An apology to a BU fan

[MacabreMob]

All that is talking about is a "Buck *******" shirt. So many teams do that for their rival game. It is a part of having a rivalry. That letter to the editor is not needed at all. I would expect the same from any other rival team as well.

Iuck Fllinois St?

[GOREDBIRDS4]

Iuck Fllinois St?

[bigdaddystuck]

If that was all you guys were doing as you left the building...no big deal! I am sure that had BU won the "If you can't go to school go to state" cheer would have been going on all over the place. Kind of upset that when the ISU fans were doing there I S U cheer...not many BU fans were doing the I S Who?? cheer!

[chitown fanatic]

and when we get stuck playing them in St. louis, the brooms will be out in full force

[bula-bloom]

A couple times during every game the cheerleaders go up to the landing area (up the first flight of stairs) of the upper bowl to cheer. Near section 3, several ISU fans (students?) stood in front of the BU cheerleaders waving their arms so that they couldn't cheer. One ISU fan actually bumped the female cheerleader at least 3 times. Prior to this happening the Civic Center security was called up to the ISU section.

You would never see this type of behavior from BU fans in Normal. Really sad to see, although I'm not sure why I would expect anything else.

OK -- anyone who witnessed this "thing" with the 3 ISU Students standing in front of the cheerleaders and actually getting in their way while they (BU) were leading cheering -- here's my take on it.

I actually got into a minor verbal skirmish with one of the ISU Students involved in this. Maybe I shouldn't have but here's my reasoning -- it really has to do with respect of others.

the BU Cheerleaders work hard the entire game to get the crowd into it. These "ISU students" worked ONLY very hard drinking what appeared to be too much beer. IMO, They can sit wherever they want and cheer, scream, all they want...heck they could even have the landing to cheer if they wanted -- but they only came down there when the BU Cheerleaders were there.

I think someone needs to stand up for those BU Cheerleaders or anyone for that matter who is being "bumped" intimidated, etc. That section of the arena doesn't have a lot of "younger folks" so the BU people that are there probably don't want to get involved. Once I spoke up several others also spoke up -- but not sure had any effect on the students (alcohol has a way of making one invulnerable to criticism).

It was very "nice" to hear the student tell me several times that "Jesus Loves Me" -- I need all that I can get!!! One of the people in my party is a ISU fan and I asked him/her to not encourage this behavior from the ISU students. I actually think more people should try to get involved when they see behavior like this -- we would need fewer security and police if that was the case.

To me -- if this goes on -- the cheerleaders won't come up -- it's one of the things that makes college basketball unique. By the way, I do have season tickets to both ISU and Bradley -- the BU Cheering squad does a lot more than the ISU squad does - but I would also try to defend the ISU squad if I ever saw this interaction in reverse.

OK -- so that's my story as the bradley fan that "got into it" with an ISU fan -- if I offended anyone around me--I apologize.

[bula-bloom]

by the way, I'm not a cheerleader fanatic or mind the occasion bad taste behavior of fans (either ISU or BU or any other team). I don't think the Buck ******* shirts are a huge disgrace -- I guess I would just say "your right to be a fan or to be in bad taste" stops if you are disrespectful directly to others. I've asked people to stop with the F-bombs if I have a 8 year old at the game. Most people are way to sensitive but these drunken ISU students went over the line, IMO

[Chico]

Is that it? An indirect insult to a couple blue hairs who insinuate that the use of a vulgar word is associated with the greek system? I'd say you did them a favor! Those people sound like the ones who sit the entire game and should be watching from home anyway. Maybe they'll stay there next time or realize it's a rivalry game and rejoicing in a win is part of the program and is to be expected. Don't apologize for that.

Again I'll defend the 'blue hairs". The ISU fan said a gentleman and his wife, not an older gentleman and his wife. I sit most of the game and I'm not ashamed of it. If I sat in the student section I could stand the entire game most of the time and not be in anyone's way. Quit knocking the ones who keep the program going. We show up for every game not just a rivalry game where we can act like we are all grown up and have a beer or two.

[BU Firsty]

by the way, I'm not a cheerleader fanatic or mind the occasion bad taste behavior of fans (either ISU or BU or any other team). I don't think the Buck ******* shirts are a huge disgrace -- I guess I would just say "your right to be a fan or to be in bad taste" stops if you are disrespectful directly to others. I've asked people to stop with the F-bombs if I have a 8 year old at the game. Most people are way to sensitive but these drunken ISU students went over the line, IMO

Bula, any interest in coming and explaining those t-shirts to my 8 year old son who asked about them at ISU? If you think that is OK now, I look forward to you having a child of your own. Hopefully, your position will change.

Further, if you think shirts like that would be accepted at Bradley, you are 100% wrong. The Bradley administration would not allow that nor the cheers that ISU has commonly used the past several years.

[dogsrus]

OK -- anyone who witnessed this "thing" with the 3 ISU Students standing in front of the cheerleaders and actually getting in their way while they (BU) were leading cheering -- here's my take on it.

