Football rivalries are ingrained into college life as deeply as the traditions of rolling Toomer's Corner in Auburn, cowbells clanking at Ole Miss and lighting the central tower on the University of Texas' campus.
In every game played against rival schools there are jeers and pranks played against opposing fans. Most are harmless- stringing corndogs in trees for LSU games or putting plush bulldog toys in fake cages with signs declaring impending victory.
The problem comes when those antics go too far.
Fans should never have to fear for their safety simply because they are supporting a team.
Last weekend the Auburn game against Georgia brought to light an open letter from one Auburn fan detailing his encounter in Athens. In the letter, he said his group of friends was spit on and had beer glasses thrown at them. Overall, he noted that he and his friends did not feel safe during their time at Athens.
That is not to say his experience, if honest, was the same experience all other Auburn fans had last weekend in Athens. Despite the disappointing Auburn outcome, many students noted the fun they had while in Georgia territory over the weekend. Likewise, the mistreatment likely came from a limited number of overly aggressive people.
Not that this practice is limited to Georgia. Auburn's own so-called fans sent death threats to Gene Chizik after two poor seasons.
Gerri Sax, an editor for the LSU student newspaper LSUreveille spoke in an editorial about her experience posing as an Alabama fan during the Alabama vs. LSU game in early November. She said that she and a fellow member of staff were verbally abused, spit on, groped and had their camera equipment knocked around as they walked through campus wearing rival colors.
As a fan, you are a representative of your school.
Your hatred for another school's football team may run deep, but it is still vital to remember that there are real live human beings beyond the stadium seats.
All fans, whether from Alabama or Hawaii, should be treated with respect. Poking fun is to be expected, but poking into people's personal space is unacceptable.
As students and alumnae of a university, you should want to promote the image of your school. It should make fans proud when opposing football enthusiasts have nothing but good things to say about how respectable and classy people from your school were.
In the end, it is just a football game, not the end of all worlds. It's not worth threatening another's safety.
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