October 11, 2005
Penn State administration issues apology about fan behavior
Perhaps Penn State fans' glowing reputation in the eyes of the media is just a tad overblown? Or maybe they just didn't like the halftime show?
Either way, University officials issued an apology on Monday for actions Penn State students took against members of the Ohio State University Band during Saturday's game.
It appears the Ohio State University Marching Band was the target of unsportsmanlike behavior at the hands of some Nittany Lions fans.Neither school is happy about what happened in Happy Valley.
With nearly 110,000 people attending the game, Penn State officials say it is possible there were "a couple jerks" among the fans.
OSU graduate Evan Mohr says it was much more than that.
"The threat of physical violence, people standing on hood of my car, mud balls being thrown," Mohr said of the environment before the game.
OSU band director Dr. Jon Woods says the band's march towards the stadium got physical.
"I saw a fan pushing their way into the ranks of the band, which is frightening," Dr. Woods said.
His feelings are echoed all across online message boards where Buckeyes say attending Saturday's game was the worst experience they ever had.
One Ohio State band member posted a message saying someone urinated into a bottle and threw the bottle at the band. That is in addition to grabbing, punching, and yelling of profanities the band endured.
Dr. Woods says the conduct definitely crossed the line.
"This was without a doubt the most hostile environment that I've ever experienced at a college football game," the 21-year veteran director told 10TV.
Well, taking a quick perusal of the forums of BuckeyeSports.com, one of the net's biggest OSU forums, it looks like the fans are a worried about other topics in the last day or so. Namely, like the exact size of the platter they need on which to place Coach Jim Tressel's head. So that charge may be a tad overblown, but take a look for yourself at the accusations, and come to your own conclusion.
Penn State's apology to the band came in the form of a letter addressed to the President of OSU and the Band Director.
Comments:
Senor Pez said:
posted on October 11, 2005 9:31 AM — 63.162.183.2 — link — abuse?
While, in my opinion, The The Ohio State University Marching Band is overrated and arrogant, that does not justify the behavior exhibited by Penn State's fans towards either the band or the OSU fans.
There's always a risk of crazies, and it doesn't really matter if you're in a hostile away environment or at home. For what it's worth, bands are typically very protective of their ranks, and are usually accompanied by plainclothes police officers. But that can't stop everything.
What's really sad, however, is that it's more than likely that this is just the work of a few idiots, and it ends up giving the whole Penn State fanbase a black eye.
Jeremy Collins said:
posted on October 11, 2005 10:33 AM — 167.239.201.232 — link — abuse?
Is it me or is there a growing disrespect in college football these days. From harrassing the band, planting flags or throwing pennies. I love college football but I honestly think we can do without all disrespecting. I am not saying that there should not be emotion that is what seperates college from the pros, but when the game is over enjoy your win and get ready for next week because on any given saturday your team can fall.
Dennis said:
posted on October 11, 2005 12:58 PM — 24.26.144.162 — link — abuse?
I understand that the "Blue Band" of Penn State has a trip scheduled this coming weekend to the U of M. I just wonder if the Penn State fans would be so dismissive of fan misbehavior against a visiting band if they should happen to experience similar treatment in Ann Arbor. I actually don't think they will be abused in Ann Arbor, because I have never heard of BANDS receiving abuse at any other university except at Penn State. This incident of violence directed at a band is unique to Penn State. I would assume Michigan fans will not treat the "Blue Band" in the same manner that the PSU fans treated the Ohio State band last Saturday.
Walt said:
posted on October 11, 2005 4:17 PM — 216.82.94.114 — link — abuse?
Yeah, Ohio State fans are just full of class.
That's no excuse for what may have happened, but let's not act like Penn State invented rude behavior. It's universally accepted (outside of Columbus) that Ohio State fans are the most arrogant and abusive in college football. I've never heard an apology come from Columbus.
For just a few examples, go here - http://tinyurl.com/a6zbh. What you hear about bad Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, etc. fans is tame compared to the stories that come out of Columbus.
posted on October 11, 2005 4:27 PM — 156.56.79.95 — link — abuse?Pete Holiday said:
If by "universally" you mean "In Ann Arbor", then yes. You're right.
Tom said:
posted on October 11, 2005 5:24 PM — 69.40.223.7 — link — abuse?
Says the man who wrote in his blog that Penn State's quick start was the product of a weak schedule, not a good program. Tell me you still believe that, show your arrogance, and prove that you're an Ohio State fan.
