Section 21 cheerleaders and stadium etiquette

An interesting first-person case study was authored last year that provides excellent insight into the minds of folks who make such decisions. It's required reading for anyone interested in the topic of standing-sitting ettiquette:

http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/almost-fought-old-guy-telling-us-sit-down

Biggest game of the season so far.  Against our in-state rival Michigan State.  Biggest game said rivalry has had in years and people wanted to sit?

Hell, I'm paralyzed completely from the knees down and only have the use of part of my quads in my upper legs and if I were at the game I'd still be standing by leaning on my crutches.

that should be governed by the Section en masse. If everyone wants to stand, don't be the guy demanding they sit. If 99% of the section is sitting, don't be the guy blocking 10 people's view. It's a free world but civility should dominate. 

If you graduate from that school, meaning you paid your dues, then you earned the right to sit if you want. 

And for all the people who talk about it being quiet in there and blaming it on old people, you need to go check out some of the old people sections at OSU and Wisky.  They sit there as well. 

The design and acoustics of the stadium play a large part of how distracting it is for the players.  Those fans aren't better, but the overhang for the second deck takes all that sound and pushes it back towards the playing field.

Unorthodox question: what does standing have to do with homefield advantage? I can yell just as loud sitting down.

If you don't want to stand then fine .... but don't bitch about somebody that wants to stand and cheer their team.  The whinny fan that complains is the person with the poor stadium etiquette imho.

Reminds me of a concert I went to years ago.  Plant Page so there were fans of all ages.  I was mid 30's at the time.  Two couples behind me were probably early 50's.  The two women bitched and moaned non stop because I wanted to stand.  Half the stadium was standing.  And when I explained that they could not have cared less.  They insisted I sit down.  It was to the point I couldn't enjoy the concert cause these women would not shut up or leave me alone.  Their husbands are even pleading with me just so the women will shut up.  I felt guilty for a bit and sat but then Led busted out some awesome tune and I said eff this and stood the rest of the concert.  It was a great concert except for the poor stadium etiquette of those two hags.  If you don't want to stand and cheer then watch at home or rent the concert dvd.  You don't have to stand but don't complain when other do choose to stand. 

It's amazing how many people think that standing up can affect the result on the field, isn't it?  If you do think that by standing you can influence the outcome of the game, I guess you pretty much have a duty to stand.  The fact that there is no statistical evidence that standing or yelling or wearing the same hat every week actually does affect the result doesn't really deter people from these beliefs. 

At some point, people will realize that the advantage for the home team is about the same in FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III or NAIA, and that it's the same for Texas A&M as it is for Rice, and will realize that whether or not I wear my lucky hat or whether or not I stand does not affect the game.

In the meantime, the old rule always applys:  don't be an asshole.  Don't be the only one standing in your section and think that justice is on your side.  Don't be the only one sitting in your section and think that you have a right to dictate to everybody else.  The wisdom of the crowd is almost always right in this case--if a majority of the people in front of you are standing, you should stand.  If a majority of the people in front of you are sitting when the offense lines up for the play, you should sit .  You can't go wrong if you follow that basic "no asshole" rule.

I was at the UConn game - first game outside the student section. I think we were in section 23. Anyway we probably stood half the game and sat half the game, because that's what everyone else was doing. Funny thing is, my legs hurt more the next day from the constant getting up and sitting down than from standing on the benches the whole game as a student. And I saw less of the game, because if a big play happened, the oncoming "wave" of standing would obscure my vision till I could jump to my feet. So basically, I'd really prefer to stand, but if sitting, would prefer to remain sitting except for really huge moments. I'd like there to be more of a culture of "stand up and cheer", but being the only guy standing in the section does nothing to help that goal.

Thing was, there was a little girl behind us who couldn't see at all if people were standing - she's going to be a big fan someday and you'd be a real jerk to intentionally ruin her experience. There was also an old lady who clearly didn't have the legs to stand the whole time. But they both cheered and yelled when you're supposed to, and sang along to The Victors, etc. Were they as wild as the students? No, but they also weren't 20 and blitzed half out of their minds, so I wouldn't expect them to be.

Yeah, the quiet blue-haired alumni can be annoying, but without them the team doesn't exist (who do you think funds scholarships and the shiny new stadium? Not the student section...). So don't be a jerk and ruin someone else's experience because it doesn't conform to what you think a "real fan experience" should be. And guess what - if people are getting annoyed at you because you won't sit down, you're drawing attention to yourself instead of the game, and actively taking support away from the team. First and foremost, encourage people to be loud - that's the most important thing. If you can manage that, encourage them to stand as much as possible, but if it doesn't work, don't stand in front of people just to be stubborn. Sit down and scream your lungs out. That's going to be more helpful than getting everyone ticked at you instead of watching the game.

Dear blueheron,

In all seriousness, please define what a "less important play" is.

The experience you're looking for can be gained by going to Blockbuster, renting "Field of Dreams", and eating a nice fluffy bucket of popcorn on your couch.