Booing the Vols

[Backwards K]

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt

This seems very appropriate for this discussion at hand. While in the stands, I see the people who are booing and most of them look like they never played an organized sport in their lives and have no idea what it takes to do so. To quote the great Johnny Majors: "to hell with the boo birds."

 

[LaagerVol]

Hardly.

I was coached in HS by a man who played football for General Neyland. I was taught to play as hard as I could play from snap to whistle, and at the end of the game, you look the men wearing the other color jerseys square in the eye, shake their hand and move on - win or lose. I was taught that your personal honor and character are FAR more important than the outcome of the game.

Competitive sports is a great opportunity for life lessons. It teaches young people all sorts of wonderful things. Learning how to handle success and failure - winning and losing - is among those.

Booing is the ultimate display of hypocrisy, IMO. First of all, those doing the booing have none of the abilities of those players on the field or the coaches on the sideline. People boo some 20-year-old kid trying to throw a football when they couldn't even get their guts underneath the jersey.

Further, those players and coaches have the unique circumstance of putting their lives' passions and endeavors on display for the world to see. I have to wonder how many of the booers would respond if they had someone watching them work, play, manage a marriage, parent their children, etc and proceed to boo them every time they made a mistake.

As an alumnus, fall Saturdays represent far more than a football game. Those players and coaches are representing my university. The represent all of the traditions and fond memories that I treasure. My days on campus were one of the most formative times in my life. It's important to me.

CBJ and his staff are doing all they can to represent all of those things as well as possible AND move the program back into winning ways. Everything he has said and done suggests that. I am not going disrespect him and the team by sounding off like some drunk jackass from up north.

Lastly, you can't target boos. If you spew them out, they are targeting everybody.

GREAT post!

 

[vols 30]

The funny this is the people booing have never done anything athletically in their life.

And the people cheering....

 

[Gandalf]

Never to boo - to cuss them up a blue streak (when there are no other team fans around) yes

 

[Dan Federman]

Is it acceptable to boo your own team?

NO

 

[VolsNSkinsFan]

at least we arent Bama fans booing their team up 25-0

http://bustedcoverage.com/2013/10/01/bama-fan-in-*****-moan-jersey-goes-nuts-at-ole-miss-game/

 

[84vol]

But its ok to woo

Lets just clear that up for us who like to woo

Next thing you know, we'll be bearing t-shirts that bear the slogan "Wooo.... Don' t Booo"

 

[golfballs]

Orange Daddy would boo his own team. Years of watching Mississippi State will do that to you

 

[SmokinBob]

Booing is classless.

For people who think it's okay to boo, ask yourself these questions:

• Would you boo if your son or brother was down on the field playing?
• Would you boo if you were sitting next to Worley's parents?
• Would you boo if an immediate family member of yours was on the coaching staff?
• Would you boo if you were sitting next to Coach Jones' wife and kids?
• Would you boo to a player's face?
• Would you boo to a coach's face?

If the answer to any of these are "no" but you boo from your seat then I call you a coward. If the answer to any of these are "yes" then I call your character into question.

^This

 

[knoxvol16]

Glad to see this thread and many of the responses. Complete lack of class to boo.

It's going to be a rough season, and recruits will be at the UGA game. Two things I sincerely hope do not happen at that game: fans booing their own team, and the "orange drain" (fans leaving early). Both are weak-bellied in my opinion.

 

[TNnative]

But its ok to woo

Lets just clear that up for us who like to woo

Yeah, really masculine that wooing.

 

[deckerkd]

My opinion is yes it is an expression of your right as a paying fan. That being said. I don't think this team deserves booing. They are giving their best effort and playing hard. We all know these next couple of years aren't going to be pleasing to watch. To each his own

 

[dimera23]

I've always been raised to believe that family strife stays in the family. There's never, ever, any reason to air it to strangers. It serves no purpose but to make everyone look weak.

 

[Nuctech777]

If you boo the VOLS and I see you, I am punching you in the balls. You do not know who I am or if I will be sitting right beside you so this is your fair warning. Boo the VOLS and you will get cup checked.

 

[SaintLouisVol]

If you boo the VOLS and I see you, I am punching you in the balls. You do not know who I am or if I will be sitting right beside you so this is your fair warning. Boo the VOLS and you will get cup checked.

While I admire your zeal, I would have to say that sack smacking a stranger at a football game is mostly in the same camp as booing. Definitely a pot calling the kettle black sort of thing.

 

[gnm53108]

If you boo the VOLS and I see you, I am punching you in the balls. You do not know who I am or if I will be sitting right beside you so this is your fair warning. Boo the VOLS and you will get cup checked.

:lolabove:

I've never "boo'ed" any team I root for. I've only "boo'ed" the refs over bad calls.

But after your post, I gotta admit, for the rest of my life I'm gonna be hesitant even doing that.

 

[GoBigOrange33]

If you boo the VOLS and I see you, I am punching you in the balls. You do not know who I am or if I will be sitting right beside you so this is your fair warning. Boo the VOLS and you will get cup checked.

Punch them in the throat, so they can't boo again!

 

[volsfansince4387]

I would like to hear from those who think it is okay to boo the team. Based on your personal perspective... at what age is it not okay?

Do you think it is okay to boo a HS football team?

How about Junior High?

Is it okay for parents/fans to boo your son's T-ball team?

I'm just curious where the line is for booing non-professional athletes so we can clear this up once and for all.

College. When you start reaping the benefits of said skill.