After the Cowboy’s devastating loss in Arizona, fans look with hope towards this weekend’s game. Yet, amidst this hope, a proclamation has been made about how fans ought to present themselves at the games this season.
The Cowboy’s play Idaho this weekend at home in the War Memorial Stadium. Wyomingites have long held a reputation for college pride and an especially prevalent support for the football team that represents their state.
This past Tuesday, September 3rd, the University President’s Office released an announcement from President Seidel. While it began by sharing the excitement of fans and encouraged them to wear their brown and gold in enthusiastically cheering on the Cowboys, it then morphed into what can only be defined as a sort of lecture.
Fans were warned that they are ambassadors of the university. This address led with safety statements that were relatively noncontroversial: such as good sportsmanship in the effort to maintain friendliness in rivalries and not throwing things onto the field.
This then led into an attempt to restrict fans from crowding the field after a “big win.” The address noted that an eight minute timer will begin after every game which will restrict fans from entering the field until its conclusion.
While this is, in theory, a good intentioned idea, students are not fond of it. Across campus and social media, particularly YikYak, students are complaining and mocking this concept.
The address concludes the rules and regulations by adding that disorderly behavior and conduct will result in removal from the games.
The address, an administrative attempt at good intentioned rules for the football season, has caused relative unrest amidst most students that have been speaking about it on campus. While the concepts themselves are not controversial or even really rebelled against in theory, students do not appreciate the idea that they are essentially being chastised and lectured on how they ought to express their school pride.
The restrictions on when students are allowed to enter the field has already sparked conversation on intentionally breaking the rule as an attempt to show that students and fans ought not be dictated on their behavior and prideful expression.
This all being said, the intentions of President Seidel are clearly that of responsibility and good nature, and students will likely, on the whole, follow the guidelines set forth within his address.
