Remember: This IS Notre Dame
Frank Vitovitch
Notre Dame, Ind - In the last few weeks, the fans at the Joyce Center have started to get a little out of hand.  First it was the taunting of Khalid El-Ahmin for having children outside of marriage (I won't repeat the words that were shouted since younger children may read this) and now things are starting to be thrown onto the court during games.  To those fans I say, remember this IS Notre Dame.

I wouldn't be surprised with actions like that from fans from some others schools, not to mention any names, but at a Catholic University, I would hope for more.  I would expect Notre Dame fans to conduct themselves with much more class and respectability.  Is it classy to throw a water bottle onto the court during a close game? 

Whether students like it or not, their actions are judged at a different standard because they go to Notre Dame.  Notre Dame stands for many things.  Tradition, class, respect, and reverence are just a few of them, but such actions as the ones at the UConn and Syracuse games go against each one of the ones I listed.

Other fans think it arrogance of Notre Dame to think itself so holy or whatever else they say, but I say it is just high standards that the University holds.  They believe that the students should not just be brains who may or may not have respect for others, but they beleive that the students should be just as gifted as humanitarians as they are in the class room.

I personally was not at either game, so I do not know who threw what, or who shouted what.  I do know however that the actions that transpired go against what the University is all about and not only look bad towards teh individuals, but also to the University as a whole.  Whether its fair or not that that's the effect of such actions is besides the point.  The point is that with more actions like the ones described, the University will start to lose the specialness that it has that few other Universities have.

Now don't get me wrong, a little jeering here and there never hurt anyone. There is however a difference between trying to get into someone's head and being just down right rude and disrespectful to someone. When you starting using profanity in jeering someone with children in crowd, you have crossed the line. Chanting something like "Daarryyylll" when Daryl Strawberry is playing in the outfield is fine though since it really doesn't hurt anyone and it always gives the guys on Sports Center something to talk about.

Lastly, as fans we need to remember this is just a game.   Its great that the fans are out in huge numbers cheering on the bball team, and for that I for one am grateful as I am sure the team and coaches are also grateful.  It is alo great to go out an support your team, but does taunting the other team's point gaurd help your team any?  Does throwing something on the court change the way the refs call the game? No and no.  When emotions are running high in great games sometimes we do stupid things, but lets please try and remember that this is Notre Dame.

Go Irish!