Ohio State Urges Fans to Show Some Respect for Navy

In ten days (I'd say ten short days, but this time of year the days are never short enough), Ohio State will open its 2009 season with a home game against the United States Naval Academy. It will mark the first time these two teams have faced each other since the 1981 Liberty Bowl, which the Buckeyes won, 31-28. Prior to that, Ohio State and Navy hadn't played since 1931.

Ohio State University wants its fans to know that this isn't exactly the Kentucky School of Turfgrass Management that's coming to town. The Midshipmen are giving up a minimum of four years of their postgraduate life serving this country in harm's way and face a brutal class load off the field. Consequently, they deserve a better treatment than hearing "YOU SUCK, 23" from five directions at once. OSU has a YouTube video saying as much (video after the jump).

No argument here, except for the fact that some schools already do this, so it can't start at Ohio State. Nebraska fans even go so far as to applaud every opponent who comes to Lincoln.

But yes, there is something different about the service academies. Perhaps the most memorable afternoon I've ever had watching college football was the 1995 Navy-Air Force game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. The weather that day was pretty wretched, but the whole experience of watching the cadets march in, experiencing all the formality and regalia involved, and the F-14 Tomcats which flew over the stadium precisely as the Air Force team was being introduced, made it the most special game I've ever seen in person.

So we might goof on Army's perennial lack of success or how Navy and Air Force both run basic high school offenses, but you know those players on the field aren't dreaming of big Sunday paychecks and aren't putting all their eggs in the football basket. In a sport where purity has all but vanished, the service academies are still doing it right, and they deserve all the respect we fans can give them.

But would it kill us all to show our appreciation for all the opposing teams, even if they've just ended our quest for a conference championship? No, it would not. And that goes double for the teams playing the money games. You're having a blast, but they're not having very much fun. Let them know you appreciate them.

(Hat tip: Midwest Sports Fans)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

8-26-2009 @ 11:22PM

buffey89 said...

As an OSU grad (who was in NROTC) and former Naval Officer, I encourage all Buckeye fans to show kindness to the USNA team, parents, and fans as they see the magic of OSU football Saturdays. We may oppose them these three hours, but we will appreciate their service in the future.

GBBM
Go Navy, Beat Army

8-27-2009 @ 2:19AM

BILLY said...

Ohio State fans can be in a word ... insane.They are some of the craziest,"nuttiest" ahem, most illogical (though to their credit) diehard fans in all of sports.

8-27-2009 @ 2:27AM

Matthew said...

I an a Buckeye and also served in the US Navy for 28 years. Please respect our armed forces personnel. Try to imagine the sacrifices they contribute for the safety and protection of our country and the safe guard of our liberties. The best part is, these men and women are volunteers.

TKeep in mind the academics and standards at the military academies are rigorous at best.

Respectfully

8-27-2009 @ 4:02AM

Also lets not forget our US Marines who also attend the US Naval Academy.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/usmc-graduation/691200464

8-27-2009 @ 9:50AM

Mike said...

The Buckeyes would serve themselves well by winning the game and not looking too much ahead to USC. It's not like OSU is going to have some great team this year. I really have no idea where the leadership of the team is going to come from. So beating Navy is not some big deal as it might be when USC comes to town. Please keep in mind the embarrassment USC gave all OSU fans last year.

8-27-2009 @ 11:00AM

DP said...

Insane, crazy, and nutty are not the words that come to my mind when I think of OSU fans. I think jerks, sore losers, and buttholes are more appropriate (and keep in mind I'm being nice for this posting).

Throwing beer bottles at opposing fans!?! Yelling obscenities in the faces of females and trying to pick fights?!? Cursing - worse than a sailor - in front of young kids?!? And no, these weren't isolated incidents - they were the norm.

Must be pretty bad when the OSU President issues public apologies on a regular basis.

Class or the lack of gets thrown around a lot, but OSU truly does not have class when it comes to the majority of their fans. Oh yeah, beat someone outside of the Big 10 for a change.

8-27-2009 @ 11:47AM

MB said...

