Staff editorial: Terps will be Terps

First, it was the riots. Now, incoming university President Wallace Loh is condemning Terp fans for their crass behavior at Monday's football game against Navy. 

 

After the Terps' victory in Baltimore, administrators said they were inundated with e-mails and phone calls from alumni, parents and others claiming Terp fans had embarrassed the university with their belligerent behavior.

 

And they did. Those in attendance at M&T Bank Stadium witnessed Terp fans shouting obscenities at uniformed Naval Academy midshipmen, ranging from the classic "Hey, you suck!" to "f--- Navy!" These chants are not exclusive to the Navy game and have become a staple of most contentious sporting events at this

university. They just seemed to carry more weight when hurled at those in uniform. 

 

That being said, the outrage in the wake of Monday's game has bordered on absurd. 

 

Student Government Association leaders and university officials have floated the idea of a student-run "sportsmanship committee" that would attempt to quell disrespectful behavior at games. Although this sounds like a good idea, it's questionable how effective any committee — student-run or otherwise — would be in changing fan behavior. 

 

If student behavior has left a sour taste in Loh's mouth, then administrators' response has done the same for students. Loh is new to the university and has made it clear one of his first impressions of students is that they are a bunch of drunken, rowdy idiots. And for students, Loh has made himself out to resemble a scolding stepparent imposing new and unwelcome rules. Neither are a good way to begin a new relationship.

 

Granted, Terp fans can afford to clean up their act. But before the blame is laid solely at the feet of students, the broader picture cannot be forgotten. College sports revelry holds no exclusivity to this university. At collegiate and professional sporting events across the country, obscene chants fueled by hours of tailgating and fierce competition lead to behavior most wouldn't write home to mom about.

 

At Monday's game in particular, Navy fans also engaged in their fair share of ignorant taunts and obscenities. Some swore at Terp fans. Others sang "hom-o-sexuals" at the referees. 

 

Loh said it reflected poorly on the university when students yelled profanities at midshipmen marching into the stadium, as if to imply such obscenities were directed at the military itself. Certainly, such chants were directed not at the U.S. military but a college sports rival. To label Terp fans as somehow unpatriotic is asinine. But if Loh and others wish to impose such a standard for sportsmanship, it can easily be said that Navy fans behaved in a way that did little to uphold the honor and dignity of the military.

 

As for the SGA's proposed committee — good luck. Committees are a dime a dozen in the Student Government Association and most prove largely ineffective. However, if student leaders can find a way to help clean up Terp fans' acts, we encourage them to do so. But as long as rival fans are bellowing insults, no one should expect Terp fans not to shout back.

 

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