Rowdiness NOT Tolerated

By Justin White

TCU athletics has a system to limit unruly behavior.

The word fan is short for “fanatic”, or one that shows extreme and uncritical enthusiasm. The TCU basketball band showed that their fanatics had a little more enthusiasm than others.

Recently, some band members offended fans with their jeering. Following the offense, the band was only allowed to play their instruments, but could not cheer. Assistant Director of Bands, Jeremy Strickland declined to comment on confrontation. However, he did say the band received positive feedback from the coaches, players and fans in attendance.

“Fans love us,” Strickland said. “Occasionally you’re going to get somebody in your environment that complains about what you do, but for the most part they really like what we do.”

The altercation has been amended, but some wonder what extremes fans can reach at events. Associate athletics director Scott Kull said the university, Mountain West Conference and NCAA do not have set rules for fans.

“Other than throwing things on the field and displaying inappropriate signs,” Kull said, “we really don’t have any policies regarding what fans can and can’t do.”

Kull said sportsmanship applies not only to the athletes, but the fans as well. It is more important for fans to cheer for their team, rather than belittle or degrade the opposing team, he said.

Kull credited the complaints to the venue.

“The noise level [in a football stadium] is such that you don’t hear everything somebody says,” he said. “Now in a basketball gym, that’s not full and you have a down moment where somebody yells something, then that’s a different type of thing.”

During football season, the university uses a program called Guest Assist. The program allows fans to text the word “TCU”, a message and their seat number to 78247. Event staff will reply and provide assistance if necessary.

Fans will continue to cheer for their favorite team, but some fanatics need to make sure that enthusiasm will not get the best of them.

For more information on Guest Assist, visit www.guestassist.net/guestassiststadium

See the full interviews of Jeremy Strickland and Scott Kull at http://blip.tv/file/3333968