Yes, it is universal. I really wouldn't expect a Buckeye fan to believe that, but only because of your own arrogance. Ask fans from any school that has visited the Horseshow, whether it's Michigan, Texas (as pointed out in the link posted by Walt), or anyone else, and they'll paint the same picture.
Tom said:
posted on October 11, 2005 5:25 PM — 69.40.223.7 — link — abuse?
Got this from a friend. All in good fun.
Hippster in KC said:
posted on October 11, 2005 7:14 PM — 129.237.176.95 — link — abuse?
For the record, ND fans also consider Ohio State fans to be terribly arrogant and abusive, and we've only played them twice in the last 50 years.
Michigan fans, on the other hand, are just arrogant. But so are we.
don said:
posted on October 12, 2005 12:32 AM — 68.54.156.94 — link — abuse?
Just to point out the length of lying/crying OSU fans will go to, I had an OSU fan tell me after the game that he was the target of flying cups of beer during the entire game. Last time I checked, they don't sell beer in the stadium, and I really doubt that fans smuggled in stacks of cups and a case of beer, just to throw at fans.
Dan Smith said:
posted on October 12, 2005 1:57 AM — 66.71.73.139 — link — abuse?
How's everyone doing?
I'm a Penn State student, and I just want to say, after reading about "our" behavior at the game on Saturday, I was a little upset. Yes, there was the to-be-expected jeering of the Ohio State fans and band, which I will admit I find embarassing. However, I have to say the comments reported by WBNS-TV were surprising. I'm sure some of these things happened, and I'm sorry for that. However, I'm also a little angry to have the whole of Happy Valley painted in this light. I was out and about tailgating and such all day, and I saw no such abusive behavior. As a matter of fact, on my eventual walk to the stadium, I walked right along the Ohio State band across the very street they were walking on, and didn't see a single person harass them.
To the Ohio State faithful I saw, I simply said "good luck," and waved, as did the vast majority of people I saw; when I ended up in the middle of a fellow student's mocking of an Ohio State alumnus, I got in between them and ended the confrontation. This behavior was the norm, not the mocking and threatening.
On the other hand, I must say that I've never seen opposing fans and players act quite so arrogant and disrespectful in Happy Valley. Just a week before the Ohio State game, every Minnesota fan I saw clad in maroon and gold said "hi," and wished our team well. In fact, there was a very nice letter in The Daily Collegian from a Minnesota alumnus, thanking us for the warm welcome. The same simply cannot be said for most of the Ohio State fans I saw. My "good luck" remarks were responded to with glares and obscenities as often as affirmative responses. Ohio State fans in medium-to-large groups seemed extremely brave, mocking the blue-and-white faithful downtown, on campus, and even in our union building.
Furthermore, I have never seen such an arrogant football team. For Jim Tressel to allow his team to run out on our field at the same time that JoPa was leading our players out of the tunnel and jeer at our fans and players was unbelievable. If a Penn State player, during a pre-game huddle, broke away from the other players to pump his fist at and mock the opposing crowd, he wouldn't play. But apparently that's the norm for your players.
So Ohio State fans, I apologize once again for the behavior of a minority of our students and fans. It is simply unacceptable and there is no good reason for it. However, convincing yourselves that the behavior was completely one-sided is only rationalizing what you know to be untrue. Next time you come to Happy Valley, don't act superior, don't mock us, and don't cheer while your football team acts immature and arrogant. You will find that most fans will return your respect in kind.
Paul said:
posted on October 12, 2005 10:18 AM — 207.255.83.138 — link — abuse?
I have been to many Penn State games and never once did I see anything like this go on. Even in 1991 when ND came to happy valley. So this makes me ask the question if it did happen what drove our usually respectfull fans to this. From what I am gathering the ohio state fans and organization came into happy valley and mocked it. Plus when I hear of their fans sending death treats to one of their starters for dropping a pass, now that is just wrong. I think ohio state are the ones that owe us a big sorry for acting the way they did. But in the end we know who the better team is.
Dan Isaacs said:
posted on October 12, 2005 1:59 PM — 216.240.30.14 — link — abuse?
Could you elaborate on the specific instances where opposing fans have been abused or made to feel threatened at an OSU football game? I've been to plenty of games in Ohio Stadium, and never witnessed this (exceptions for Michigan fans, as they do not retain any human rights). What I have heard from BG fans and NCSU fans is nothing but glowing words of praise for how they were received and treated.
