In response to last Wednesday's letter to the editor, regarding student fan base attitude during the Mizzou game:
I do agree with Ms. Pierce about the treatment of our guests at sporting events. However, saying players "suck" after each announcement is a long-standing tradition in sports with a small starting roster, such as basketball and hockey, along with referring to players as feminine sex organs.
This may be a quick response, but it is not clever or relatively funny. We are college students — try to be more original with your name calling. Look up trash on the players or coaches. John Calipari is a great example of a person with enough baggage to make for an easy target.
With that said, we as students should also change our attitudes towards officials when they make a poor call in the eyes of the fans — the "b-------" chants are the most infamous of these.
At football games, it is far less noticeable. However, basketball takes place in an enclosed arena merely feet away from the officials and hundreds of other students, who like to join in on these chants. As much as we may dislike the idea of officials controlling the outcome of the game, they readily can at the blow of a whistle. So, be nice to those men in stripes, as it may determine whether or not we continue this great season.
Cheer loud, cheer proud and, as head coach Frank Martin said, "be at the games an hour before the game and be obnoxious — not rude — but obnoxious."
— Noah Smith, a first-year history major