Letter: USF graduate apologizes for behavior at game

Thursday, September 18, 2008

I am writing to you today to apologize for deplorable and disrespectful treatment that some of you received while visiting Raymond James Stadium to play the USF Bulls this past Friday.

I was a personal witness to this behavior by one of our so-called supporters and was disgusted and embarrassed for my Alma Mater. I immediately reminded this moron that USF does not treat visitors like this and apologized to the Jayhawks I was walking with, a gesture I believe that they appreciated. However, the impression had already been made, and that is regrettable.

Sometimes it is obvious that USF students are still learning how to be fans at a major college football game.

So if you experienced this treatment, all self-respecting USF fans and alumni apologize and ask that you not hold this behavior against USF.

It is but a few idiots who have given our school a bad name. The Bulls and Jayhawks played a great college football game, and I hope that this is your memory of your visit to Tampa.

—Dave Handler is a 1994 graduate from the University of South Florida.

Comments

Bailey (anonymous) says...

I would really like to know what disrespectful things this "moron" he speaks of said.
I too was at the game, and I was rooting for USF as I went there and many of my friends still attend. If anyone needs to apologize for their behavior, it is KU fans to USF students. Upon hearing that I am a KU student but was rooting for the Bulls, one KU student said to me, "You are the devil, I hope you die, I hope you "F-ing" die" without a hint of a smile - he was completely serious. Another KU fan said to my friend (A USF student whose birthday happened to be the same day as the game), "Happy birthday bitch, too bad your birthday present will be that you are going to loose." (The same KU fan later tried untying her dress while standing behind her in the stadium). Yet another KU fan yelled at me, telling me to "SIT DOWN RIGHT NOW" because I was apparently blocking his view and he didn't feel he should stand up to look over me.
I am not naive and I certainly understand that smack talk happens at games, of course I wore green and said 'Go Bulls', and of course KU fans wore red and blue and cheered for their team as well. Of course everyone said the opposing team sucked, that is a natural part of the game and a part of being a fan), but I do not think a single Bulls fan told a Jayhawk to die. I think KU fans were over the top (there is a huge difference between being a fan, and just being an ignorant jerk), and frankly I would not allow them back to the USF stadium if I had any say in the matter after seeing how poorly nearly all of them displayed themselves.
If this gentleman was kind enough to apologize for the poor behavior of one person, KU needs to send USF an apology on behalf of almost every KU fan that was at the game.

September 18, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dhandler (anonymous) says...

Bailey,
What you described above is equally as deplorable and regrettable as the incident in which I witnessed myself. I am sure that any true KU fan would distance him/her self from some "idiot" who wished death or harm on a USF fan. Passion for your team and trash talk are indeed part of the game and I am guilty myself but always stop short of becoming jerk about it.
By the way, it was more then one person at RJS, it was bad enough for the local media to cite this as an affront agaisnt all USF fans which I am one.
If you experienced the treatment that you did last friday which I dont doubt, then that "idiot KU fan" owes you an apology as well

September 19, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kfusf (anonymous) says...

I'd like to second Mr. Handler's remarks. While I did not personally witness the regrettable behavior of many of the USF "fans" at the tailgate parties or in the stadium, reading the many comments of these occurances on our local paper's website tells me that many others did. It deeply saddens me. As a proud USF alum ('01, '07, '11?), I have been attending USF Football games since our program's inception. I have enjoyed our games in a mostly empty stadium in the early days, a half-empty stadium in the growing years, and now in the "band wagon jump" era after the sudden attention we received last year in our surprise (and short-lived) rise to number 2 in the polls. I fully admit our "fans" lack the understanding and tradition that other storied institutions share in their football programs. Like Mr. Handler, I too, hope that the Kansas fans, their players, coaches and community do not take this despicable behavior by the "immature" newbies as a mark of the true fans of the University of South Florida football program or of the University itself.

On a positive note, I had the great pleasure inviting three Kansas fans to join our tailgate party of approximately 65 members of the University's Faculty and Staff club for good food, spirits, and conversation. We enjoyed their company immensely and they appeared to enjoy ours as they stayed for most of the three hour gathering.

If your team comes to RJS again, I hope your fans will stop by our tailgate party. We're in Lot 5. We'd love to visit with you.

Respectfully,
A True USF Fan

September 19, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Advertisement