We love rules around here.
It’s a new season, a new conference, and another
year here at Orange::44. Therefore, as a public service to the fans, especially
the new freshmen on campus, we should brief you on some of those unofficial
things you should know to do things the right way this season. We have published
many of the guidelines we think fans at Syracuse should operate under. Here are
a few, more nuanced, ones.
1. No Wave
Important rule or THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE? It’s
been a couple seasons since all of the Syracuse bloggers got together and
released the definitive anti-wave video. None of us think The Wave has any
place in the Carrier Dome for any sport. The wave was big in the 80’s, and not
to make any readers feel old, but incoming freshmen are born in roughly 1995.
Despite looking like fools, The Wave doesn’t help the players play better, and
if anything lets them know that you aren’t really paying attention to what is
happening on the field. It doesn’t exactly create an intimidating atmosphere
for opponents entering “The Loud House” either.
2. Only Wear Orange (Blue Fine For Football [No White
or Gray])
They honestly shouldn’t even sell white jerseys at
Syracuse. When your team has a color for a nickname you should probably just go
ahead and buy a jersey in that color. For basketball, the Dome should be packed
with the students and everyone else in orange. Football is a little more
complicated. They usually wear navy blue uniforms, but have been selling orange
ones in stores. Do what you feel on that one. I myself have a #44 navy jersey
from the McNabb era, only because that was the home jersey they wore. The team
hasn’t worn an orange jersey in a few years, and when they did last Greg
Robinson was coach, but who knows what will happen now in the ACC. But do make
sure it’s a #44 if you’re getting a football jersey. I gave a really good try in writing an official rule for this so check that out here.
3. #44
Why, just today this issue went around the internets. At least know a few of the people that wore #44 at
Syracuse and why it’s important. Namely, Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, and Floyd
Little. However, there are plenty more great players that have donned the
number. Ernie Davis has the Dome turf named after him, a Dorm and dining hall,
a statue and a movie. Jim Brown is Jim Brown. Floyd Little works for the
Athletic Department and you can probably meet him. Check it out.
4. Rules of Court Storming
Over seven years ago, the founder of this
notebook, Matt Glaude (@HoyaSuxa), wrote a piece with the definitive guideline
for when to storm your local basketball arena’s court. I can’t add to it any
more. Go here and peruse the rules. They are solid. But overall, just use
common sense. If the team is really that great you probably shouldn’t storm the
court, even though it’s a blast.
5. No Spirit Fingers
This is a basketball specific rule. When Syracuse
players shoot free throws, the student section and members of The Sour Sitrus
Society (the basketball pep band) put their hands up. You might be tempted but it looks terrible. No spirit fingers please.
Just… no.
6. Clap Before A Field Goal, Even Free Throws
Another basketball specific rule. Before each half
all fans stand up and clap until Syracuse scores their first field goal. While
it usually is not the case, sometimes this takes a few minutes so fans are
standing and clapping for a longer time than preferred. This also means that if
there is a foul you have to clap through those as well. You clap until the ball
is in the hands of the Syracuse player, they shoot, and then you continue
clapping. Good mechanics are always appreciated.
7. Never Leave Early
This rule applies to all sports equally. Why pay
all that money to just go home early. But honestly, teams come back. I’ve seen
it. We all have. But also, it isn’t going to get you home that much quicker.
Enjoy the time spent with your family or friends at a game. And maybe see a
crazy ending you’ll be upset you missed.
8. Don't Constantly Scream How Terrible The
Syracuse Coach/Players Is/Are
This happens more than it should in the Carrier
Dome, especially at football. Yelling that Ryan Nassib sucks not only wasn’t
true last season, but it isn’t helpful and just pisses off the people around
you. If you hate the players don’t come to watch them.
9. Sit Over The Number On Your Ticket
This one doesn’t’ really apply to students or
lacrosse games as they are general admission, but it is important for busy
football and basketball games. I understand that some fans out there aren’t,
shall we say, the tiniest people in the world. And with just benches instead of
actual seats it might be tough to stay where you are. But when the upper
section is packed it is important for you to sit directly over a number to a
seat your group possesses. Otherwise someone gets screwed on space. It’s been
me a lot over the years.
