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Don't Allow A Few Unruly Fans To Taint Bulls' Splendid Season

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2007

A shadow trails the University of South Florida football team's Cinderella climb up the national rankings: reports of bad behavior by USF fans.

This is no small matter because first impressions can be enduring. People still remember the University of Miami's football players looking like thugs when they strutted into a Fiesta Bowl game wearing camouflage fatigues. And that was 20 years ago.

Coach Jim Leavitt's team, it should be stressed, has conducted itself with class and self-discipline.

But university leaders, stadium officials and police must clamp down on boorish fans who risk giving our community a bad name.

For starters, the university should examine the arrest and stadium-eviction records at Raymond James Stadium and discipline any USF student cited for lawbreaking. A second violation should carry serious consequences, including expulsion.

If problems persist, USF President Judy Genshaft should request that alcohol not be served at the games, a contingency allowed by the university's contract with the Tampa Sports Authority.

The NCAA strongly discourages the sale of alcohol at college football games. And most universities already prohibit alcohol sales at on-campus stadiums - with no discernible loss of fan enthusiasm.

Other options, such as serving alcohol only before the game and during half-time, are a possibility. But this would be no cure-all, since most of the excessive or underage drinking occurs outside the stadium.

No question, the number of misbehaving fans is relatively small, given that the Bulls' last two games attracted sell-out crowds of 65,000. And prior to the game, the university, to its credit, broadcasts a scoreboard video promoting sportsmanship.

It's important that USF fans develop a culture of civility and respect. Good-natured ribbing may be part of the fun, but abusive or vulgar behavior ruins the experience for all. Fans should promptly report those who act up to law enforcement.
USF Student President Garin Flowers recently wrote a thoughtful piece in the school newspaper urging students to treat fans of opposing teams as guests, just as Auburn University fans treated USF fans with courtesy, despite the Tigers' loss to the Bulls.

Most USF fans, whether students or not, need no such reminders.

But with the nation's spotlight on USF, the few miscreants who want to give the university a bad reputation cannot be ignored.

Neither should they be allowed to tarnish the Bulls' exhilarating season.

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