Sweet Mother of God, do we owe these people money? I've been to big games. I've butted heads with Wolverine fans, Trojan fans, even the energetic yet midly obnoxious fans of LSU, Oklahoma and Florida State. Never ever have I seen so much down right pent up RAGE as I did Saturday night. Seriously, what the hell is up? Did I miss a chapter in ND football history?? Was it really Knute Rockne who burned his way to the sea? For a school with a pretty campus, and a football program with a rich, deep tradition; I was sorely let down by the quality of fans on the Georgia Tech campus. First of all, Tailback write this down, I am sorry for ever doubting you about these people. You were right. Let me start off by saying that the vast majority of comments were of the harmless variety. Innocent enough stuff that you get most anywhere you're visiting another team's campus (esp in the South), but even then, there was a little twinge of nasty to what they were saying. But it got worse as the day went on, much worse. The day started off with an early stop by the campus (which has terrible parking as does most downtown campuses), as we exit the car I was passed by a pleasant elderly Irish fan who quickly gave me the wink/nod and "Go Irish." I returned the favor. Just then a guy in his late 60s or so comes wheeling around the corner to frat row in his massive GTech RV. He pulls up along side us, opens his window and shouts 'You tell Ruuuudy it was just a mooooovie' and then mixed in some other mildly profane suggestions as to where the GTech football squad was going to place some of the game day equipment later on that evening. The Irish fan asked me 'what's THAT GUY's problem?' I didn't really know but did offer the quip that 'since the guy is a GIT engineer most likely he was able to design the bus, and even draw the map to the campus, but he couldn't read the damn thing since they can't tell left from right.' My green clad pal thought that was funny. I did too and we parted ways. Most all of the game day tailgate crowd was pleasant. Irish fans drinking and singing their battle cries, GTech fans waving not so original signs referencing their "Johnson" and the variety of uses/awards they have for it/him. There was some, but not a lot, of co-mingling between the crowds. I thought this was rather odd. Even in the most hostile of southern football brothels, fans of the host school are usually quite cordial in asking you if you are enjoying your stay. I saw nary a hint of real southern hospitality there. These folks seemed bothered that we were there. Lots of anti-Rudy stuff. (I guess those people really hate that movie) These folks seemed to have some sort of score to settle. Just angry. That's the only way I can put it. Angry. The game drew near, as we entered the first red flag went up. At least dozens of Irish fans by my count, just at my gate, were being turned away because they were sold counterfeit tickets to the game. Worse yet, Tech security was seizing the tickets and NOT calling the police. Only one kid who attempted to enter beside me was smart enough to demand that Tech security call the police, even if it was on him. He had purchased them on Ebay and would need them to report the crime. (smart kid) others just walked away disgusted. The stadium was loud, but probably not as loud as you'd think it was. Its nowhere NEAR FSU, Alabama, Auburn or even South Bend. Its concentrated, but most of the noise came from their God aweful sound system. It was more like a car show then a football game at times. When GTech scored to go ahead, most of the Tech fans turned around to trash talk us (our section was at least 75% Irish). Again, what the hell? You just scored. You're winning. Cheer your team!! What the hell did we do besides show up? When Tech went up 10, the trash talking was getting bad. We're not talking 'subway' fans or some local homies who wandered in. Oh no, at least those guys would be funny. This was geek talk. It was like watching people trash talk at a Yu Gi Oh, or Pokeman card trading tournament. But anyway.. ND came back, you saw the game. More fan idiocy came when some ND kids were holding a guy up doing the post score push ups, and a Tech fan came down 5 rows to try to shove the kid to the ground while he was being held aloft. Needless to say, that kid was going to get his ass kicked, but cooler heads prevailed (yes JOCO, I was talking the guy's down and simply advised them to stomp their Greek asses AFTER the game. Why miss the fun?) The nerds taunted the fans to fight them. Cooler heads prevailed. So the nerds went to the Police and turned in the ND fans who threatened to kick their butts. I still can't figure this out. Worse yet, the Tech fans in the skybox (who did see what happened) were lying and trying to get the cops to arrest the ND fans in their section. I'm sorry, but fun is fun. However, a clear intent to injure someone just isn't funny especially when that person is defenseless. I can write off a jerk or two (or even three) but to literally have hundreds of people do that just gave me the justification to use the broad brush strokes for Tech fans. They are a bullsh*t, bush league operation that isn't befitting of Conference USA teams. Jesus, the WAC has more class. Just to sum, some bullet points: -More Tech class: They chanted "Rudy swallows" thru the national anthem. Enough said about that. -After the game, Tech fans kept yelling HARSH profane insults at the female Irish fans, and even the kids. Oddly enough, not one of them said a damn thing to me or the other men standing right beside them. Stay Classy Atlanta. -The fly over was fantastic. That fighter plane was LITERALLY on top of the stadium. Lower than anything I'd ever seen before and he hit the afterburners right as he crossed the stadium. He then turned on a dime and cranked it out of town. Perhaps the most impressive Tech showing of the night. -Quinn was aweful, numbers be damned. He missed some WRs who were wide open. He made their young corners look better than they were. These nights happen and the lads still walked out with a win. However, as one who was there, let me say that Quinn had a bad, bad night. -Those freshman are really something. -How are engineers so bad at math? How does one get cheated by the refs when the flag count clearly favors your team? -The campus is pretty. I'd been there a few times before but this was the most time I had been able to walk around campus. -Tech's women may be the worst in the South. Sort of like Vanderbilt, with cankles.