10. Don’t Be That Drunk Guy/Girl
It’s cool to drink in the Dome, one of the few
college arenas on campus to let you do so in. Just don’t go overboard. We’ve
already seen the number of beers you can buy decrease from four to two in the
last five years. Getting rid of beer probably won’t ever happen, but they can
make it more inconvenient. Don’t be stumbling up and down the aisles, tripping
on people, and definitely don’t get so drunk you vomit in the seats. Being
buzzed for a game can be enjoyable. Not remembering a game is just dumb.
There you have it. A nice set of rules to follow when you head to the
Carrier Dome or are on the road watching The Orange. Some of these may seem
archaic but they are, in fact, rooted in tradition and are far from arbitrary.
Love/hate them? Leave a comment. The usual constructive rules apply this
season.
Labels: Basketball, Football, Lacrosse, Legislation, Orange44 Lawdogs
Gotta keep it classy people.
Editor's Note: This is Part 3 of a multi-part series on trying to codify fan behavior for the betterment of all college athletics and their fans as determined by my best judgment. Part 1 can be found here. Part 2 can be found here.
[THE LAW]
Part C: Behavior
[Sec. 1(a)]
(a) GENERAL RULE: Fans, whether at a home stadium, neutral site, or away venue, shall cheer loudly for their team and never engage in behavior that would cast a negative light on yourself or fellow fans of your same college or university’s rooting interest, or that institution. Fans also must stay the entirety of the contest and clap for your team, win or lose, for their effort.
[Sec. 1(b)]
(b) EXCEPTIONS
- (1) Subsection (a) shall not apply if provoked into a public display of loyalty to their team in defense because of the actions of an opposing fan. However, one must only give an appropriate response, specifically proportional to the initial unreasonable attack.
(2) A comment made that causes five (5) or more fans you did not attend the game with to chuckle or laugh in your area shall never be considered to have cast a negative light for the purposes of subsection (a).
(3)
The provision about leaving before the contest has concluded in subsection (a) will be void if there is an emergency situation.
[COMMENTS]
This is basically the “don’t be a dick” rule. You have to keep it classy and represent your school or the school you root for with dignity and decorum. Thus the general rule mandates that you support your team (which you should, and probably are doing, anyway), but more importantly you need to conduct yourself with decorum and class. That being said, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t say sassy, entertaining things or heckle the living hell out of opposing players.
Also, I’ve always said and I’ve always believed real fans stay the game. Nothing will convince me otherwise. If the team is losing and you leave you aren’t a true fan. If you just want to get home five minutes sooner you aren’t a real fan. On top of that you’re the one paying money to see these athletes pay. Chances are quite a lot as well. Stay the game and cheer them for their effort and for the entertainment.
Exception (1) is basically similar to a self-defense claim. If some opposing fan says something that demands a public response you are allowed to do so. In short, you can be as rotten to someone else as they were to you, but only if they are initiating it. This may not be right, but it is the way of the world and it is fairly understandable. I didn’t want a law abiding person to get punished because some opposing fan is being above and beyond outrageous. Moral of the story is know where the line is and don’t go over it unless someone else does it first.
Exception (2) is the codification of the ancient and time tested truth that you have to be smart to be an asshole. If you’re smart and clever chances are it can be funny. If you want to yell something, no matter how outrageous, if it is funny it should be allowed. I’ve personally tested out this one in
Exception (3) is basically just granting the exception that you should be able to leave early for emergencies. This is common sense and does not warrant any more explanation, save for the fact that it needs to be a true emergency, not because you want to get home and watch Burn Notice.
In summation, go out there and root and even push the envelope. But never be a dick just for the sake of it or because you think it’s cool. It isn’t. It’s never acceptable to throw a beer on someone. It’s never acceptable to be racist. It’s never acceptable to be vulgar if children are around. Otherwise go nuts. Laptop jokes are still funny. Murder jokes… not so much.
Labels: Basketball, Business Ethics, Expert Analysis, Football, Legislation
This is the easiest part to follow.
Editor's Note: This is Part 2 of a multi-part series on trying to codify fan behavior for the betterment of all college athletics and their fans as determined by my best judgment. Part 1 can be found here.
