Can Fans Destroy a Program's Reputation?

Hello and welcome back to the Big Ten Blow-Up! Since we have been gone there have been a lot of interesting Big Ten Games to watch, one of the best being the upset over the Wolverines by the Nittany Lions in four overtimes.

One week before that there was a game that came very close to an upset, and that was the shootout in Chicago. The Ohio State Buckeyes traveled up North through Chicago to the small town of Evanston, IL, to face off with the Northwestern University Wildcats, and I had the opportunity to attend.

60 rows up from the 50 yard line and surrounded by Wildcat fans, I watched as the Wildcats spent the majority of the game in the lead, holding Ohio State's offense to field goals and marching right down the field to score themselves. This continued throughout the first half, and going into halftime the score was: Northwestern 20 - Ohio State 13.

In terms of discipline, both teams did very well in the first half, with zero penalties for zero yards for both teams. This kept fans around us very calm, other than when Northwestern was scoring.

When the second half began, though, something flipped. The first penalty happened when the Northwestern kicker kicked the ball out of bounds. This is not a penalty that can be argued very often. It is stated clearly in the rule book, and it is very easy for an official to see, so people don't often gripe.

The Northwestern fans, however, decided it was the refs fault for the penalty, and began to complain about the officiating of the game, but not for long. As the game continued, though, the griping became worse and worse.

By the start of the fourth quarter the score was 23-20 in favor of the Nittany Lions. As the game became closer and the atmosphere more intense, fans began to complain often, even blaming Ohio State coaches for the calls made by the officials.

By the end of the game, a couple of the fans directed their comments towards my friend Derrick and I, who had been quiet for the entire game. The sportsmanship of most of those around us began to drop drastically, and were immediately blaming the Buckeyes and their fans for the turning points of the game.

This got me thinking. Before the game had started I had the utmost respect for the Nittany Lions and their program. I had never thought anything bad about the program or the fans. By the end of the game I had very different feelings. I wanted nothing more than for the Buckeyes to put up 100 points on them and shut the fans up around us.

The actions of the fans around us made me resent Northwestern. I could have spent the rest of the season rooting them on, cheering for a match-up between the two teams in the Big Ten Championship. Now, however, I could care less if they win again or not.

The actions of just a few fans made me dislike the team on the field. Can you imagine what an entire fan base could do to an organization?

                                 Here is a look at where Derrick and I sat for the showdown.
                                                                 (Photo Colton Byers)