People who did this are not fans!!!

[Maverick]

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/1189484859197200.xml&coll=1

The above article is about as big a disgrace as I can imagine. I would hope that any school that had this happen would take steps to prevent such a thing re-occuring. Wonder what would happen at your school if this had happened?

[appfan2008]

that is awful... just awful

[UNHWildCats]

for some reason I can see the fans in Amherst chanting the same thing if Ricky Santos came up limping.

[Casey_Orourke]

The head coach and players need to stand up and denounce these actions by such hooligans and let people know how much they respect the Navy players.

[ChooChoo]

wow. that was very well put and very disappointing. makes me want rutgers to lose the rest of their games.

[AZGrizFan]

As a retired Navy man, I could easily sit here and judge Rutgers fans from afar, stating that I hope they now lose every game in which they play. Unfortunately, as the article stated, I don't think it's an uncommon occurrence anymore, and I can't start hating ALL teams just because they've got a few fans that are dickheads.

It is ironic, sort of, that a team that has suffered so much for so long would have fans get cocky THAT fast, after only a year or two of success...typically it takes a little longer....

[Retro]

Sounds like some Texas State fans!xnonox

[SCPALADIN]

http://rutgers.rivals.com/forum.asp?sid=988&fid=642

Voice your displeasure here...personally, I think this is absolutely appalling.

[SCPALADIN]

http://www.scarletknights.com/news/release.asp?prID=5648

Here is a response from the AD and VP of Student Relations.

[bkrownd]

for some reason I can see the fans in Amherst chanting the same thing if Ricky Santos came up limping.

What?

[SunCoastBlueHen]

The President of Rutgers sent this apology letter...


Vice Admiral Jeffrey L. Fowler
Superintendent
United States Naval Academy
121 Blake Road
Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5000

Dear Vice Admiral Fowler:

Let me offer my apologies on behalf of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, for the disrespectful and disgraceful behavior exhibited by some of our fans at the Rutgers-Navy game last Friday. I was at the game but did not hear the offensive chants, which came from a relatively small number of fans, and I learned about them only later. What I witnessed was actually quite the opposite: a large number of Rutgers supporters standing to applaud the Navy players as they left the field at halftime.

No student-athlete should ever be subject to profane language directed at them from the crowd, and certainly not the young men of the Naval Academy who have made a commitment to serve our nation in a time of war. Your Midshipmen conducted themselves with dignity throughout the game and have my admiration.

You have my best wishes and, again, my apologies.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Kinda sounds less than heartfelt to me...

[Franks Tanks]

As a retired Navy man, I could easily sit here and judge Rutgers fans from afar, stating that I hope they now lose every game in which they play. Unfortunately, as the article stated, I don't think it's an uncommon occurrence anymore, and I can't start hating ALL teams just because they've got a few fans that are dickheads.

It is ironic, sort of, that a team that has suffered so much for so long would have fans get cocky THAT fast, after only a year or two of success...typically it takes a little longer....


NY area fans are very fair weather, they just have so many sports teams to potentially root for. After years of futility when a Rutgers fan was confronted they woudl say " Oh well we dont care about college football anyway, just the pro's" Now that they are a solid team - boom- oh yes Rutgers there great we always loved em and now were are gonna act like asses. Ny fans also cheered when Chad Pennington got hurt on Sunday.

[bkrownd]

Almost every program that experiences unexpected success picks up this element of rude people who don't know how to behave in their crowds. They're just clueless NFL twits there for the spectacle, and to party hard. When the program isn't a hot ticket anymore they disappear again.

[Cobblestone]

And I thought UCONN fans were douchebags .... oh that's right... THEY ARE!

Actually I think these Rutgers "fans" would do this to any team, not just Navy. On the other side of the coin, I was at the URI/Army game and all of the URI fans cheered when the Army team took the field. Me, I stood and cheered. Then rooted for URI but not against Army.

Anyway, I thought the article was very well written.

[Jaxhen]

Thats what you get when 99% of our colleges are, you guessed it, liberal.[/QUOTE]

That's an absurd comment. I agree that this type of behavior is disgusting, but it has absolutely nothing to do with one's political beliefs.

[Ram Ball]

WOW, that's rough. I guess hearing the cadets chating the "HEY! You S*ck." song at Army over the weekend wasn't so offensive after all.

