 "Photo:")
In the Big 12 and NCAA as a whole, Texas A&M has a reputation for being a friendly, respectful university, with sports fans who follow suit. Aggie fans should do all they can to keep their good reputation intact. It shouldn't be too hard to be the best fans in the Big 12 with schools like UT and Texas Tech.
Aggies' rivals at the University of Texas are notoriously loudmouthed and obscene in their support of the burnt orange. Take a trip to Memorial Stadium in Austin while wearing maroon if you don't believe it.
Their troublesome fans seem like an obvious problem since UT started an active campaign to get fans to act better. The "Texas fans make us proud" campaign, designed to bring UT to "higher levels of fan sportsmanship," gives specific guidelines to Texas fans on how to not be completely obnoxious. Hopefully, Aggies' conduct will never reach a level that requires the University to create an initiative to make them act better.
But there are a few disturbing trends at Kyle Field that make the situation seem close. One is screaming or cursing at someone to uncover during a yell. That's probably worse than someone else forgetting or even refusing to uncover. Actions like this create untrue stereotypes about Aggies and present a bad image of our school. They have to stop, or A&M risks losing its good reputation among Texas colleges.
Another school whose fans we can use as an example of what not to do is Texas Tech. There is probably no better example of how not to act in support of your college than the Red Raiders. Many Tech fans are an embarrassment to their school, with the university even condemning what they do. The classy "Vick 'Em" shirts designed this season are a perfect example of what Tech fans stand for.
Aggies on the whole have always been more respectful than students from other schools, simply because it is a part of the University - let's keep it that way.
That means Aggies need to stop doing things like throwing plastic lids at Kyle Field, a trend that began in the last 2 to 3 years. Tech fans throw tortillas, and no one in the Big 12 respects them. Aggies certainly shouldn't try to emulate anything that Texas Tech fans do, especially throwing garbage at a football game. A&M is a better school with better fans, and Aggies' conduct should reflect that.
These are just a few examples of areas Aggie fans can improve on. At football games or anywhere else, actions should speak the loudest about the character of Aggies. It doesn't matter what we say the university stands for, a few out of line fans can tear it all down.
So to those A&M fans who can't help but act stupid at football games - do more to uphold the Aggie Spirit or consider catching the game on tv, because you will likely do other Aggies more harm than good by showing up and embarrassing yourself.
- Travis Holland, is a junior marketing major.
Be the first to comment on this article!