I'm not contending that things don't happen, mind you. I'm just a bit suprised at your perceptions given the nice words I hear from some of the Out of Conference visitors. Do any of you have a specific incident or patterns of behavior that you can share with us?
Al Thomas said:
posted on October 12, 2005 9:34 PM — 66.24.4.78 — link — abuse?
I'm a Penn State grad (over 30 years ago), and to the extent that the reported behavior of Penn State fans with respect to the OSU band is true, I truly regret it. It's not an excuse, but I wonder if the fact that it was a night game (allowing plenty of time for drinking prior to the game) aggravated the situation?
Erin Mungovan said:
posted on October 14, 2005 3:23 PM — 140.254.52.17 — link — abuse?
I'm an Ohio State fan, and if with that comes a reputation of arrogence and abusiveness so be it. Yes, we're loud, obnoxious, and wasted every gameday but that's just because we love eachother, we love beer, and damn it, we love the Bucks! I'm from Illinois and the fans there like ND, U of I, Northwestern, hell,even Michigan. In Ohio it's different. This is Buckeyeland. And with an entire state filled with a bunch of crazy Ohioans (and I do mean insane-crazy) there are bound to be instances where people take things way too far. And, just as with Penn State, these times create a bad image. But come on people; leave the freakin band alone! Like they haven't taken enough bullying their entire lives. College is the time when it's at least semi-cool to march in polyester pants and blow into an instrument. Let them do their thing and come after us die-hards...we can take it
Abbey said:
posted on October 15, 2005 12:37 AM — 209.23.202.252 — link — abuse?
To be completely honest with you, if Ohio State had won I don't think we'd be hearing anything about Penn Staters treating the Buckeyes poorly. These accusations are just simply a means of directing the attention off the fact THEY LOST. I'm a student and a Penn State football fanatic and I couldn't have been more excited that Ohio State was coming into town - it's great to have such talented competition to play against. However, after their showing - both Buckeye players and fans - I must say I'm disappointed. To the guy that was singing that degrading song about JoePa as he walked down University Drive: get some class, seriously.
Matt Kozsuch said:
posted on October 16, 2005 6:10 PM — 68.32.238.244 — link — abuse?
After growing up a Buckeye fan in eastern Ohio we moved to Pennsylvania where I finished High School and subsequently went to Penn State. I marched four years in the Blue Band, and by far the worst experience I had in those years was our trip to OSU in '93. Having grown up in Ohio I was excited about the trip and left Columbus with a hatred for OSU fans that only grows stronger every year. We in the band were verbally abused, threatened, jeered, and flat out completely disrespected eveywhere we went. Ohio State, without question, sets the bar high for obnoxious, rude, disrespectful, embarassing, disgusting college football fan behavior.
Dre said:
posted on October 20, 2005 4:58 PM — 128.164.132.33 — link — abuse?
Who are you people? We're talking about college football here, people get drunk and rowdy, it comes with the territory. I attended a DIII school and saw fans get out of control.
I am a die hard Buckeye fan and question the allegations hailed at "Columbus" or "Buckeyes Fans". I was at the Penn State game and found the fans there to be great for the most part. I think this is true of most stadiums. We should be careful not to label an entire city or campus based on the actions of the group of idiots that will inevitably be found at every stadium.
Jason said:
posted on October 20, 2005 9:59 PM — 24.145.251.120 — link — abuse?
I agree with Dre. This is football and this is going to happen. All I am hearing are people accussing all fans of being jerks. If you go to a football game you are going to be heckled and harrassed by fans of the opposition. It happens in high school, college, and pro sports. The few jerks that make it violent need to be taken care of, but for all the others, it's football.
Chris Cirmo said:
posted on October 24, 2005 7:58 PM — 128.150.72.138 — link — abuse?