[TheBisonator]

this is the product our educational institutes are pumping out, sad future for our children and country. Thats what you get when 99% of our colleges are, you guessed it, liberal.

WTF does this have to do with anyone's politics?? I'm as liberal as they come, and I think this was a disgrace.

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

Having traveled to a number of away games the past few years I've found that there are always a number of "fans" that get more joy from bombing on opponants and their fans than cheering for the home team.

Sadly it happens every where.

These "fans" are always a very small percentage but they are the ones you remember. I don't buy that it's U Mass fans or UD fans or UNH or JMU. We've all got them. We had 6-8 JMU student taunt the UNH Mom's and Dad's most of the game. But there were thousands of real fans there. I felt like pounding the he!! out of them. A couple of times we had other JMU fans tell us to "just ignore them" . They were embarrased. I have seen other home fans tell them to quiet down and show a little class. I intend to do this more in the future. I'm sure they won't get the message.xsmhx xsmhx

I try to not let them get to me but deep down I'd like to see them fall over the fences they hide behind onto the bench and get the snott knocked out of them.

That being said, that kind of treatment of a military school is inexcusable.xnonox xnonox

[Col Hogan]

for some reason I can see the fans in Amherst chanting the same thing if Ricky Santos came up limping.

Travis, I read this and wanted to argue with you...but I know a few UMass fans would do that...xnonono2x

Now, tell the folks about the UNH hockey fans and about some of their classless acts...xrulesx

[UNHWildCats]

As much as people seem to hate Notre Dame, Charlie Weis is a class act at the end of games. He led his team down to the Navy student section his first year whiloe the Navy guys sang the school song.

[KAUMASS]

for some reason I can see the fans in Amherst chanting the same thing if Ricky Santos came up limping.


Cheap shot and below the belt. Santos is a hell of a player and we UMass fans want to beat UNH with him as the qb. Anything less won't feel as good. I would rather lose to UNH with Santos playing the whole game than winning with him injured.
The majority of fans and ags'rs like myself don't ever want to see a trainer go onto the field, especially after hearing about the Bills player the other day. I took a helmet straight into my knee during my career and broke my knee in half. I know what it is like being put into a wheelchair for 3 months and then trying to learn how to walk again.
You may want to rephrase it by saying "some drunk college UMass fans who don't know their ass from their elbow" might do that. You can substitute any major college for UMass as it happens across the country. I was embarrassed as a UMass fan,graduate, and former player by the way some of those kids acted last year in the quarter final game. What can we do? Have some more security and have the event people start tossing people, after a pre-game warning. I don't know if it will work or not or if it is in place or was inplace prior to that game. Costs more money, which is an issue that can be discussed as well.

Rutgers was embarrassed as they should be. Don Imus was fired for his remarks at Rutgers. Their should be a way to make these kids accountable, and yes UNHwildcatfan, that includes some UMass students..

[Purple Knight]

Been to the web site, don't expect any change in behavior. Like trying to insult a cat INTO GOOD BEHAVIOR. This will only get worse.

[nmatsen]

Montana much? I still remember hearing about 50 N Bombs on their sideline when I played there. N Bombs that consisted of two vowels, two G's and an R. We should make these two teams schedule a home and home.

[EmeryZach]

Rutgers fans do this to every team. It's not like they just do it for Navy. It doesn't make it right, but it's not the first time it's happend.

[GRZZ]

Montana much? I still remember hearing about 50 N Bombs on their sideline when I played there. N Bombs that consisted of two vowels, two G's and an R. We should make these two teams schedule a home and home.

Of course. It was only a matter of time before someone brought up Montana. Guarantee you that 99% of the stadium was classy and supportive. Every team has bad apples in their fan base. And while we are talking classy, wasn't it that game where one of the opposing players punched a Griz player right in the crotch? I could be getting my teams mixed up but you are going to find way more people who have nothing but positive things to say about Griz game experiences than negative.

[igo4uni]

Montana much? I still remember hearing about 50 N Bombs on their sideline when I played there. N Bombs that consisted of two vowels, two G's and an R. We should make these two teams schedule a home and home.


We'll get them at home, dude!! Have faith.

[BlueHen86]

this is the product our educational institutes are pumping out, sad future for our children and country. Thats what you get when 99% of our colleges are, you guessed it, liberal.
Incredibly stupid comment.xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x

[terrierbob]

Based on what my friends from the SOCON say whose schools played against Marshall when the school was in the conference, Rutgers needs to schedule Marshall. Marshall fans evidently exceed the boorish behavior displayed by the small group of Scarlet Knights fans described in the article.

[BlueHen86]

A year from now these Rutgers clowns will be working for Princeton grads, while the Annapolis grads will be defending our country.

[BlueHen86]

Based on what my friends from the SOCON say whose schools played against Marshall when the school was in the conference, Rutgers needs to schedule Marshall. Marshall fans evidently exceed the boorish behavior displayed by the small group of Scarlet Knights fans described in the article.
I've heard similiar things about the Blundering Nerds. Marshall is the only school deserving of the Rutgers chants.

[ucdtim17]

As much as people seem to hate Notre Dame, Charlie Weis is a class act at the end of games. He led his team down to the Navy student section his first year whiloe the Navy guys sang the school song.

I think the Navy people said that was the first time any team had ever done that - they were all very honored

[Ronbo]

Montana much? I still remember hearing about 50 N Bombs on their sideline when I played there. N Bombs that consisted of two vowels, two G's and an R. We should make these two teams schedule a home and home.

That's bull.

[BlueHen86]

Montana much? I still remember hearing about 50 N Bombs on their sideline when I played there. N Bombs that consisted of two vowels, two G's and an R. We should make these two teams schedule a home and home.

Gringo?

[Pard4Life]

Well, what do you expect from Rutgers? I've long said it's a terrible school...

... that's why something like 76% of its HS seniors leave the state for college.. who wants to go there? (also not much choice)

There was an op-ed. in the Lafayette paper about this topic this week... general lack of classlessness amongst the young people who don't have a concept about anything..

A kid just randomly used the f-word to describe a Harry Potter movie... honestly... does that need to be said to a news reporter about a kids' movie? Also students were rambling off f-words in front of kids and families before the football game... I don't get it..

[rcny46]

That is evidently the extent of their vocabulary.Maybe someday they'll realize how incredibly immature and ignorant they were. xmadx

[ASU_Chad]

this is the product our educational institutes are pumping out, sad future for our children and country. Thats what you get when 99% of our colleges are, you guessed it, liberal.

What does this have to do with liberal vs. conservative universities??? I have heard many a conservative say a lot nastier things... Ann Coulter and Pat Robertson come to mind.

[Marcus Garvey]

Crap like this always pisses me off. Last year, when BYU came to Tucson to play Arizona, a bunch of *****head students were screaming "F--k Mormons! F--k Mormons!"

Now, people who know me understand that I'm not a huge fan of the Latter Day Saint community in Arizona. That's a topic that belongs elsewhere though. However, the BYU team most certainly did not deserve that. There are only a handful of season ticket holders near my seats, so a lot of single game tickets get sold around us. As a result, a lot of visiting team fans wind up around us. The BYU fans were by far the nicest, most polite, most gracious group of visiting fans I've encountered yet. I met a former football player from BYU who was down from Mesa with his extended clan. Really nice guy. In fact, I complimented him and his family at the end of the game for being the best visiting fans yet. When I read about the UofA students crap, that really irritated me. It made all Arizona fans look like jackasses.

Oh, if you're keeping score, the worst visiting fans are Oregon fans.... yes, even worse than Arizona St.

[TheValleyRaider]

Pardon me for parsing things a bit, but I'm wondering something about everyone's anger here.

Are we mad because these kids dropped a bunch of f-bombs on the visiting team? If so, righteous though our anger may be, we've all got fans like that, and I dare say that some of us here are guilty of saying things at games that we are not proud of, nor would we say in most company.

Or...

Are we mad because this was directed at Navy in particular? If so, that seems rather misplaced, IMO. This wasn't a group of "blame America" or "hate the military" radicals, it was a bunch of drunk college kids screaming at the other team, which in this case happens to be "Navy" instead of "Syracuse" or "West Virginia". Navy isn't exempt from verbal attacks (in good taste of course) just because they're military. Those kids are made of tough stuff, and surely can handle some dumb comments from fans in the stands.

Just my xtwocentsx

[AZBison]

Oh, if you're keeping score, the worst visiting fans are Oregon fans.... yes, even worse than Arizona St.

Agreed, they are worse than my Devils, but worse than Mildcat fans??? xsmiley_wix

[Marcus Garvey]

Agreed, they are worse than my Devils, but worse than Mildcat fans??? xsmiley_wix

Definitely... "Mildcat" fans are freaking unknowledgable, but seldom hostile. However....
I've gotten into arguments with ignorant UofA fans regarding calls. Half of them don't know the rules or strategy. I make my comments based on whether a call was correct, not if it went in UofA's favor. I recall one moron getting really torqued out when I agreed with a roughing the passer flag thrown at an Arizona player. Several people in our section actually came over to restrain him, if necessary. It wasn't. I just told him to sit down, watch the game, and learn the rules. xlolx xlolx xlolx

[Seahawks Fan]

Rutgers will take steps to fix this. They are too classy an organization to allow this to go on. We love our Scarlet Knights in New Jersey but we won't tolerate this kind of disrespect.

[citdog]

does this lack of class and refinement REALLY shock anyone since it occured at the State Univ of NJ? typical example of that cesspool of filth known as the State of New Jersey. YANKEES HAVE NO CLASS!

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

Agreed, they are worse than my Devils, but worse than Mildcat fans??? xsmiley_wix

When I was out at Northwestern last year their fans told me that the Ohio State fans were by far the worst they've ever delt with.

[Go...gate]

does this lack of class and refinement REALLY shock anyone since it occured at the State Univ of NJ? typical example of that cesspool of filth known as the State of New Jersey. YANKEES HAVE NO CLASS!

With all due respect, Citdog, you are incorrect. As long as I have been watching Rutgers (going on half a century, now), they have always had some jerky fans - but they also have a lot of classy ones. The jerky fans certainly do not represent, in any way, the majority of the Garden State.

[jstate83]

Rutger's has had 1 good year worth mentioning.
It's just a matter of time before the powers in that conference make then their byotch again. xlolx

How short the Rutger's fan's memory must be.
They sucked for nearly a century. xlolx

[Go...gate]

And I thought UCONN fans were douchebags .... oh that's right... THEY ARE!

Actually I think these Rutgers "fans" would do this to any team, not just Navy. On the other side of the coin, I was at the URI/Army game and all of the URI fans cheered when the Army team took the field. Me, I stood and cheered. Then rooted for URI but not against Army.

Anyway, I thought the article was very well written.

Historically, there has always seemed to be a small-medium cadre of RU student and alumni fans that act this way at FB and BB games. It has been a problem for a long while. I am glad McCormick and Mulcahy did something - it was something previous RU leadership simply "looked the other way" on.

[Marcus Garvey]

does this lack of class and refinement REALLY shock anyone since it occured at the State Univ of NJ? typical example of that cesspool of filth known as the State of New Jersey. YANKEES HAVE NO CLASS!

You really need to just stop posting. You're embarrassing yourself. That kind of statement is as ignorant as saying:
"All white people from the south are racists."

[Go...gate]

Going way back in the day when Rutgers and Princeton played for the "Championship of NJ" every year, the Rutgers fans have had issues. The 6-6 tie between RU and PU in 1974, for example, was caused by a group of drunken RU fans who ran onto the field and tore down the goalposts in Palmer Stadium while Princeton drove for a tying touchdown. PU could not kick the PAT because there were no goalposts and had to go for two points. The attempt failed. A second melee followed the game.

[Tribefan]

The classy Rutgers fans are the long suffering types. The Alums that put up with the decades of football incompetence, losses to Villanova and UNH, Terry Shea etc...

But a large portion of Rutgers fans are basically a bunch of bandwagon types. Many of them never even attended a game before the Louisville game last season. They don't understand college football and its traditions. The Rutgers fanbase is quickly becoming like the Philadelphia Eagles fanbase of college football.

In 2005 when Brian Brohm tore his ACL against Syracuse, that whole Rutgers fanbase on the internet celebrated because they hadn't gotten over being blown out by Louisville earlier in the year.

I just hope that those Rutgers fans didn't offend C. Vivian Stringer. Otherwise Rutty might end up getting the Imus treatment. Is that Irony?

[citdog]

You really need to just stop posting. You're embarrassing yourself. That kind of statement is as ignorant as saying:
"All white people from the south are racists."


how about you puckering up and kissing my Rebel @ss?

[HIU 93]

If they did that to Navy, I wonder what they are going to chant when they play Norfolk State this weekend?

Whatever they chant, I hope the Spartans can at least make them a little nervous.