[THE LAW]
Part B: Apparel
[Sec. 1(a)]
(a) GENERAL RULE: An individual attending a game involving a primary or secondary team, either home or away, must wear either a primary or secondary colored item of the individual’s team.
[Sec. 1(b)]
(b) EXCEPTIONS- (1) The provision allowing for the wearing of a secondary color shall not apply and it will be required that an individual wears the primary color of the team if the team’s nickname, identity, or significant impact on society relates to a specific color to a game at home or away. However if a person is wearing an official uniform or jersey that players wear or have worn in the past that is a secondary color that is not white, that uniform will be acceptable.
(2) Exception (b)(1) shall be void if a specific white or non-qualifying piece of apparel has extreme significant sentimental value.
(3) The provision stating that an item must be worn can be substituted for body paint or what would otherwise be a non-qualifying item if the non-qualifying outfit is a costume that is trimmed with the school’s color(s).
- (4) Subsection (a) shall not apply if in the event of a recognized special holiday or event you wear a conforming outfit of that special occasion to a game.
(5) Subsection (a) shall be satisfied if in formal or business attire, accessories or shirts are of team colors or additional team related apparel is added.
This is a fairly simple rule I believe. You just have to wear the colors of your teams when attending the games. This seems pretty obvious and something that most people do anyway. However, a lot of fans that attend games just go and do not care what they wear. This not only looks awful on television and in person, but if you are in fact a huge fan this sadly misrepresents you in public, especially on the road. If you even call yourself the most basic of fans you should be wearing team colors to a game.
The first exception is more of a mandate though. If your school is specifically identified with a certain color, you have to wear that color and not white or a secondary color. For instance, in Syracuse’s case, you must wear orange. They are the Syracuse Orange, not the Syracuse White or the Syracuse Navy. Now don’t get me wrong, I own plenty of navy or white SU shirts, but I do not wear them to games. This is the same with Alabama being the Crimson Tide or Texas Tech being the Red Raiders. You see the point of the rule. However, this rule also must take into account the situation that Syracuse and various schools have where they wear navy football uniforms at home as their standard home jersey and not orange, which is their primary (and actually their only official) color. Thus there is the exception to the exception that if you are wearing an official jersey that is current or used to be worn that is a color that is not white, that should be acceptable. This is despite the fact that they do sell orange football jerseys seeing as they are not their standard uniform either home or away. But in a situation like basketball where there is clearly a home and away jersey, white and orange respectively, clearly no one should own the white one. Everyone should be wearing the orange jersey. Especially in the case of a team like Syracuse where it is their main identity as the Orange. White is the enemy of almost this entire rule.
Exception (2) is written in the case of some item that would be otherwise in violation has sentimental or personal value to an individual, so they wear it to all games. The word extreme is added because it needs to be greater then simple tradition or superstition. We are talking like on his death bed your father handed you something. It is monumental events that would let someone wear a white jersey in the Carrier Dome during a basketball game. Obviously extreme is a term that requires a judgment to be made, but you see the threshold that I’ve articulated in the father example. We are talking super meaningful. The point of this is there needs to be extremely compelling reasons to allow an individual to wear white or a non-conforming color to a game, especially when it is Syracuse or another specific school with an identified color.
Exception (3) allows for idiots to paint themselves if they want. I would never do it, but if that’s your thing go nuts people. The second half of the exception is what I’d dub “The Monkey Suit Exception”. Basically it allows people to dress up in chicken suits, gorilla suits, look like Green Man, or anything of the like, as long as you trim the outfit with team colors or various team related apparel. People like to wear that stuff for some reason. Orange man would easily be more awesome however. I know you're out there. Good work.
Exception (4) is the "Holiday Rule". Last year Syracuse played on Halloween and people wore various costumes to the game. This would also be the case that people wear Santa hats to basketball games over winter break. These are all acceptable in recognizing various points during the calendar year in which it would be acceptable to wear such outfits in society.
Exception (5) is the professional's exception. It lets people come right from work to a game and still be fans that are in compliance. If you are a woman and happen to have a blouse that is a team’s color you’re all set. For gentlemen you can wear a team tie, or at least a tie of a team's colors, to a game and be all set. Or obviously a dress shirt that is team colors. Lapel pins could also help, but either way you at least are showing visible support of your team.
