WAC institutes good, yet flawed initiative

The Western Athletic Conference Sportsmanship Initiative is a step forward.

But judging from Saturday night’s game against New Mexico State in the Spectrum, the implementing of this initiative took an even larger step backward.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson issued a press release in mid-December stating when game officials hear a chant or cheer that contains “obscene, vulgar, offensive or threatening language,” they are instructed to tell the public address announcer to issue a warning to fans that continuing the chant will result in a technical foul on the home team.

A press release from the Utah State athletic department last week said the WAC considers the “You Suck!” chant offensive. This is a chant Aggie fans-mainly the student section-consistently direct to a player from the opposing team after an official tags that player with a foul.

Well, unless my ears deceived me, I heard this chant numerous times Saturday night. It seemed like sometimes it wasn’t as loud as it has been in games past. A warning was not issued by the public address announcer. No technical foul was called.

The fact that a technical foul was not called was a benefit to Utah State’s basketball team. One or two points in such a tight game could have been the difference in the outcome of the game. Apparently the referees didn’t think it was offensive enough to issue the home team a technical.

“We are at the mercy of the officials,” USU director of athletics Randy Spetman said. “If we’re tied and there’s 30 seconds left and they call it, we’re cooked. If they give a warning, it’s going to get 10 times worse.”

So, why issue a rule if it is not going to be enforced?

In a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon, Benson said he was not aware of anything that happened Saturday night in the Spectrum.

“I’ll have to get further information,” he said.

Benson added that the main issue is “being able to enforce (the initiative). We hope there is consistency. The fans are provided an opportunity to say whatever they want the first time. If the official believes the language is offensive, that’s when the PA announcer will identify that. It’s a general attempt to create a better in-arena environment.”

Consistency is going to be a huge problem with this rule. Referees-perhaps one of the professions that receives more criticism than the president of the United States-are imperfect mortals making judgment calls. Not all of their calls are correct, which is why there is instant replay. Now the things these referees consider obscene, vulgar, offensive or threatening just might cause the Aggies the game.

I agree steps need to be taken to put an end to such things. But who knows what an individual or group of referees is and is not going to put up with before issuing a warning?

Take the following chants as examples I have heard at most games. Will a referee consider them obscene, vulgar, offensive or threatening?

– “Stupid!” directed to an opposing player after he is called for a turnover.

– “Airball!” directed to any opposing player for a shot that doesn’t reach the rim.

– “You will miss it!” directed to any opposing player while shooting a free throw.

– “You still suck!” directed to the opposing player after he makes his free throws.

– “Left! Right! Left! Right!” directed to any opposing player during his walk to the bench after fouling out.

Some chants are specialized to the opponents. Here are a few :

– “Daddy’s Boy!” directed to an opposing player who happens to be the son of the head coach of the opposing team. Coby Karl, who graduated from Boise State after last season, had this chant directed at him because he is the son of Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl.

– “Ugly duckling!” directed to Coby Karl and possibly at others.

– “Keep your pants on!” directed to New Mexico State’s Jahmar Young Saturday because he was charged with indecent exposure.

– “Utah reject!” directed to New Mexico State’s Justin Hawkins, an All-Conference player who transferred from the University of Utah.

– “We want Reggie!” directed to New Mexico State first-year head coach Marvin Menzies Saturday. Menzies replaced Reggie Theus, a former NBA star who took a head-coaching job with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.

– “Flamer!” directed to a Boise State player who had a tattoo of a flame on his arm.

And the list could go on. Are some of these obscene, vulgar, threatening or offensive? To me, yes. To WAC referees, who knows? We’ll all have to watch game by game to find out.

Hopefully no Aggie fans cost the team a would-have-been victory.

Whatever your opinion is or whatever you choose to shout at the Spectrum, consider these final two comments.

Utah State’s Gary Wilkinson, a 6-foot-9 junior college transfer from Salt Lake Community College, scored 18 points in Saturday night’s victory to help the Aggies win. He complimented the fans.

“One of the reasons I came to Utah State was for games like this,” Wilkinson said. “We had a huge crowd here tonight, and they are a big part of Aggie basketball. They are why we win home games.”

Said Benson, “Utah State fans are some of the best fans in the country. They compare to the fans at Duke. The students are very creative and enthusiastic and passionate. All we’re asking the students and fans (to do) is to use different language when doing their chants.”

Sammy Hislop is a junior majoring in public relations. He can be reached at Samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu