BYU fans mull revenge vs. SDSU

[SpanaBaller]

Hmmmm. The BYU-SDSU game just got more interesting!

http://universe.byu.edu/node/6282

Fans mull revenge vs. San Diego State
By Chase Cornett

If tonight’s game against San Diego State and its implications on the conference race aren’t enough to talk about, some BYU fans are looking to settle a personal matter with the Aztec student body when the two teams meet at the Marriott Center.

When the Cougars played at San Diego State in January, a large group of Aztec fans, according to some BYU students, crossed the line in heckling the team’s players and fans in attendance.

Along with dressing as Mormon missionaries, something San Diego State fans have done for years, other fans displayed anti-LDS signs and a greater majority started chanting “You’re still Mormon” in an effort to embarrass and discourage LDS fans and players as the game was drawing to a close.

The actions of the Aztec student section caught national attention, more so than in years past.

Sports Illustrated writer Seth Davis shared his opinions on the matter after the game and called what happened a “Totally classless move by several dozen San Diego State students who dressed up as Mormon missionaries to mock BYU when the Cougars came to town on Saturday night.”

In response, several BYU fans have created Facebook groups in an attempt to rally the Cougar faithful in response to what happened at San Diego State. These groups are calling fans to come out to the San Diego State game adorned in their own missionary attire. The creators of these groups, which have more than 300 followers each, believe this response would help prove to the Aztecs that students of BYU are proud of their faith and religion and are not ashamed to flaunt it.

One group’s description read, “I call all of you to action! On Feb 24, 2010, when San Diego St comes to town, wear your missionary clothes! Be not ashamed.”

BYU students and fans seem divided on whether or not dressing up 8,000 students as missionaries is an appropriate response.

“I can’t wait to throw on the old name tag,” said Taylor Oborn, a sophomore from Missoula, Mont. “I think it’s a fun way to show school spirit and to get back at those Aztec fans. It’s light-hearted fun.”

Other students believe it would be best not to respond and think that the joke would be lost on the San Diego State student body.

“It’s just a silly thing to do,” said Brandon Solomon, a junior studying sociology. “It’s not a great way to represent our religion and faith. The best way to ‘get back at them’ is to just beat them again on the basketball court.”

There will be plenty at stake in tonight’s game. San Diego State sits two games behind BYU and New Mexico in the conference rankings, and is on the fringe of earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament next month. The Aztecs also have one of the most athletic rosters in the conference.

“They are very talented and rebound the ball very well,” said BYU guard Tyler Haws. “They are incredibly aggressive in the paint and play hard. We are preparing hard for them.”

Beating the Cougars on the road would work wonders for San Diego State’s NCAA Tournament resume. A win for BYU would mean keeping pace with New Mexico, creating a winner-take-all game Saturday. The Lobos played Colorado State late Tuesday night.

The Cougars said they are excited to be playing back at home.

“We are looking forward to San Diego State right now and playing again in front of our home crowd,” Haws said. “Our fans really get behind us and motivate us. They are our sixth man out there.”

When asked about some BYU fans’ plans to dress up as missionaries in response to San Diego State, Haws just shrugged it off and said, “It’s all in good fun.”

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. at the Marriott Center.

[wallyhopp]

revenge? holding a grudge? acting on bad faith? what values do they speak to ?

[Mohawk Dude]

This is stupid. It's college basketball for christ sake. Quit taking offense for silly stuff. Honestly.
When are college student fans in the student sections going to get away with "college behavior"? Let college students be college students. This crap is a waste of energy. The students in any student section do anything to help their home team. Leave it that way. When you are at college student section this kind of behavior is socially acceptable, and it should stay that way because it makes games that much better.


LET COLLEGE STUDENTS DO WHAT COLLEGE STUDENTS DO BEST!!!!!!!

[sdsuphilip]

haha