Overall, the major point of this legislation is that people wear their team’s colors to games. Seems pretty basic, yet I see it violated all the time at any given game in the Salt City. This is pretty basic for a fan to follow and probably the easiest besides Part A's rules.
Exception (5) is the professional's exception. It lets people come right from work to a game and still be fans that are in compliance. If you are a woman and happen to have a blouse that is a team’s color you’re all set. For gentlemen you can wear a team tie, or at least a tie of a team's colors, to a game and be all set. Or obviously a dress shirt that is team colors. Lapel pins could also help, but either way you at least are showing visible support of your team.
Overall, the major point of this legislation is that people wear their team’s colors to games. Seems pretty basic, yet I see it violated all the time at any given game in the Salt City. This is pretty basic for a fan to follow and probably the easiest besides Part A's rules.
Labels: Basketball, Business Ethics, Expert Analysis, Football, Legislation
This should be passed by Congress, but it won't be.
[PREFACE]
With the summer approaching its end quickly, and football coming back soon, that means our annual summer hiatus here at Orange::44 is ending as well. We thought what better way to come back with a bang then start with a big refresher in fandom. We are all fans but a lot of fans, especially at Syracuse, have some bad habits. This series is designed to show the rules and regulations of fandom as I would legislate. As someone with a law degree this is the kind of junk you have to sift through in school and in the profession so for all you out there thinking about heading to higher learning in the law, just look at all the fun you can have. For the rest of you, read all the statutory words that should be easy to understand in their plain meaning and look for the comments to further explain the sections of the law and the justifications for them. This is a multiple part series that will lead us right into our annual Big East Football Prospectus. Don’t worry if you don’t agree with every part, we’ll allow you to file amendments when the series concludes, and the ones that make sense will be posted and full credit will be given. Once the process is done we’ll sign it into law and call out the fan base accordingly if people violate these laws. Legislative fun for all! #LAWYERED.
[THE LAW]
[THE LAW]
Part A: Allegiances
[Sec. 1(a)]
(a) GENERAL RULE: A college or university sports fan must only support one (1) school in Division 1, 2, and/or 3. The primary team of the individual will be the school at which he or she attended or attends. An individual may choose up to two (2) secondary teams in another athletic division, providing for a selection of no more than one (1) primary team and two (2) secondary teams to support, each in their own athletic division.
(b) EXCEPTIONS
- (1) Subsection (a) shall not apply when an individual is married or engaged to someone from a non-established rival school. If married or engaged a person may be free to adopt a spouse’s primary team as a secondary team to support, no matter what division the individual’s primary or secondary teams are in. This then allows for a selection of a possible four (4) teams total. No other teams are permitted.
(2) Subsection (a) shall not apply if your primary team does not field a team in a certain sport that an individual is a fan of. In this instance it would be permissible to support a secondary team in that sport only, regardless of division, and only if that school is not an established rival of your primary team.
(3) The subsection (a) provision about a person’s school that they attended becomes their primary school shall not apply if a person never attended a college or university. In that case a person may pick any primary team at will.
(4) Subsection (a) shall not apply if a person lives in the near vicinity of a college or university they did not attend and they wish to make that school or university their primary team. In that case, as long as a person discontinues showing support for their initial primary team and/or the school they attended, this will be allowed. Otherwise the nearby school may only be added as a secondary team, allowing for up to four (4) total teams. This exception is void if the nearby school is an established rival.
(5) In the case of a transfering student, the new school shall be their primary team, and they will discontinue all support for the previous college or university institution. If it is the case that an individual goes to graduate school, the primary team shall remain the undergraduate institution and the graduate institution shall become a secondary team except in the case of an established rival. This again provides for a total of four (4) teams, three (3) being secondary.
(c) DEFINITIONS
- (1) COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY
(A) A college or university constitutes the following:
(i) An institution of higher learning requiring the completion of high school or their equivalent before enrollment;
(ii) An institution recognized by the NCAA to compete in intercollegiate athletic contests.
