No problem at UVM, but have you ever been to RPI - talk about a scary place when full! And be really careful if you are there on Big Red Freakout Night! In article <[log in to unmask]>, Laura Phelps <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > On Thu, 5 Dec 1996, Joe Davison <[log in to unmask]>said: > > > ... But, comparatively speaking, UVM fans are both > > knowledgeable and classy. I've been to most of the rinks in the ECAC and > > many Hockey East rinks and I can tell you that there are some real pigs > > out there---Clarkson, Cornell, Brown, etc. Some of the stuff that goes on > > is officially condoned in that it is instigated by the pep bands, mascots, > > etc. If I had a young child I wouldn't take him/her to a game at > > Clarkson!!!! > > No offense, but are you sure you've been at the same Gutterson that I have > for a UVM game? If I had a young child, there's no way I would take him/her > there for fear having him/her get hit in the eye or face with a piece of > trash (like has happened to me more than once). You must not sit anywhere > near to the student section. In my experience with UVM fans (and no, I'm not > saying all of them are like this), they have been far from classy and more > like the "pigs" you claim Clarkson, Cornell, and Brown to be. Granted, I > traveled with the pep band and no home arena that I know of favors an > "invading" band, but no other arenas' fans have ever treated us with the > disrespect that UVM fans have. > > Yes, visiting fans and pep bands expect heckling and taunting, but getting > pelted with food, paper garbage, spit wads, and gum??? I think not! Yes, > Clarkson and Cornell (sorry, never been to Brown) fans may use more profanity > than necessary (boy, I never thought I'd defend the "Section O sucks" > fans ;-) ), but at least you know that you're only at risk for verbal attacks > and not physical ones. In all the rinks/arenas I've been to, UVM by far has > ranked highest on places I least like to visit. And, believe me, I'm not > alone. My husband was also in the pep band and can verify my claims, along > with any pep band member and Clarkson alumni who has ever made the trip to > UVM. > > As far as pep bands and mascots condoning poor fan behavior, I can only speak > for Clarkson. First, the Clarkson mascot (at least the woman I knew) never > (to my knowledge) condoned profanity or abnoxious behavior by the fans. I'm > not even sure if she had even ever used profane language herself. Second, if > you pay attention, you should notice that whenever the student section begins > one of its more inappropriate cheers, the pep band will (almost always) start > playing to try and drown out the cheer along with its inappropriate language. > This may have relaxed in the last few years, but when I was there, we were > told by the arena director that it was our job to play when the swearing > started. > > So, in summary, if you can't tell by now, you've hit on a sensitive area for > me <g>. I repeat that I'm not trying to generalize the behavior of all UVM > fans, just as I'm sure you weren't trying to do to Clarkson and other > arenas (right?). I just hope that maybe next time, you'll take a good look > at the "pigs" in your own "barn" before you praise them and criticize others. > > Stepping off the soapbox now <g>, > > Laura Phelps > Pep Band > Clarkson '94 > > HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to > [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List. HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.