A Reader's View: Temple fans made bad impression for their school
The blog of The Philadelphia Inquirer's Editorial Board.
A Reader's View: Temple fans made bad impression for their school
BY CHRIS PUSAK
Saturday, my wife, my 16-year-old daughter and I attended the Temple vs. Penn State football game at Lincoln Financial Field. Being the parent of a prospective college student, I was looking forward to experiencing “bit-time college football" in a big-time setting.
On the first day available, I purchased the most expensive seats available, the eastern corner of the end zone about 28 rows up. Imagine my surprise when near game time, the rows in front of us were transformed into the Temple student section. Students streamed in to the rows, without any preference for seat location. Initially, I thought that this would be fun for my 16 year old to see school spirit in action.
Ultimately, this is not a story of having overpaid for seats in which others paid less. We were treated to some exciting football. This is a story of pure classlessness among a group of similarly-aged people, ostensibly students at Temple University. Many were clad in red T-shirts that read " F- You, Penn State." OK, it wasn’t sanctioned as official NCAA fan attire, but there were too many not to notice.
The true evidence of bad taste was that shortly after arrival, the student section, in unison, transformed the T-shirt slogan into a team cheer for a good 2 or 3 minutes while the Temple cheerleading squad, 28 rows below, stood by if not in approval, at least with internal satisfaction at the crowd frenzy. This was a scene that would have been more typical of the 700 section at the old Veteran's Stadium.
At this point, my family and I decided to relocate. We chose "nosebleed seats" surrounded by more civilized fans from the visitor's side and enjoyed an exciting game.
I can honestly say that if the composition of team cheers indicates the level of education one receives at these institutions, my daughter will not be applying to Temple University.
Chris Pusak lives in Ocean City, N.J.
I can honestly say that if your daughter or you would weigh sports-fan behavior in selecting a college, you both need smarts that college classes can't provide. Good luck in life.— Nutburgers- If you sat in the student section of Penn State or tailgated at a PennState home game or any university that has a decent football team it would be the same way. I sat in club level seat for this game and was listening to the pennstate alum, yes a grown man in his forties, curse out Temples football team for the entire duration of the game.— RobinETar
- The shirts being a little classless? Probably. Too assume and imply that a t-shirt is a proper representation of the academic level of a university that has a student body over 32k is pretty ignorant. Ive been to many football games, both college and pro. Schools large and small. I hate to break it to you, but this happens everywhere. I saw a highly intoxicated, unprovoked female wearing a PSU shirt start an entire altercation with a group of Temple fans walking past by getting in their face saying "BYE,BYE. GO HOME NOW. LOSERS." Classy? The fact of the matter is, when you combine fans, tailgating, sport, and rivalry class can easily go by the wayside. I think it is a very unfair way to assess any reputable University and the civility of its general student body. It is a shame that the experience didnt live up to your expectations, but its reality. Would also be a shame if your daughter would be deprived of the option to attend any great university based on such a non academic event. And those 700 level fans from the Vet, they were some of the most loyal fans in ALL of sports.— BCM1889