[Ivytalk]

But a large portion of Rutgers fans are basically a bunch of bandwagon types. Many of them never even attended a game before the Louisville game last season. They don't understand college football and its traditions. The Rutgers fanbase is quickly becoming like the Philadelphia Eagles fanbase of college football.


That's a total non sequitur. Philadelphia Eagles fans, while accustomed to losing, are hardly "bandwagon types." To the contrary, they've been dedicated for generations and turn out in droves in the worst years. The Eagles fans may be a surly bunch, but they know their football.

[foghorn]

Well, what do you expect from Rutgers? I've long said it's a terrible school...

... that's why something like 76% of its HS seniors leave the state for college.. who wants to go there? (also not much choice)

There was an op-ed. in the Lafayette paper about this topic this week... general lack of classlessness amongst the young people who don't have a concept about anything..

A kid just randomly used the f-word to describe a Harry Potter movie... honestly... does that need to be said to a news reporter about a kids' movie? Also students were rambling off f-words in front of kids and families before the football game... I don't get it..

Maybe 'The Sopranos' is a true and 'normal' depiction of family life in NJ, while every other family is 'dysfunctional'. Isn't Rutgers Tony's Alma Mater? xeyebrowx

[citdog]

Maybe 'The Sopranos' is a true and 'normal' depiction of family life in NJ, while every other family is 'dysfunctional'. Isn't Rutgers Tony's Alma Mater? xeyebrowx


a cesspool of filth and boorish behavior. a State of poltroons!

[Go...gate]

a cesspool of filth and boorish behavior. a State of poltroons!

OK, I give. What the Hell is a poltroon?

[Franks Tanks]

OK, I give. What the Hell is a poltroon?

Poltroon noun. People Citdog is jealous of because they are cooler and better looking. Not to mention richer and smarter xlolx

[Seahawks Fan]

There was an op-ed. in the Lafayette paper about this topic this week... general lack of classlessness amongst the young people who don't have a concept about anything.


No one here can figure out what the boys from Lafayette are saying. Sounds like they're singing the praises of the Red Team. Can someone explain.

[bkrownd]

Going way back in the day when Rutgers and Princeton played for the "Championship of NJ" every year, the Rutgers fans have had issues. The 6-6 tie between RU and PU in 1974, for example, was caused by a group of drunken RU fans who ran onto the field and tore down the goalposts in Palmer Stadium while Princeton drove for a tying touchdown. PU could not kick the PAT because there were no goalposts and had to go for two points. The attempt failed. A second melee followed the game.

That's the kind of wild story that makes college sports great. :D xthumbsupx (The missing goal posts, not the melee)

[Appaholic]

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/1189484859197200.xml&coll=1

The above article is about as big a disgrace as I can imagine. I would hope that any school that had this happen would take steps to prevent such a thing re-occuring. Wonder what would happen at your school if this had happened?

Fans in New Jersey being rude and over the top? SHOCKER! What do you expect? You have to give them wide berth......they may be making asses out of themselves, but they still have to live in New Jersey....xlolx

[Marcus Garvey]

Fans in New Jersey being rude and over the top? SHOCKER! What do you expect? You have to give them wide berth......they may be making asses out of themselves, but they still have to live in New Jersey....xlolx

Don't forget: All toll bridges and tunnels are free entering New Jersey. You only pay to escape!

[BlueHen86]

Don't forget: All toll bridges and tunnels are free entering New Jersey. You only pay to escape!
That is true! And thanks to beach tags; they even make you pay if you try and swim for it.

[citdog]

OK, I give. What the Hell is a poltroon?

a person of no account, a craven classless coward

[CollegeSportsInfo]

I sports, little is off-limits these days. This is usually the time when we bring up the great fans of Philadelphia who booed and through snowballs at Santa Claus, as well as the Michael Irvin incident.

[Marcus Garvey]

I sports, little is off-limits these days. This is usually the time when we bring up the great fans of Philadelphia who booed and through snowballs at Santa Claus, as well as the Michael Irvin incident.

I understand the ire with regards to Santa Clause.... But I don't understand why so many people get torqued out over the Michael Irvin...
It was MICHAEL IRVIN! The douchiest scum-bag ever to wear Cowgirls uniform. Had it been Aikman or Emmet Smith, the crowd never would have responded that way.

