by Keith Smitherman

Created on: September 27, 2007

Ahh! Fall time and college football is finally upon us again! Tailgating! Screaming your lungs out when your team makes that game winning play. Throwing beer onto the opposing players, rocking their bus as they leave the parking lot?

Yes, this has become a regular occurrence at college campuses around the United States. In my opinion there are many reasons for rude fan behavior. The most glaring reason may be alcohol. Most, if not all, college football stadiums prohibit the sale of alcohol. Yet, before the game, they let fans use their property to tailgate and party. These same fans sneak alcoholic beverages into the stadium in order to continue their good time. The last time I attended a college football game there was very little security in the stands. There was security at the gate and security roaming the corridors, but hardly any scanning the stands. These colleges make millions of dollars on ticket sales and concessions, you would think that they would invest a little more on security. I once took my niece to a game and I swore afterward that I would not do it again until she was a little older. Some of the things we saw were unbelievable and on the way home I had to answer some of her questions the best way I knew how.

Another reason I think the rude behavior is worse, or seems worse now, is just the society we live in today. People seem to relish rubbing in a defeat, especially when they are inebriated. Back about 20 years ago, people acted a little differently whether their team won or lost a game. But 20 years ago people seemed to be kinder than they are today. We live in an instant gratification world today. The emergence of the computer and the cell phone has ruined what was once a virtue, patience. If our team loses a game some of us get mad and don't want to wait until next year to see if our team can get revenge on the field, some of us take it out on the opposing teams fans right after the game. The same thing happens sometimes when our team actually wins the game, we can't wait to rub it in their face on the way to the car.

All of this leads to rude fan behavior and it will probably only get worse before steps are taken to remedy the situation.

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