--- Tom Buskey wrote:
I've heard rumors that some students were thrown out for yelling at
the opposing goalie.  Is this true?  The way it was described sounded
exactly like the "anti-goalie" kind of cheers I've heard at any other
arena (UVM, Clarkson, RPI, Union, and Boston Garden).
 
The main reason I like college hockey is the fans.  NHL players are
quick, pass better, hustle more.  But the crowd doesn't cheer like the
college crowd.  And they don't have pep bands.
 
I hope the censorship attempt doesn't eliminate some of the best parts
of college hockey.  Every time I go to Dartmouth, I really miss the
Clarkson fans....
--- end of quoted material ---
Hi Tom-
 
Frustrating, isn't it. I learned to love college hockey at RPI, where I was
an undergraduate - great fans! I have also been impressed by the Vermont fans
- loud and in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
 
I am not aware of any fans being thrown out for taunting the opposing goalie.
Perhaps there were some fans asked to leave for repeated use of inappropriate
language? Most of the campus policy I've met at the games have been really
nice people trying to do their jobs under sometimes difficult circumstances.
 
I have asked about the banners at Dartmouth and been told that it is a
Dartmouth policy that no banners are allowed, but I couldn't help noticing a
US Air banner this year. Strange, eh? I know the "Friends of Men's Hockey"
group worked quite hard before they were allowed to hang up banners at
Thompson arena for other ECAC schools.
 
What to do about the fans? First, I believe we have to get them to show up at
the games. Second, we have to get them to make some noise. It is sad to say,
but probably true that when the team has a better record (like at the end of
the previous season), more fans will show up. As to how to get them to be
noisey, maybe we can had out kazoos or cow bells or some other form of "fun"
noisemakers. What has worked at other places? Sometimes, even when there are
exciting games at Thompson, it is more like a mausoleum than a madhouse!
 
Any insights from other schools?
 
Bob Gross