Article Re: SFA Fan Treatment to Opposing Fans

[TexasTerror]

From the Houstonian, the SHSU student newspaper...

Sam Houston State University students who attended the basketball game at Stephen F. Austin last week have reported incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct from SFA fans upon arrival.

According to student reports, the Lumberjack fans spent much of Thursday's game throwing plastic bottles at SHSU fans, showering them with offensive comments and stealing spirit wigs from the Kat Krazies.

"We got bombarded with a ton of language," SHSU student Eric Vento said. "As soon as the second half started, we started getting soda cans and candy and food thrown at us. Some of the girls who were with us kept getting cat calls from a few of their fans. It was just really degrading."

As the Kat Krazies made their way to their seats, the opposing fans grabbed the wigs off their heads and began passing them around the stadium. At one point, an SFA student allegedly took out a lighter and

attempted to light a Sam Houston spirit flag on fire.

"When I found out about it, I lost my temper to put it bluntly," SHSU Student Government Association President Christopher Whitaker said.

"Ever since the fight at the football game two years ago, we've tried to make it a more civil rivalry. To hear reports like I heard last Thursday, it's just completely unacceptable."

In an attempt to place the rivalry in a positive light, the SGA worked in conjunction with the student government at SFA to reincarnate the Battle of the Piney Woods. The tradition died down years ago but was brought back to life as a way to recognize the rivalry between the two schools.

Despite the actions taken by student governments, the rivalry has only become more heated as the two basketball teams remain first and second in the Division 1 Southland Conference.

"I had money thrown at me but I was like 'I don't care. I just made 30 cents off the Lumberjacks,'" Kat Krazies President Ryan Bridges said. "There were some [sFA] people that were restrained by cops in front of me because they started throwing punches at a guy. I didn't see the guy actually hit him, but I know there was a lot of shoving and pushing around."

As the Lumberjacks pulled ahead of the Bearkats, SFA fans began a string of chants which included vulgarity and obscenities, according to SHSU students.

"I was surprised they were saying that because the game was on TV and I'm sure people could make out what they were saying," Vento said. "I'm not going to lie, some of our guys started saying things back at them after a while but we never physically did anything to them. It was mostly their comments and them throwing stuff at us."

Though many students have reported abuse at the game, SFA police officials say the game was completely under control.

"I wouldn't say it was out of hand," SFA Police Chief Marc Cossich said. "There was some heated discussions between Sam and our people here but that's about it."

Cossich did not comment on how many officers he had placed at the game but says he added a couple more than usual to control the estimated 7,000 fans who attended.

"We haven't really had any fights break out or any major problems with the fans except for that one football game a couple years ago, but other than that, it's mostly just verbal," Cossich said. "I put officers at the events to make sure that things stay verbal."

"If any student, faculty or staff has a problem when they attend our events the can come by and talk to me about it," Cossich added.

Sam Houston officials were not available yesterday to comment on the situation.

[lu cards]

when i was in college anything that had to do with sfa ended up in a fight.my fraternity actually had a brawl with the same fraternity at sfa.those guys were the biggest bunch of a-holes if ever met.

[Ruckdad]

The only place where I have ever felt physically unsafe at a away game was at USL (now U La La) as we were sitting in the student section behind LU's bench and had several threats and vulgarities thrown down at us.

[smith]

USL was the only place we were instructed to wear our helmets while on the sideline in order to keep from getting hit in the head with ice (or anything else).

Also, in '88 we lost at SHSU by 2 points and got in a big fight after the game when a SHSU fan handed Coach Alborn a black rose. (I was at around the 50 talking to SHSU Coach Moot).  That lead to one of only two promotional items I remember from '88 '89 when the '89 game vs SHSU was deemed "Rose Bowl II" and black shirts were made up.  Of course none of this was a fan on fan violence thing and schools and police need to jump on that when it occurs.  There's a line that shouldn't be crossed.  People are taking their families to these games.

[Guest abovetherim]

I never made the trip to USL (now ULL) but I've heard stories. I have been to SFA and I believe everything written. If my wife and kids weren't with me, I could have very easily made a fool of myself. I'm forty-one and three years ago at SFA is the first time I ever was cussed out by a student of the opposing team.

Great story smith, looks like the rivalry with SHSU goes back a ways.