Being a Fan - Advice Please

[peruna11]

I'm so frustrated, I'm starting to think I might be the problem. As this is the nerve center of SMU fans, I have to ask: is standing and cheering a bad thing during the game?

It feels ridiculous to read what I just wrote, but at least in 106 it feels like we are at the theatre rather than a college football game. 

Our section refuses to chant, makes no noise when we are on defense, and does little to celebrate offensive progress.  

At one point last night we were asked by security to sit down. When we disagreed, the police were brought down for a second discussion. Ultimately, they admitted they agreed with our position and let us be.  For the rest of the second half, a couple of officers on the field stared us down. There was no profanity, no lewd behavior.  All of it was to cheer for our team and try to stimulate some form of crowd noise. 

However, the interaction left a bad taste I my mouth leading several of us to move over to the visitor side with the students where it felt like we were with real fans. 

I would really like the opinions and advice from you guys. Are we out of line here?  Is it inconsiderate to stand and cheer for extended periods in this environment?

[CalallenStang]

Be loud, be proud, and write a letter to the athletic department detailing your experience. SMU should be encouraging fans to stand up and cheer, not sicking security & the police on them.

[soccermom]

I would say that as long as you weren't being rude w/cussing and lewd remarks, you should be up supporting your team. I agree that you should let someone know what happened so that it doesn't happen again. I hope you get to stand and cheer all season long!!!

[RE Tycoon]

That's pretty much par for the course at Ford. I was told by a 70 year old guy last year to sit the [deleted] down because I would stand for kickoffs and 3rd downs. I restrained myself and politely told him I've had these seats for years and I've never seen him before and I didn't plan on stopping. He complained the rest of the game and I've never seen him again.

People always seem pissed when you cheer and when they are forced to get up because the crowd gets into a third down or something. It would definitely help to inject younger people into our fan base.

Never had security come before, that's bulsh.

[couch 'em]

I'm so frustrated, I'm starting to think I might be the problem. As this is the nerve center of SMU fans, I have to ask: is standing and cheering a bad thing during the game?

It feels ridiculous to read what I just wrote, but at least in 106 it feels like we are at the theatre rather than a college football game. 

Our section refuses to chant, makes no noise when we are on defense, and does little to celebrate offensive progress.  

At one point last night we were asked by security to sit down. When we disagreed, the police were brought down for a second discussion. Ultimately, they admitted they agreed with our position and let us be.  For the rest of the second half, a couple of officers on the field stared us down. There was no profanity, no lewd behavior.  All of it was to cheer for our team and try to stimulate some form of crowd noise. 

However, the interaction left a bad taste I my mouth leading several of us to move over to the visitor side with the students where it felt like we were with real fans. 

I would really like the opinions and advice from you guys. Are we out of line here?  Is it inconsiderate to stand and cheer for extended periods in this environment?

Are you the guy who had the sheriff come talk to him in the 1st quarter? I wondered what that was about. You looked pretty hammered but didn't seem to be causing trouble.

I'm up towards the top of 106, and the section is noticeably much older this year. I got plenty of funny looks when I tried to make noise. My group will probably just go sit with friends in other sections friendlier to noise when the stadium isn't too full. It's really hard to get into the groove yelling and cheering when you are on an island of silence and geritol.

[southerncomfort]

I was in 104 front row and the people behind us said, "Ladies please sit down, we can't see." ...ridiculous.

[Pony_Law]

Overall my section 102 is pretty quite and older but Myself and a few others are younger and cheering a lot. we would welcome all ponyfans.com 106 refugees

[Junior]

I'm over in 124, second row. Me and the guys I'm with are usually standing up on 3rd downs, redzone plays, kickoffs. We've never had any problems with security, although I have had people tell to sit down. My general approach is to just ignore them. It's a FOOTBALL game! Have some fun! Support your Ponies!

[ender3]

If asked to sit down, don't get angry, don't get belligerent.

Just encourage them to cheer with you. They'll either get annoyed and move (good riddance) or they'll take you up on your offer.

If you are one of the "Class of 1924" sections... the best you can hope for is to just move. We had some room in 107.

[soccermom]

That's why I love high school and college ball so much more so than professional---you can, and should, get involved. We pretty much stand most of our high school's games and most definitely on important defensive stands!! I agree w/the ags about the 12th man helping the team. I didn't see many people sitting at the OU-FSU game or at the Alabama "game" when watching them on t.v.

[expony18]

I hate this about ford.... ive been b!tched at a number of times for standing... its a [deleted] football game. i propose shirts that say "if you can read this: stand up and cheer" on the back

[SMUer]

On the West side, the most you can usually hope for is a smattering of pony ears on kickoffs and some form of coordinated clapping, usually to "Peruna". When you get inside the 40s it gets a little more serious with some fans (mostly people here) standing cheering loudly on 3rd downs but it is still a bit of a sit-n-greet. The fact that this was the first home game tends to attract more casual fans. It's kind of a scene versus a football game. There may be more people but it usually feels like less. The same is true on Family Weekend. On the East side, the student section was awesome last night and my hope is that they'll stay and that some of the grey-hairs will catch on. I've never seen so many students doing chants and ponyears in unison. If the game production could elevate a little bit past rinky-dink, I think that would really go a long way get more fan participation. I really think our non-existant (lit.) marketing department should consider a "How to be a SMU Fan" e-mail campaign talking about traditions and how to maximize home field advantage. I agree, it's discouraging to be the only fan in your section but keep fighting the good fight. I'm doing the same thing in 109. The security call is BS though, I'd write Orsini about it.

[soccermom]

O.k. I've about decided that when I retire in a couple of years, I will become the marketing department and then on game days I'll announce, too!!! You know how cheerleaders get the fans on their feet by throwing footballs----maybe they could throw some bottles of Geritol to certain sections!!

[SMUer]

Geritol cannons!

Actually you bring up an excellent point. The cheerleaders basically gave up on the West fans during the game. They made very little to no effort to get fans to cheer or do anything. I had to strain to figure what the cheerleaders/student section were doing on the otherside before trying to match their cheer. Lame job cheerleaders. SMU should copy USC's song-girls and have pretty girls who want to be looked-at lead the cheering and the hard-core comp cheerleaders do their thing separately. Seriously, the West end is their "break".

[Mestengo]

Stand and cheer . Third down. Or when ever a great play is made. You don't have to ask when you know when.
But if you just want to stand the entire game don't sit i'n front of me. They should have a standing only section for that.