LInk to Fox news story: www.foxnews.com/…
If you didn’t watch it live, you will certainly hear about it this morning on the news. There was football game at the University of Tennessee. The University of Mississippi was the opposing team. Two evenly matched teams played (what is known in the South Eastern Conference as) “Smash mouth” football.
There was nothing to report until the last 58 seconds of the game. A major decision by the referees turned possession of the football to the Ole Miss Rebels. There was some controversy about the decision and the Tennessee fans let that fact be known.
It started in the student section of the bleachers with a cup of beer or water bottle or pizza box being tossed onto the field in protest. Then projectiles of all types came from the entire stadium to attack the players, coaches and officials of the game.
This assault lasted 45 minutes (there were injuries) and continued even after campus police entered the stadium and removed spectators. The Tennessee cheerleaders, dancing squad and marching band fled the stadium in fear during the bombardment.
I have witnessed a scene of raw mob mentality and dangerous behavior (recently at the Jan. 6th Nations Capital) before. The rage has got to stop.
I suggest stiff sanctions against the University of Tennessee. Here are my suggestions.
1. Forfeit all home games for the rest of the season (to insure visitor safety).
2. The S.E.C. (South Eastern Conference) should restrict Tennessee from future post season contests for two years (includes bowl games).
3. Tennessee teams (all sport venues) should not be allowed televised appearances for two seasons.
Money (sports revenue especially) is where the a university is most vulnerable. It will not stop fan violence, but it will create some changes in athletic behavior. If the heroes of “our college days” are sports figures, they will have to guide their fans to sportsmanship.