Pete Forsee/ Matthias Simmons
Sports Columnists
You’re not supposed to like the other team. It’s a competition. Trash talk, physical, and mental abuse is what spectators find enjoyable at games.
Enjoyable enough, that students will participate in taunting the opposing team. However, administrators believe discouraging the opponent is unacceptable.
During our bye week from the gridiron, we watched our soccer team take on rival Kirkwood at Lyons Field on Sept. 16.
When we arrived, the student section was thin but grew as the first half progressed. Of course we all know the bad blood between the Statesmen and Pioneers, so it was very upsetting to us when the Webster administrator shadowed our every word, while Kirkwood fired their taunts at will.
“Why do we have to say, ‘Kirkwood’s s***’? Really, I don’t understand,” she claimed.
Senior Caleb Cowin had a very passionate response to the administrator’s words.
“Can I not live? Am I not allowed to breath? I’m sorry, am I breathing someone’s air right now?” said Cowin.
Our classmate couldn’t be more correct. Come on, let’s get serious. Kirkwood has been our rival for over 100 years, and our school expects it to be a friendly one? No, that’s why an ECHO staff members is writing about creating our own homecoming dance. The two schools’ students are not as friendly as the administrators presume.
Along with degrading the opponent, retaliating with cheers to the opposing student section is also frowned upon by our principals.
Most teachers believe we should focus our cheers positively toward our team only. This is an unrealistic expectation.
We’re sure any student here at WGHS wouldn’t want to be part of the student section that doesn’t respond to opposing cheers. We’re a school of pride willing to support our team.
Many of our students are legally defined as adults. To censor our every word is ridiculous. This is a game, and for the two or three hours, the school on the other side of the field or court is our enemy.
Not allowing students to rush the field or court is also a disruption to our entertainment. We understand there are safety issues that the school has to be aware of; however, the goal of student after a game is not to physically harm another student. It is to celebrate victory.
For instance, at the 2009 Football Semi-final win at Parkway North High School, no harm was done when students stormed the field to celebrate with the team. The only casualty was a small white and orange florescent fence that the school paid an overpriced amount to replace.
Storming the field should be a tradition that students remember forever. Rushing the field at the Miracle at Moss game in 2009 is one of those memories that people will never forget.
For students to fully enjoy the entertainment at our athletic events, administrators need to loosen their leash. Plain and simple, we want the Statesmen to win. If we have to mentally drain the other team’s players or students, we will. That’s the bottom line.
The recent storming of the field from Minnesota after they beat Iowa last weekend gas brought this issue up at Big Ten schools as well. Some media are saying it’s poor form by the Gophers to rush the field while others are saying it’s an important rivalry win for a rebuilding program. There’s been a good debate at TC Huddle. I found your article searching for more opinions on the issue.
Thought you might want to check it out. It’s enjoyable if nothing else: http://www.tchuddle.com/2011/10/the-importance-of-the-iowa-win/