I would have to agree 100% with you on this one!!! I was at the
games Friday and Saturday...the language  and gestures used by the UMass
students was very un-called for, and I did have young children with
me...It doesnt say much for the students at UMASS...when my kids say
they are rude and immature...hopefully some will let UMASS know how
others feel when they leave their arena...
> ----------
> From:         William
> Stewart[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:         Sunday, November 15, 1998 8:29 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Students
>
> Well, I got back from UMass a few hours ago, and after digesting the
> weekend and the Mullins Center atmosphere   student atmosphere   that
> is, I have a few comments to make in the wake of Penny's column and
> the
> issues about obnoxious and taste and where the line is.
>
> First off, the students at UMass make the students at UMaine look like
> the lollypop kids when it comes to obnoxious behavior. I don't know
> who
> else on the list attended the games, but for those who did, I am sure
> you would agree. We could hear the Maine fans from the press box
> shouting, "Here we go U-Maine, here we go." Immediatly following the
> chant, the UMass students would yell "F---- YOU!" pointing their
> fingers at the Maine group. Not to mention the countless chants of
> "Ass----" or "Bull----" directed at either the referee or the Maine
> players. Now, I am by no means ripping on the UMass students because
> let's face it, of all the varsity programs at UMass, men's hockey
> ranks
> pretty low in the interest level. So, with that in mind, the students
> who do show up are pretty die-hard college hockey fans or just looking
> for a place to go nuts. Or a little of both. Whatever. The point is
> though, is that it really puts things in perspective. One person in
> the
> press box even said, "I would never take my kids to this place.
> Never."
> Now, that seems interesting, doesn't it?  Just a perspective.
>
> Secondly, the location of where the students are seated is also worthy
> of note. At Maine, the first place the university sends them is the
> balcony. At UMass, just about all the students are placed engulfing
> the
> opposing team's bench   right where the players enter and exit the
> rink. At UNH, the students are placed behind the goalie where the
> oppsoing team's goaltender must play two out of the three periods.
> Now,
> why is this? It isn't coincidence. Obviously it is planned to rattle
> the opposing team. Why weren't the UMass students placed behind the
> UMass bench where "here we go UMass" chants could motivate the team?
> Why aren't the UMaine students placed first at the other end of the
> arena? I am sure there are probably a plethora of answers for this,
> but
> the one that jumps out at me is to shake up the opposing team. And
> yelling for the home team won't do it quite as effectively then it
> would to yell at the oppsoing team. I remember those weekday morning
> conversations with Greg Cronin about this and I can't even begin to
> tell you how many times he shared those exact sentiments. He once told
> me something along the lines that obnoxious behavior is sort of
> encouraged as long as it is done in good taste. Repeated: obnoxious
> behavior is OK if it's in good tatse. If that isn't sending mixed
> signals to the students, I really don't know what is.
>
> Now granted, UMass doesn't get a lot of student support (I had a
> lengthy conversation with Joe Mallen about this, which was pretty damn
> interesting, but I'll save it for a rainy day) but the ones who did
> show up could be heard pretty clear throughout the building. Anyway,
> I'll stop here, but I am curious to know from those who travled to
> UMass (We made it in record time   4 1/2 hours from Orono) what you
> thought about their students and where UMaine's stack up with them.
>