DMN Advance: Here's Tomorrow's U.T. Sports Story

[MrMustang1965]

By John Maher
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, August 23, 2006

When summing up how he would prefer Longhorn fans to behave this year, University of Texas men's athletic director DeLoss Dodds dusted off an old quote from legendary coach Darrell Royal: "Act like you've been there before."

Royal's quote usually is applied to gaudy end zone celebrations. On Tuesday, Dodds and other UT administrators used it kick off a good-behavior campaign.

The theme, which fans will soon be seeing on T-shirts, cups and the giant new football scoreboard, is "Texas fans make us proud."

"Our vision boiled down to encouraging and empowering fans to be respectful, friendly and passionate, " said Jim Boon, executive director of the Texas Exes alumni association. "Our message is a statement of fact: Texas fans make us proud. It's also a request."

The campaign results from a project started a year ago by the Texas Exes, involving students, alumni, spirit groups and administrators.

UT officials said the football team's national championship last year will only intensify the spotlight on the team and fan behavior.

"What we want to remind people is that when you're on top, you're under scrutiny," said Chris Plonsky, UT women's athletic director.

UT officials are also very aware that Ohio State fans will be coming to town for a Sept. 9 game and do not want a repeat of some of the behavior Longhorn fans encountered in Columbus a year ago.

Ohio State officials received more than two dozen complaints from UT fans about verbal and other abuse from Buckeye supporters, and the university president and other administrators publicly apologized.

"This is an area we can be number one in," Dodds said. "We've got Ohio State coming in. We need to show them how to handle this part of sport. They've got some great people coming in. There were some issues up there, obviously, and we don't want issues in Austin, Texas. We want to do it the right way."

Both Dodds and Plonsky praised UT fans and said the campaign was not a response to any particular complaints or incidents. The NCAA has been concerned about fan behavior for years as some postgame gatherings have turned into riots on other campuses.

Although fan misbehavior has been perceived to be on the rise lately, it's not exactly new.

Texas and Texas A&M fans were involved in dangerous melees nearly 100 years ago. And before celebrations preceding the annual Texas-Oklahoma clash in Dallas were moved from Commerce Street, the mingling of rival fans was likely to result in dozens, if not hundreds, of arrests on the Friday night before the big game.

On Tuesday, UT President William Powers Jr. held up Nebraska as a role model. He recalled a Texas football win in Lincoln and said: "When our team left, the Nebraska fans stayed in the stadium and applauded.

"I've seen the Nebraska fans come here, and I've been to a game where we've beaten the Cornhuskers here and those Nebraska fans came up and congratulated us afterward," he said.

UT fans will be urged to monitor their alcohol consumption; treat opposing teams, fans and spirit groups with respect; watch their language; tell ushers if they they see inappropriate behavior; and support their team enthusiastically.

Boon was asked whether the new guidelines would apply to cheers/jeers commonly heard at the Oklahoma game.

He said: "I knew we were in trouble when we convened the committee originally, and we talked about this and someone raised their hand and said, 'Could we make an exception for OU?'

"We would really like for this to apply all the time."

[LonghornFan68]

meh

[McClown27]

Thanks for the heads up!!

[LonghornFan68]

Wait, I just noticed MM1965 actually wrote "U.T." You're gettin' soft in your old age, my friend.

[mrydel]

Whatever anyone thinks of the DMN lack of SMU coverage, please make note that this is an article written by a reporter at the Austin American Statesman. Regardless of where it is printed and which papers pick it up, it is not a DMN reporter rushing down to Austin for the news. It is a reprint of an Austin American Statesman article. If a paper in Idaho thinks its readership would enjoy the article they too will print it. This is an excellent example of catering to a major base of subcribers by the DMN, as any good business would do.

[Stallion]

....and it goes on and on and on...

[MrMustang1965]

Some of ya'll need to lighten up...the title of the thread was meant in jest.

Also, I find it humorous yet sad that the LARGEST university in our great state has to do a PR campaign to teach its fans how to act. Wonder if our tax dollars are being used for this?

[LonghornFan68]

No, I think it's more that they can find enough uses for the $53+ million we earned last year.

I, for one, will act completely calm, cool and collected at games for a mere million. That leaves them with 52 more. Seriously. come on.

[2112]

The Austin paper can't have as much UT coverage as the DMN. It is unbelievable!!!