Volstorm
VN GURU
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2004
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As a kid growing up, I always admired the men and women of our armed forces. I grew up in an age of the Cold War, Russian Communism and GI Joe. Say what you want about the 80s, but they are what made me so proud of our military. Over the years my appreciation for our military has grown (thanks to 4 years of ROTC) as well as my respect. Which brings us to this weeks game. Outside of last weeks victory, the sports talk world has been surrounded by one question. How should we as fans treat the players from the Air Force Academy?
Is this really an issue?
In what can only be deemed as a way to distract fans from thinking about next weeks opponent (which unless you live under a rock is the Gators). The world of sports talk has fielded the question of whether or not the Falcons (not the Cadets, PPV clowns) should be booed. Giving my background, I can only give one logical answer YES!
Those boys work their tails off week after week, just like the Vols, so they can be considered equals on the playing field. Now dont get me wrong, Im not in any way unpatriotic because I suggest booing the Falcons. I dont condone booing them when they come out of the tunnel or when the game is over. However, know that when they come out of the tunnel I am cheering for my university, Im cheering for the Vols. And if one of those guys takes a cheap shot on Ainge, or any of the boys, Im not holding back for anyone.
If you want to show your support and appreciation for our boys in blue, then maybe you should consider cheering after the game. (Which means you would have to stay that long) Im all for clapping after the game is over and chanting U-S-A! U-S-A! If you see an Air Force player outside the stadium, then by all means shake their hand, and tell them thank you for their commitment. But holding back on booing just because they are a service academy seems more disrespectful to them as football players.
The boys themselves have said that they expect to come into a hostile environment, and to be to be treated like Division I players, and I think we should respect that. Football is a way for these boys to forget about what their fellow soldiers are going through for just a few hours. The atmosphere of a place like Neyland Stadium, will be a fond memory that they will have when they are leading our men and women in combat.
In no way do I condone any disrespect for these young men. (Save it for next week) I have friends and family that are serving or have served in combat, just like all of us. And I thank God for them. I am proud that they will be putting their lives and the lives of their men and women on the line, so I can write meaningless columns about college athletics. And I intend to show respect for them just as we should, by treating them as football players. Then again I have been wrong before.
God Bless our troops, and God Bless America.
Is this really an issue?
In what can only be deemed as a way to distract fans from thinking about next weeks opponent (which unless you live under a rock is the Gators). The world of sports talk has fielded the question of whether or not the Falcons (not the Cadets, PPV clowns) should be booed. Giving my background, I can only give one logical answer YES!
Those boys work their tails off week after week, just like the Vols, so they can be considered equals on the playing field. Now dont get me wrong, Im not in any way unpatriotic because I suggest booing the Falcons. I dont condone booing them when they come out of the tunnel or when the game is over. However, know that when they come out of the tunnel I am cheering for my university, Im cheering for the Vols. And if one of those guys takes a cheap shot on Ainge, or any of the boys, Im not holding back for anyone.
If you want to show your support and appreciation for our boys in blue, then maybe you should consider cheering after the game. (Which means you would have to stay that long) Im all for clapping after the game is over and chanting U-S-A! U-S-A! If you see an Air Force player outside the stadium, then by all means shake their hand, and tell them thank you for their commitment. But holding back on booing just because they are a service academy seems more disrespectful to them as football players.
The boys themselves have said that they expect to come into a hostile environment, and to be to be treated like Division I players, and I think we should respect that. Football is a way for these boys to forget about what their fellow soldiers are going through for just a few hours. The atmosphere of a place like Neyland Stadium, will be a fond memory that they will have when they are leading our men and women in combat.
In no way do I condone any disrespect for these young men. (Save it for next week) I have friends and family that are serving or have served in combat, just like all of us. And I thank God for them. I am proud that they will be putting their lives and the lives of their men and women on the line, so I can write meaningless columns about college athletics. And I intend to show respect for them just as we should, by treating them as football players. Then again I have been wrong before.
God Bless our troops, and God Bless America.
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