If it happens to T.O. in Philly, not only will they cheer, but I'm sure folk songs will be written about the event! xthumbsupx

[BlueHen86]

I sports, little is off-limits these days. This is usually the time when we bring up the great fans of Philadelphia who booed and through snowballs at Santa Claus, as well as the Michael Irvin incident.

Only if you are intellectually lazy. Other cities have had sports related riots, Philly never has, but all people want to remember is that Philly fans booed Santa Clause over 20 years ago. I guess booing Santa is worse than rioting.

[BlueHen86]

I understand the ire with regards to Santa Clause.... But I don't understand why so many people get torqued out over the Michael Irvin...
It was MICHAEL IRVIN! The douchiest scum-bag ever to wear Cowgirls uniform. Had it been Aikman or Emmet Smith, the crowd never would have responded that way.

If it happens to T.O. in Philly, not only will they cheer, but I'm sure folk songs will be written about the event! xthumbsupxJust this past weekend New York Jets fans cheered an injury - to their own Quarterback.xnodx

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Only if you are intellectually lazy. Other cities have had sports related riots, Philly never has, but all people want to remember is that Philly fans booed Santa Clause over 20 years ago. I guess booing Santa is worse than rioting.

Don't fan riots usually take place after actually winning something? xeyebrowx :p

[BlueHen86]

Don't fan riots usually take place after actually winning something? xeyebrowx :p
Vancouver rioted when they lost the Stanley Cup in 1994. Philly has lost alot,xbawlingx and never rioted.xnodx

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Vancouver rioted when they lost the Stanley Cup in 1994. Philly has lost alot,xbawlingx and never rioted.xnodx

Crazy Canadians! :p

Philly fans may not have rioted upon losing, but Mitch Williams may have something to say about how gracefully they take defeat. ;)

[GannonFan]

Crazy Canadians! :p

Philly fans may not have rioted upon losing, but Mitch Williams may have something to say about how gracefully they take defeat. ;)

Heck, Mitch is a steady analyst now in Philly doing stuff on both WIP as well as Comcast Sports. Some people have even opined that he has the stuff to be the manager for the Phils. I'd say all in all Philly fans have taken defeat pretty gracefully if you're going to use Mitch Williams as the example. For comparison, Bill Buckner had to move his entire family out of the New England area because of the abuse being hurled at his children - and it's not like he lost the lead in that game like Schiraldi and Stanley did (and I always think Stanley's wild pitch should've been a passed ball on Gedman). Maybe Philly fans aren't so bad after all.

Oh, and fwiw, they booed that Santa because it was a last-minute, pathetic looking Santa costume that they paraded out there, and Michael Irvin spent his entire career ripping Eagles fans the the city, it's not like he was a saint or something. Plus, he's fine, he recovered just nicely.

[BlueHen86]

Heck, Mitch is a steady analyst now in Philly doing stuff on both WIP as well as Comcast Sports. Some people have even opined that he has the stuff to be the manager for the Phils. I'd say all in all Philly fans have taken defeat pretty gracefully if you're going to use Mitch Williams as the example. For comparison, Bill Buckner had to move his entire family out of the New England area because of the abuse being hurled at his children - and it's not like he lost the lead in that game like Schiraldi and Stanley did (and I always think Stanley's wild pitch should've been a passed ball on Gedman). Maybe Philly fans aren't so bad after all.

Oh, and fwiw, they booed that Santa because it was a last-minute, pathetic looking Santa costume that they paraded out there, and Michael Irvin spent his entire career ripping Eagles fans the the city, it's not like he was a saint or something. Plus, he's fine, he recovered just nicely.
Great post.xthumbsupx

By the way, Santa was drunk.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Heck, Mitch is a steady analyst now in Philly doing stuff on both WIP as well as Comcast Sports. Some people have even opined that he has the stuff to be the manager for the Phils. I'd say all in all Philly fans have taken defeat pretty gracefully if you're going to use Mitch Williams as the example. For comparison, Bill Buckner had to move his entire family out of the New England area because of the abuse being hurled at his children - and it's not like he lost the lead in that game like Schiraldi and Stanley did (and I always think Stanley's wild pitch should've been a passed ball on Gedman). Maybe Philly fans aren't so bad after all.

Oh, and fwiw, they booed that Santa because it was a last-minute, pathetic looking Santa costume that they paraded out there, and Michael Irvin spent his entire career ripping Eagles fans the the city, it's not like he was a saint or something. Plus, he's fine, he recovered just nicely.