(2) SUPPORT
(A) Support for a team constitutes the following:
(i) Yelling or participating in cheers designed to boost a team’s performance or hindering that team’s opponent;
(ii) Purchasing/wearing items or apparel of a team, especially while at an athletic contest;
(iii) Purchasing season tickets of a team;
(iv) Painting a part of your body in some manner with team colors;
(v) Using any media source to communicate arguments for or in defenses of a primary or secondary team or to disparage an established rival or any other college or university.
(3) PRIMARY TEAM
(A) A primary team constitutes the following:
(i) A team a person feels the most affinity or loyalty for;
(ii) A team that a person shows the most support for.
(4) SECONDARY TEAM
(A) A secondary team constitutes the following:
(i) A team that a person feels a slight affinity or loyalty for;
(ii) A team in a different athletic division from a primary team a person has a tangential connection with.
(5) ESTABLISHED RIVAL
(A) A team’s opponent will be considered an established rival if:
(i) The team’s opponent is a member of the same conference as the team; or
(ii) The team’s opponent is:
(I) A yearly feature on the team’s schedule, regardless of conference affiliation; and
(II) There is a long, recognized history between the two colleges or universities.
The theory behind this opening piece of the legislation is to define the parameters of rooting attention a person gives to any team or teams. Basically, this assures that a person only has one rooting interest or one horse in the race. This is especially to assure that people, when enrolled at one particular college or university, or is an alumni of a particular college or university , whole heartedly supports that team and discards any secondary allegiances from family, growing up, or any other external sources.
The real impetus of this section of the law is to stop dumb students from schools to root for the team they grew up with even after enrolling at a different school. For example, if you go to Syracuse, and when Seton Hall comes to town you wear a Seton Hall jersey while in the Syracuse student section, that should not happen. Ever. This would ensure that if you go to a school, which you or your parents are paying for you attend I might add, that then becomes your one and only allegiance, as it is supposed to be. If you wanted to go to Seton Hall you should have gone to Seton Hall son. Face it, Seton Hall is easier to get into than Syracuse. It is the intent of this legislation to prevent double allegiances, especially in conference, and especially with rivals.
This legislation would also cure the very public offense of wearing a rival school’s apparel on your campus. This would also eliminate even just another division team’s apparel. However, as specified, this would not affect hometown allegiances with different divisions of interscholastic competition. The best example would be rooting for Syracuse, a Division 1 school, and then a Division 3 school from your hometown, or perhaps that your father is a proud alumnus of.
This legislation allows for an engaged or married person to adopt their significant other’s team as well, to promote marital harmony in the house. However, notice that this exception does not allow for that adoption if the spouse went to an established rival school. Despite a lasting bond of love being present, that is not enough to override the fact that you married a rival. While this rivalry should be friendly, it should be maintained and enforced. It was written as engaged or married, because simply dating is not enough of a bond to allow the adoption of another team. When you get serious, so can your love of someone else's team.
Of course not everyone goes to college as well. It has been the policy of this legislative body never to exclude the hometown crowd. Therefore we provide that any person that did not attend college can pick a primary team, and that people that live in the vicinity of a school can incorporate that into the schools they support. Local support is always critical to a program, no matter the level of competition.
A transfer rule is in effect, allowing for the situation to which a student transfers to a different undergraduate institution. If that is the case, the primary team clearly should become the new institution. There is a reason you transfered after all. Similarly, it provides for the situation, much like many people have, of individuals attending graduate school. Obviously if you go to a graduate school in a different division this situation is moot to the primary team issue, however obviously rivals are not allowed (why are you attending a rival's graduate school?). However, your education is most important, and you still have your primary team anyway.
It should be very obvious, but there is a running theme of not allowing any exceptions for making an established rival a primary or secondary team. The established rival rules will be more flushed out in the next section as well, however it is necessary to be included statutorily in this section as well.
There is also an exception for when your school does not field a team in a sport you particularly enjoy. This could be called the “Lacrosse Exemption” or the “Title IX Exemption” or anything of the like. It allows for you to root for a different school in the same division that plays a sport your school doesn’t have. That seems fair.
Labels: Back And Better Than Ever, Basketball, Business Ethics, Expert Analysis, Football, Legislation