OPINION: Fans in the Spectrum took it too far
The majority of my family has Brigham Young University attire stuffed somewhere in their closets, and I have younger family members who are already feeling Cougar pride. My father was recently recognized as an alumnus in one of BYU’s regular newsletters.
When the time came to submit tedious college applications, I didn’t even visit BYU’s website. Perhaps, it’s because I’ve always had a rebellious heart, but enrollment at BYU sounded more like spiritual boot camp than anything else.
Personally, I get the most out of religious practices when I commit to them on my own and some form of hierarchy doesn’t plan those practices for me. Taking away my ability to choose does not help me progress as a person.
However, I realize they are a private religious school and can do whatever they want. Don’t even get me started on their straight-from-the-cob, corny culture. Stop dancing to “High School Musical” in the middle of the street.
Frankly, I don’t care about BYU as a whole, and I don’t think they are anything special. I would hardly pay attention to them if they didn’t make irksome comments about how their “holy” nature is the cause for their winning some athletic matchups.
This includes the Aggie football team’s slim loss to BYU — a game that beat my heart with a mallet. After games like this I’m always hearing some overzealous Cougar jock thanking God as if his coach gave him a script instructing him to do so. In my world, these divine relations are not public matters. And does God really reward his children by allowing them to be the winning team?
What’s most interesting about many Aggie fans’ dislike of BYU is that, like me, the majority are Latter-day Saints. So realistically a lot of USU students agree with BYU’s way of life but laugh at them for having no exposure to the rest of the world.
In the end, students from both schools are a lot the same but enjoy different atmospheres, or they at least have different educational goals. We make hair-brained decisions, brilliant decisions and, like Brandon Davies, feel the pangs of utter humiliation. Last basketball season, Davies was kicked off the BYU team after confessing he had premarital sex.
I love a good school rivalry — I do — but the way Aggie fans acted during the Nov. 11 basketball game was one of these humiliating moments for me. The personal attacks on Davies went too far. The sexual innuendos on dozens of signs and the suggestive chants made me want to yank every child out of the Spectrum.
Is this the example we want to set for following Aggie generations? I wouldn’t be surprised if our family fan base decreased, considering the conservative area we live in.
After talking to students who decided to mock Davies for his violation of the BYU honor code, I understand many believe he deserved it. Personally, I respect Davies for confessing to his coach, knowing he would get kicked off the team. It’s refreshing to see a person from BYU break the stereotype and admit he was wrong.
I guarantee a solid proportion of Davies’ taunters are just as guilty of promiscuity, but their screw-ups aren’t broadcasted to the nation. We make fun of BYU for being a bunch of hypocrites, but then, what are we?
Does being the nastiest and most hurtful crowd makes us the bigger man? Don’t get me wrong, I love telling players they “suck,” belting the word “stupid,” poking fun at the really goofy looking dudes and shoving wins in our rivals’ faces.
Knowing Davies was playing, I hoped Aggie fans wouldn’t stoop to the level of meddling with his personal life, but they did. It wasn’t classy. It was too easy. I consider that aspect of what was overall a tremendous game, a bruise on my love for cheering in the Spectrum.
Undoubtedly, this bruise will heal. I can yell “Let’s go Aggies” for hours on end, but I can promise you that you’ll never catch me chanting “pull out.” Aggies, you are better than that.