Oh some final parting shots <t>I dont know what happens when they play All Cup Cake teams at home, but for ND fans, this isn't a family environment. Keep in mind, this is ME talking about the profantity being too much. Grown men making 6 figures and wearing $500 shoes to a football game should know that it isn't proper to drop repeated F bombs around little kids, let alone the women.<br/> <br/> On that note, one poor guy staying at our hotel was stuck with us waiting for the shuttle that never came. We wound up taking a cab back because the "Jocks and Jills" shuttle dropped us off at the wrong place, and then told us to wait there for them after the game. We didn't get picked up by a cab till nearly 1:30am. But back to the guy.. he spent over $900 on tickets for this game. He had tickets for himself, his wife and their 3 children. All 5 tickets he bought outside the stadium were counterfeit. He had to run across the street to a bank, take out the max cash that both he and his wife could get on their cards, then come back and risk another scalper purchase. That poor guy. Like I said, not family friendly.<br/> <br/> There was one ND fan wearing a shirt at the game (and only one I saw) that read "Atlanta thought Sherman was bad" on the front, while the back said "Here come the IRISH."<br/> <br/> At the start of the game, I thought he was an assh#le for wearing it there. By the 2nd quarter, I wanted one.</t>
8) I want one too now. This is what happens when you give slide rules to hillbillies... ..............JO'Co :twisted:
On the stadium noise, I have read that there are several southern stadiums that fabricate crowd noise or intensify crowd noise by artifical means like you mention. Most common way is to put mics in the student section then rebroadcast it through out the stadium over the speakers to make it seem louder. Supposedly at our last visit to Ga.Tech when Joe Montana was QB, they were Miami like rude to our team and fans as well. So apparently nothing has changed. Terry
Thanks Corey.... <t>For the report. I've seen the same typ idiosy in Austin and A&M.<br/> <br/> I'll take the win and run. <br/> <br/> GO IRISH !!</t>
I have to admit that I am a bit surprised the the GT fans are that bad. But hey, you won and that's the great news of the day!
I'd have to disagree with Larry, I've been to Texas and Texas A&M and have not seen any boorish fan behavior. In fact over on InsideTexas all the talk is how they will show Ohio State fans how to treat out of towners well, as there were many complaints from Texas fans about their treatment in Columbus (not me of course). And to me the Aggies are about as friendly a group of fans as you can get, I've always been treated well there wheter I had on Texas gear or Notre Dame gear. I'm sure that not 100% of Texas or A&M fans are angels, but to me both groups are far from being boorish, combative, insulting, etc. Terry
I agree with Terry. I had a very positive experience with the A&M fans when they came to ND several years ago. In fact, I consider them and the Nebraska fans the classiest visiting fans I've ever experienced. I think JO'Co's depiction of the Ga Tech fans as hillbillies with slide rules about sums it up.
GT fans <t>My one experience with Texas fans was when the prodigy crew hit the ND/TEX game of '96 in Austin. Anyway, we were right smack in the middle of a sea of UT fans and were treated real well as I remember. The Irish ended up winning the game on a Jim Sanson FG and as time ran out the Tex fan next to me got up and shook my hand and remarked "good game" as he was leaving. That game has always left a good memory of Texas fans in my mind.</t>
I've always had very positive experiences with the fans of all schools, with one...big...exception: UCLA. I've been hassled at the Rose Bowl for wearing my Notre Dame gear, even though I was rooting for the Bruins! They were also rude and crude to visitors of Tennessee and Texas in other games that I attended. They just don't know how to win or lose with grace, but they weren't as bad as what Corey described to me over the phone involving Georgia Tech... .............JO'Co
They are all choir boys next to the Philadelphia Eagles fans. Without question the meanest, nastiest, most vile, profane and violent fans in any sport.
If we're going to venture outside the realm of college football, particularly into "any sport", then I'll take English national team hooligans over Iggles "fans".
Perhaps, BDR. But can you top a stadium with a built in jail and a municipal judge on duty at all games? :lol: I mean, think about. You go to the game. You tailgate. You get drunk. You go in. You get in a fight. You spend the balance of the game in a stadium jail. You are arraigned immediately after the game. Now that's service!
It was a big weekend for the Nerds. Their season opener happened to coincide with DragonCon. I can only imagine what you must've experienced. :lol:
Were we talking about fans? I had read about the stadium jail and judge at the Vet, but it was demolished a few years ago. Dunno if they're doing the same thing at Lincoln Financial Field. In any event, during the 2002 World Cup Japan's Justice Ministry outfitted a special ferry with armed guards, immigration officials and a Coast Guard escort for the processing of soccer hooligans en route to deportation. The ferry's capacity was in excess of 600 people. Service, but on a larger, not to mention international, scale.
I gotta go with Rick on the English hooligans. They instigated a fight after Germany beat Argentina. http://www.nowpublic.com/english_and_german_soccer_hooligans_on_the_rampage
Terry... Terry.. <t>You will have to trust me on this when the police are called to remove several Texas loudmouths from yelling every four letter word in the book at women and kids even you would have been embarrassed. I was there and it was ugly.<br/> <br/> Idiots are everywhere even at Texas.</t>
Philly fans have more lowlights than we can mention here but among them include: Booing Santa Claus at a Christmas Eagles game Booing Michael Irvin as he was loaded on to a stretcher with his body totally immobilized by EMTs Booing an Old Timers Phillies baseball game Booing a Fathers-Sons Phillies baseball game The motto of the official eagles Fan Club is "Where the fans are tougher than the players". Enough said. Don't even get me started on what goes on at the Jets home games.