I am the parent of a freshman member of the Indiana University Marching band and want to express some feelings about what Ohio State's road trippers mean to me. It seems that Ohio State fans took the lessons at Penn State to heart and took them out on Indiana's Marching Band (one of the country's best by the way) by booing them and generally acting obnoxious to all around them, in the stands and around their buses. Hoosier hospitality was very evident during the entire game as IU fans showed the respect and tolerance they are known for. They even played Ohio State's alma mater, to jeers from OSU fans (!?). Anyway, it was one of the worst experience I have had at a college football game, and after poling friends from around the country, find that Ohio State fans take the cake when it comes to disrespecting other teams on their home fields. Curses were abounding, someone yelled an expletive at the IU Marching Band after the game had ended and all IU parents were in the stands to hear the band's final performance, and I was personally elbowed and sat next to a 45 year old going on 15 OSU fan who saw fit to belittle everything IU did and then yell at least 20 times "we own this place." My wife and I were mortified, but did not retaliate. We just felt for our student athletes at IU and for the hard working kids who just want to have some fun in the marching band. My message for Ohio State is: your support of your fans is great and laudable...just don't be childish and treat other teams with scorn. I saw more than one 10 year old who were bewildered by the whole scene. I doubt I will ever attend any game at which Ohio State ever plays again, and am definitely rooting for whatever team plays against them. We have a great rivalry with Purdue, but it is always in good fun, and no one ever insults players, students or band members, at least in my experience. Ohio State fans...grow up, be better examples and show some class. Please.
Jason said:
posted on October 25, 2005 9:42 PM — 24.145.251.120 — link — abuse?
I too was at the Ohio State Indiana game and did not see any of this happen. I did not hear anyone booing the band. In fact everyone I was sitting around applauded the band after they finished their halftime show. There were some roudy Ohio State fans that did start some "Who's house, our house" chants but none that were violent. Did anyone throw anything at the band or jump on anyones car?
After the game we were parked in what appeared to be a park turned into a after game tailgate party where Indiana band members, and fans, and Ohio State fans were hanging out together. I had a great time at the game and thought that the Indiana community and fans were awesome and did not see any of the things that were mentioned by Chris. Chris, if there were some Ohio Stater's that were being jerks to you and your family I apologize for that, but I didn't get any of that feeling at all.
Rich said:
posted on October 30, 2005 11:24 PM — 24.239.122.104 — link — abuse?
I think that it was very immature for the Penn State fans to do such things to The Ohio State University Band and that there should be more security there. I'm glad that they do not want to go back to happy valley because every experience that I have had there has been a negative one. I definitely think that they should rethink the name of that stadium because it surely doesn’t describe the atmosphere of it.
HARDING WHITACRE said:
posted on October 31, 2005 7:40 PM — 24.154.179.102 — link — abuse?
THE COMMENTS MENTIONED BUT THE DIRECTOR DR. JON WOODS ARE ACCURATE...........BY THE WAY YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT DR. WOODS IS A GRADUATE OF...............PENN STATE.I WOULD THINK THAT IT WAS PRETTY BAD FOR HIM TO MAKE A COMMENTS LIKE THAT.I AM NEITHER A OSU OR PSU GRAD.BUT HE IS RIGHT......THEY CROSSED THE LINE.IF THERE IS A NEXT TIME A LITTLE PEPPER SPRAY MIGHT GO A LONG WAY.Scott said:
posted on November 13, 2005 1:44 AM — 70.226.15.193 — link — abuse?
Hi Big Ten fans,
I'm a Buckeye fan but am only going to be attending my first Ohio State game on the 19th against Michigan. Obviously my Superbowl as 20 yr fan. But my friend (a UM fan)and I got our tix thru Ebay and will be sitting in validated seating in UM's student section! Obviously I'm a bit worried for my safety as I'll be plopping my 5'10" 140 lb frame in a danger zone. Now with the -n-various ticket bokers, and because UM-OSU is a unique situation where fans on both sides do whatever they can to get into The Game whether in Ann Arbor or Columbus, I suspect I may not be the only Buckeye fan in UM territory in the Big House. But to be sure I wanna know who can attest to this fear or a need to have a lack of it?
Thanks,
Scott
big buckeye man said:
posted on November 15, 2005 10:13 PM — 72.240.233.109 — link — abuse?
No matter where you go in college football you will always have some real jerks. I have been travelling to schools for years, I played water polo in college and we went to play at an ivy league school and they heckled the crap out of us. College sports tend to bring out the best and the worst in people. I have been to the Big House before and not everyone in Michigan has class but its true MOST fans will treat you with the respect that you treat them with. and most other fans will tell the jerks to sit down without you having to. Nothing to fear unless you start to disrespect back then noone likes you either. Lets get ready for some football and may the best team win (and by best I mean OSU)
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I'm a Realist said:
posted on October 11, 2005 9:02 AM — 208.52.140.17 — link — abuse?Pot, meet Kettle.
Your fans make death threats to your own player, yet you get upset when your band is accosted on the road. Seems like the OSU way: turn a blind-eye towards your own indiscretions while claiming sainthood.