By Tom Stosberg
Vicinity calls do not count in Fandom.
First, do you know what a” vicinity” call is? It’s a baseball term. When a second baseman or shortstop doesn’t quite get his foot on second base when executing a double play, the umpire will sometimes ignore it because the fielder’s foot was “in the vicinity” of the bag. The ump considers close acceptable and lets the double play stand.
[quote]Get the picture, Louisville fans? You have to be inside the stadium paying attention to the game.[/quote]
Well, when it comes to attending at a football game, there are no “vicinity calls.” Fans have to in fact be in their seats. That’s how it works in big time college football.
No, one can’t be in the “vicinity” like the parking lot, or a stadium lounge area, or inside a swanky suite…they must be in their seats. Or standing in front of their seats, preferably screaming their tonsils out.
Got the picture, Louisville fans? You have to be inside the stadium paying attention to the game. Actually encouraging the home team by making some kind of racket. If not, you don’t get any credit from me.
Nor for that matter, from the head football coach, from the team or your fellow fans.
You’ll have about 164 hours left in the week after the game is over, to socialize and make small talk. Got it?
Teaching our kids- for all the fans who were not in their seat- I hope they aren’t displaying this action to their kids (future fans) I picked my daughter up from school in Richmond Ky- drove up-as you know lots of traffic that started on 64 -we parked at 6pm- walked over-watched a little of the warm ups-then walked around the stadium some showed her the new sections of the stadium and were in our seats 20 min before kickoff-stayed the entire game cheered and had a blast!
Well done, Bruce. How about that traffic yesterday?
They’re like Dodger fans leaving in the seventh inning of a potential no-hitter.
As a former member of the U of L marching band, I can tell you it’s a big plus to have people in the seats while performing the pregame show. Just sayin’.
These are the same people who leave close basketball games at the under four minute timeout (and sometimes before then). I have several times looked at them filing out and yelled “If you aren’t staying give up your tickets.”
I suspect the looks I have gotten were worse than they would have given a UK fan.
I am a longtime Louisville fan.
I miss a lot of kickoffs but I see the end of every game.
One of the reasoms is the horrible way Papa Johns handles getting fans into the stadium. I can see the gate from my tailgate spot and I’m not going to stand in line for 30 minutes. I will wait for the crowd to get in.
Bobby, thanks for the comment. Most fans fail to realize there are two other gates to left end and right end of the stadium that make it much, much easier to get in than the main entrance. As for my crowd, we’re in there an hour in advance as Schnellenberger suggested, so lines are never a problem for us.
I’m not sure if there really is a good answer to why fans can’t get in their seats before kickoff. I don’t have a great understanding of the intricacies of football strategy but I still love watching the game. Plus the fact that I don’t quite get the small details is what makes me even more interested to watch and learn why coaches and players make the decisions they do on the field.
Even when we have games like Memphis, where the contest is over by half time there is still fun to be had. My favorite part of that game was getting to see the young guys get some PT. Wright got some good carries that will surely help him today.
I won’t judge fans that leave early because as long as they are buying the ticket they have the final say on how they use it. It would be nice though if they would show the coaches and players some respect by staying for the entire game, win or lose.
For the fans that leave early I would like to ask this question:
When going to the movies do you get there 15 mintues late and leave 15 minutes early?
For most of the non-sitting and arrive-late and leave-early fans, I have this image of a ditsy blonde who never paid for her tickets, doesn’t understand the game, talks about everything but the game, and just enjoys making a scene by arriving late and leaving early. That’s the only attraction for many of them.
I think the criticism applies to people who just don’t care and it probably won’t accomplish much but it’s good to be able to get it off one’s chest.
What’s up with all the Fan bashing lately? IF you show up late you’re not a fan if you leave early you’re not a fan. I mean come on, stop bashing other people and worry about yourselves. Just incase it matters I show up about 30 mins before kick off and leave when the game is over but I don’t care what other people are doing because I’m enjoying the game.
Part of the challenge may be the large number of football-challenged people in our fan base. As others have pointed out in their comments, football is a sophisticated game. It is tough for some to understand the complexities of the game when compared to basketball, for example.
agreed. If you are going to watch the game, cheer on your team, stay in your seat and only get up 1-3 times for the restroom or to the concessions that’s okay YOU ARE A TRUE LOUISVILLE FAN. If you have a ticket and go to the game to Stand in the concourse or on the terrace and watch about 15 minutes of the game and not once sit down: GIVE YOUR TICKET TO SOMEONE WHO WILL ACTUALLY WATCH THE GAME, CHEER ON THEIR TEAM AND SIT IN THEIR SEAT. If you want to socialize, eat and drink sit in your living room and watch the game online, TV or listen to 840 WHAS invite your friends over. I SIT IN MY SEAT AND CHEER ON THE CARDS LIKE A TRUE FAN, LIKE A REAL FAN THAT SUPPORTS HIS TEAM NO MATTER WHAT.
STAND STRONG. SIT IN YOUR SEAT AND GO CARDS!!!