason, the recruits that are there will leave with an awful impression. Again, they won’t know whether you’re booing the tight end or the tight ends coach. Just don’t do it, it’s a bad look.
By the way, dead silence is just as impactful as booing, imo. 110,000 fans being completely quiet is deafening.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:58 PM ^
Backing my day, that was Crisler Arena but with only 13k library goers.
Thanks for the reply.
September 6th, 2019 at 9:53 PM ^
I find it stupid at NHL games when the crowd chants the opposing goalie's name and ends with You Suck! when the game is tied.
You're effectively saying that your own goalie also sucks. Just stupid.
September 7th, 2019 at 1:24 AM ^
Personally, the ‘you suck’ and ‘bitch’ all need to go. Totally classless and stupid. The most Sparty of all things the students do during games. Just stop.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:31 PM ^
It's been going on for awhile and it's quite dumb.
September 6th, 2019 at 9:46 PM ^
I, as a defender of my damn lawn, liked it when Temptation wasn’t tarnished with the “you suck” chant.