Come on. GF. If Mitch Williams was ever a manager for the Phillies, there would still be a strong contingent that booed him regularly and unmercifully. If you don't believe that you are being a homer fan of Philly fans. He also had threats made on his life for a period after the '93 series. Mitch Williams is to Philadelphia as Bill Buckner is to Boston. Both are long hated scapegoats in the two respective cities.

[BlueHen86]

Come on. GF. If Mitch Williams was ever a manager for the Phillies, there would still be a strong contingent that booed him regularly and unmercifully. If you don't believe that you are being a homer fan of Philly fans. He also had threats made on his life for a period after the '93 series. Mitch Williams is to Philadelphia as Bill Buckner is to Boston. Both are long hated scapegoats in the two respective cities.
I'm with GF here. Mitch is not a scapegoat. I listen to WIP all the time and the callers love him. Even the ones who give him a hard time about Joe Carter like him. I think people realize that Mitch gave 100%; but there was nothing left in the tank. We're also smart enough to realize that the Phils wouldn't have made the series without Williams.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

I'm with GF here. Mitch is not a scapegoat. I listen to WIP all the time and the callers love him. Even the ones who give him a hard time about Joe Carter like him. I think people realize that Mitch gave 100%; but there was nothing left in the tank. We're also smart enough to realize that the Phils wouldn't have made the series without Williams.

Well, I have been gone from the area for a while, and maybe time heals all wounds, but there was little love directed toward MW in the fall of '93 and for a long while after that. He WAS seen as a scapegoat by many.

BTW, I'm actually glad the guy had a chance to come back to the city and win some of the fans over. I always felt bad for the guy for the exact reasons you mentioned above.

[citdog]

I'm with GF here. Mitch is not a scapegoat. I listen to WIP all the time and the callers love him. Even the ones who give him a hard time about Joe Carter like him. I think people realize that Mitch gave 100%; but there was nothing left in the tank. We're also smart enough to realize that the Phils wouldn't have made the series without Williams.

or without the wild card bs round of the playoffs. how many games back of the Braves did the Phils finish THAT year?

[GannonFan]

Come on. GF. If Mitch Williams was ever a manager for the Phillies, there would still be a strong contingent that booed him regularly and unmercifully. If you don't believe that you are being a homer fan of Philly fans. He also had threats made on his life for a period after the '93 series. Mitch Williams is to Philadelphia as Bill Buckner is to Boston. Both are long hated scapegoats in the two respective cities.


I'm with GF here. Mitch is not a scapegoat. I listen to WIP all the time and the callers love him. Even the ones who give him a hard time about Joe Carter like him. I think people realize that Mitch gave 100%; but there was nothing left in the tank. We're also smart enough to realize that the Phils wouldn't have made the series without Williams.

Here, here! Since you're down in Florida you're obviously missing the fact that Mitch is a staple now on WIP and the Morning Show loves the guy. Williams and Kruk also started a restaurant together at Citizen's Bank and the guy's a celebrity. Saying he's anything close to Buckner is just crazy. Tell me the last time Buckner did postgame for the Red Sox.

Oh, and anyway, any real Phillies fan knows it wasn't Mitch who lost the World Series - that's the view that people outside of Philadelphia have - all real Philly fans know that it was Jim Fregosi's decision to pull Roger Mason (after pitching a perfect 7th) and put Larry Anderson in to pitch the 8th (where he struggled and turned the lineup over) that was the real reason that the Phils lost that Game 6 and the series (Schilling was going to start Game 7 so all we had to do was get there and we would've had a parade to end all parades). Mitch was just the victim of criminal use of the bullpen. xthumbsupx

[GannonFan]

or without the wild card bs round of the playoffs. how many games back of the Braves did the Phils finish THAT year?

So apparently baseball history is as poorly taught in South Carolina as US history is????? xlolx xlolx xlolx In 1993, there was no Wild Card - that didn't happen until 1995. In 1993, the Phillies won the Eastern Division, the Braves won the Western Division (you remember, when they were in the same division as the Giants, the Dodgers, the Padres, etc), and the Phils took the Braves out of the playoffs in the NLCS on the strength of Curt Schilling's arm and Lenny Dykstra's bat. But I'm sure the history books have been changed in the Palmetto State to show something different. :p :p :p

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Well, I have been gone from the area for a while, and maybe time heals all wounds, but there was little love directed toward MW in the fall of '93 and for a long while after that. He WAS seen as a scapegoat by many.

