Here, my friend Jay Artis is seen wearing the dreaded black and gold of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Story Created:
Sep 23, 2008 at 12:08 AM CST
Story Updated:
Oct 4, 2008 at 3:23 AM CST
((Brian's Note: Jay Artis is one of my oldest friends. He and I went through junior high and high school together and laughed all the way. Jay is currently the Vice-President of his family's furniture company, Artis Furniture. He is also (unfortunately) an Iowa Hawkeye fan.))
When it boils right down to it, its just a football game.
As you know I am a die-hard Hawkeye fan. A week ago my Hawkeyes de-feated the Iowa State Cyclones which I am thrilled they did. The jabs, smack talk, comments and pictures back and forth, back and forth on MySpace and Facebook. It's just a football game.
The real reason I am writing this is for the Hawkeye fans and the Cyclone fans. At least on my end, I have made jokes and had my fair share of smack talk and jabs towards my friends that are Cyclone supporters. Its all out of good clean fun between friends and should not be taken seriously. That being said, on both sides of the coin, us Hawk fans have our fair share of mean fans that no matter what, if the Hawks win, or the Cyclones win, the Cyclones still suck, (as they would say). The same rings true on the Cyclone side. Is that what it has come down to? A bunch of us drove to Iowa City to tailgate in the rain and be part of one of the biggest rivarly games for our teams. We had a Cyclone fan among us and I couldnt believe the way she was treated a couple of times by some Hawk fans. These people didn't even know her and they were treating her poorly.
At one point, I was going to get involved and said " guys and gals, we won. Ok? Leave it alone. It's just a football game". Knock off the comments and the name calling. Grow up. I could go on and on. As people were walking to the game, the heckling kept going on and on. High fives to the Hawks and screaming boos to the Cyclones. I suppose it would be ok if they added, "Hey the best team will win. Good luck". After the game I saw some Cyclone fans picking and getting into fights with the Hawkeye fans. For fans, is this really necessary to do? I know and have heard plenty of stories and had it happen to me when we have been at Jack Trice. In 2005 when the Cyclones beat us 23-3, I was filling my car up with gas after the game, still decked out in my Hawkeye gear minding my own business and 4 Cyclone fans walked up to my car and tried to pick a fist fight with me. I mean really, you won. Good game. Here is another story, when Iowa State beat the Hawkeyes last year, my neighbor was throwing a Cyclone party at his house and wanted me to drop by. I did after the game to have a few beers and visit and talk about the game. I congratulated him and some of his guests wanted to start a fight with me. The reason? Because I was a Hawkeye fan!
What are we teaching our kids that are part of these football Saturdays? To be poor sports? Has college football gotten to the point to where the fans have to continue into overtime and take things off the field? Folks, the sun is coming up in the morning, life goes on, it's just a football game. As for Hakweye fans and Cyclone fans, whoever is on the losing team or winning team, can't people say "hey good game" or "better luck next year"? Or even maybe, just maybe, "your team was better than ours today and you deserve to win". It's a long shot but you never know. I know I have said it. You don't believe me? Just ask a few friends of mine who are Cyclones. It's about being good sports and enjoying a FOOTBALL GAME! I saw plenty of Hawkeye fans in Iowa City a week ago really going after some Cyclone fans. Pathetic! I guess these are just a few things that fans on both sides need to pander a bit. It means to me, that as adults, we have not done a very good job and have failed miserably at sportsmanship class. It's just a football game!
((Brian's Note: I would say I feel the same way as Jay, but much of the smack talk he received a couple of weeks ago was from me, so I will just sit here and be quiet and add "Way to go Jay!". Feel free to comment below or send an e-mail by clicking here.))
User Agreement