Wow DP sounds like you might be a fan of another Big Ten team since you call it the "norm". I would be interested to know who it is. Might you be the sore loser? While this is an occurance at OSU - it happens everywhere! Being an OSU fan living in Michigan, you can only imagine the things I hear.
So I apologize for your thoughts about a "majority of Buckeyes fans" but you are wrong. Are we competitive? Yes. Do we like to win? Yes.
Do we beat the teams we are supposed to and (the past three years) lose to the more elite teams? Yes.

I would like to say we should always appreciate what everyone in uniform is doing for our country whether they are playing a sport or not. They are giving the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy our fall days of football.

8-27-2009 @ 2:35PM

threeboys2 said...

lick the bag..............

8-28-2009 @ 3:17AM

I was a sailor. How do we curse?

8-31-2009 @ 3:15PM

jtmpmm said...

I have attended many games at OSU and saw only one such incident from an intoxicated young fan in the 18-20 year old range.

The games I attended were those most likely to lead to such incidents: texas, michigan several times and penn state several times.

8-27-2009 @ 11:40AM

highlandfd said...

'class' and 'buckeye' should never be used in the same sentance together---'choke' maybe, but never 'class'

8-31-2009 @ 4:25PM

Mr.G said...

You can't even spell "sentence",moron,and how much class do you show by leaving douchebag comments?

8-27-2009 @ 5:35PM

To MB....sorry, you're wrong - I am not a fan of a Big 10 team and don't give a rip about the conference. So sorry, I'm not the sore loser because my team owns a winning record against the Buckeyes.

Unfortunately the negatives usually outweigh the positives and in this case, the few (very, very few) decent OSU fans cannot make up for the horrible OSU fans.

8-28-2009 @ 3:55AM

Poor little DP.Some mean old Buckeye fans hurt his little feelings.Now he's relegated to hurling insults behind his little computer.You bad,bad Buckeye fans have just gone too far.You turned this morally righteous,upstanding football fan of somebody's,into a classless douchebag.Shame,shame.

8-28-2009 @ 8:48AM

Hurling insults?!?! Hardly. Simply pointing out the facts. You sound like the typical classless Buckeye fan that seems to think "the" OSU is the face of college football. The only "face" of football OSU can claim is players in trouble, beating up the Big 10 and losing in bowl games.

Why is it "The" OSU?!?! I didn't realize there was more than one.

8-28-2009 @ 12:37PM

who is your team? Don't hide behind the computer. Lots of teams have "winning" records against OSU. What has your team done recently? When it comes to bowl games we are in the top 15 nationally (top 5 for BCS) and have winning BCS record at 4-3.

8-28-2009 @ 1:33PM

DP -"Typical classless Buckeye fan"? - Am I the 1 trolling other teams boards and leaving disparaging remarks? No sir,it is YOU that is exhibiting this kind of classless douchebaggery.You claim to "not be a fan of a Big 10 team",therefore, I find it more than unlikely you've ever been to more than 1 OSU home game,if that.IF you've ever been to Ohio Stadium and had a bad experience,you more than likely brought it on yourself.When you go to ANY other stadium in the country as an opposing fan and start running your mouth,you WILL make your own problems.If you expect anybody to believe that you did nothing wrong,while typical Buckeye fans cursed and threw beer bottles at you,then you are delusional.Throw in the fact that you won't reveal which team you are a fan of.Why is that DP?Are you afraid of something?

8-28-2009 @ 11:09AM

Bob said...

*Who peed in your Cheerios, DP? You sound like a crybaby of the highest order. What, you win once or twice against "THE" Ohio State Buckeyes, and think it's okay to stomp on them while they're down? Sounds like YOU're the crappy fan around here. MB is right--a vocal minority of fans doesn't mean everyone's doing it. Grow up, wimp!

8-28-2009 @ 11:12AM

*Oh yeah, DP, ever hear of Oklahoma State? They use OSU as well, so yeah, Ohio State calls themselves "The" OSU. Get over yourself.

9-06-2009 @ 10:35AM

Dave said...

As 30-year Navy people and life-time residents of Ohio, we cheered as NAVY fans yesterday in the "Shoe". Ohio State fans were very friendly, welcoming and courteous. Carol and I were very proud of both Navy and Ohio State. Way to go OHIO!
BEAT MICHIGAN!! BEAT ARMY!!!

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