BTW, I'm actually glad the guy had a chance to come back to the city and win some of the fans over. I always felt bad for the guy for the exact reasons you mentioned above.


Here, here! Since you're down in Florida you're obviously missing the fact that Mitch is a staple now on WIP and the Morning Show loves the guy.

As admitted above.

FWIW, I think the majority of Philly fans are good fans (me included :) ). However, the "bad apples" are numerous enough and outlandish enough in their behavior that the bad rep Philly fans have is not totally without merit.

I have no doubt that the majority of sensible fans have now embraced Mitch Williams (and I'm glad to hear that), but i'm also sure there are plenty of crazy, ignorant a-holes out there that would still like to stone the poor guy.

[GannonFan]

As admitted above.

FWIW, I think the majority of Philly fans are good fans (me included :) ). However, the "bad apples" are numerous enough and outlandish enough in their behavior that the bad rep Philly fans have is not totally without merit.

I have no doubt that the majority of sensible fans have now embraced Mitch Williams (and I'm glad to hear that), but i'm also sure there are plenty of crazy, ignorant a-holes out there that would still like to stone the poor guy.


Truth be told, after only 1 post season appearance in the past 25 years for the Phillies, everyone's an Eagle fan since it's a football town now. Even the lunatics wouldn't care about Mitch now since people go to baseball games for the stadium (great stadium for fans, one of the best in baseball), not the game.

[Marcus Garvey]

I'm with GF here. Mitch is not a scapegoat. I listen to WIP all the time and the callers love him. Even the ones who give him a hard time about Joe Carter like him. I think people realize that Mitch gave 100%; but there was nothing left in the tank. We're also smart enough to realize that the Phils wouldn't have made the series without Williams.

You're 100% right that it's not Mitch Williams fault that that Joe Carter hit the home run. It was Jim Fregosi's!!!!

Mitch had no f--king business being in the game. He sucked the whole post-season, blowing 2 saves in the NLCS and he lost them that terrible 15-14 Game 4. He hadn't pitched well the entire post season. I recall seeing Tommy Greene in the bullpen during Game 6. Why wasn't he out there instead?
I've been plotting painful ways to end Jim Fregosi's existence since the night of Oct. 23, 1993!!!!!! xsmiley_wix

[citdog]

So apparently baseball history is as poorly taught in South Carolina as US history is????? xlolx xlolx xlolx In 1993, there was no Wild Card - that didn't happen until 1995. In 1993, the Phillies won the Eastern Division, the Braves won the Western Division (you remember, when they were in the same division as the Giants, the Dodgers, the Padres, etc), and the Phils took the Braves out of the playoffs in the NLCS on the strength of Curt Schilling's arm and Lenny Dykstra's bat. But I'm sure the history books have been changed in the Palmetto State to show something different. :p :p :p

i had quite forgottem about the NL West days. thanks for reminding me! i was a knob that year so from August-Dec, and Jan-May no tv so i missed the playoffs that year. in Baseball History 101 in SC the BRAVES had won 13 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIPS! revisionist enough for ya?xnodx

[mebisonII]

Pardon me for parsing things a bit, but I'm wondering something about everyone's anger here.

Are we mad because these kids dropped a bunch of f-bombs on the visiting team? If so, righteous though our anger may be, we've all got fans like that, and I dare say that some of us here are guilty of saying things at games that we are not proud of, nor would we say in most company.

Or...

Are we mad because this was directed at Navy in particular? If so, that seems rather misplaced, IMO. This wasn't a group of "blame America" or "hate the military" radicals, it was a bunch of drunk college kids screaming at the other team, which in this case happens to be "Navy" instead of "Syracuse" or "West Virginia". Navy isn't exempt from verbal attacks (in good taste of course) just because they're military. Those kids are made of tough stuff, and surely can handle some dumb comments from fans in the stands.

Just my xtwocentsx

I agree with this comment. Cheering at injuries is horrid, so I can understand anger at that, and I have been embarrassed by the crude cheers I've heard around me before, but I don't buy it that this is somehow worse just because the team on the receiving end was a military academy. If there were comments like "hope your submarines sink!" or "no wonder you're losing the war!", then I'd absolutely agree, but I haven't seen any indication of that.