I actually got into a minor verbal skirmish with one of the ISU Students involved in this. Maybe I shouldn't have but here's my reasoning -- it really has to do with respect of others.

the BU Cheerleaders work hard the entire game to get the crowd into it. These "ISU students" worked ONLY very hard drinking what appeared to be too much beer. IMO, They can sit wherever they want and cheer, scream, all they want...heck they could even have the landing to cheer if they wanted -- but they only came down there when the BU Cheerleaders were there.

I think someone needs to stand up for those BU Cheerleaders or anyone for that matter who is being "bumped" intimidated, etc. That section of the arena doesn't have a lot of "younger folks" so the BU people that are there probably don't want to get involved. Once I spoke up several others also spoke up -- but not sure had any effect on the students (alcohol has a way of making one invulnerable to criticism).

It was very "nice" to hear the student tell me several times that "Jesus Loves Me" -- I need all that I can get!!! One of the people in my party is a ISU fan and I asked him/her to not encourage this behavior from the ISU students. I actually think more people should try to get involved when they see behavior like this -- we would need fewer security and police if that was the case.

To me -- if this goes on -- the cheerleaders won't come up -- it's one of the things that makes college basketball unique. By the way, I do have season tickets to both ISU and Bradley -- the BU Cheering squad does a lot more than the ISU squad does - but I would also try to defend the ISU squad if I ever saw this interaction in reverse.

OK -- so that's my story as the bradley fan that "got into it" with an ISU fan -- if I offended anyone around me--I apologize.

Wait , wait, wait.....are you actually telling me that some drunked up students made contact with a FEMALE cheerleader and got out of the building alive.

I'm embarassed to be a BU fan if thats the case. I respect YOUR self control but if he REALLY bumped her and no BU fan jacked his *** its a disgrace.

[Nacho]

Bula, any interest in coming and explaining those t-shirts to my 8 year old son who asked about them at ISU? If you think that is OK now, I look forward to you having a child of your own. Hopefully, your position will change.

Further, if you think shirts like that would be accepted at Bradley, you are 100% wrong. The Bradley administration would not allow that nor the cheers that ISU has commonly used the past several years.

Pluck the Birds don't insinuate anything do they???? and those were put out by the BU athletic department!!!! The Buck ******* shirts are made and sold my a third party campus-town store with no affiliation with ISU.

Did you 8 year old son ask why the BU students had a sign that said "ISU FANS CANNOT READ THIS"? That's a good life lesson for him too! College students will be college students. It will NEVER change. It could be worse. I have seen NUMEROUS "Muck Fichigan" shirts at Illannoy games... not only that... I have seen actual "F*** Michigan shirts" and "Ann Arbor is a wh*re" shirts around UofI... it'll never change!!!

[shaunguth]

Pluck the Birds don't insinuate anything do they???? and those were put out by the BU athletic department!!!! The Buck ******* shirts are made and sold my a third party campus-town store with no affiliation with ISU.

Did you 8 year old son ask why the BU students had a sign that said "ISU FANS CANNOT READ THIS"? That's a good life lesson for him too! College students will be college students. It will NEVER change. It could be worse. I have seen NUMEROUS "Muck Fichigan" shirts at Illannoy games... not only that... I have seen actual "F*** Michigan shirts" and "Ann Arbor is a wh*re" shirts around UofI... it'll never change!!!

I guess that makes it right then to use whatever language in whatever form to get some kind of point across. In fact, more students should stand on the landing in front of the opposing cheerleaders. Just kids bein kids.

BTW, I did not think "Pluck the Birds" meant anything even close to "Buck *******".

[Nacho]

I guess that makes it right then to use whatever language in whatever form to get some kind of point across. In fact, more students should stand on the landing in front of the opposing cheerleaders. Just kids bein kids.

Did I, in any way, defend any actions I did not see any know NOTHING about in my post???? Don't put words in my mouth...I was talking about the shirts and only the shirts...

BTW, I did not think "Pluck the Birds" meant anything even close to "Buck *******".

That is your opinion and you are entitled to it- I guess we will have to agree to disagree... but if you can't "read between the lines" on "pluck" then you are more naive then I thought...

[shaunguth]

Did I, in any way, defend any actions I did not see any know NOTHING about in my post???? Don't put words in my mouth...I was talking about the shirts and only the shirts...

I'm not real sure what that first sentence even said. Ok.....shirts........it's ok to use whatever language you want to get some kind of "point" across? I guess we'll have to disagree there as well.

That is your opinion and you are entitled to it- I guess we will have to agree to disagree... but if you can't "read between the lines" on "pluck" then you are more naive then I thought...

I guess it depends on how naive you thought I was before. However, I honestly didn't think anything of the "pluck the birds" towels, let alone put it in the same area as "Buck *******". If that makes me even "more naive", then so be it.

[GoBirds]

Maybe The cheerleader asked the students to stand infront of them to hide the name on their uniforms. Actually i am just kidding. I dont know why you guys are even disputing this. I can remember being young at the Civic Center and two drunk Bradley fans came up and started getting into the face of me and my friend who were nine at the time. Just another incident at a college basketball game by two *****s. Im sure every bad story I have some Bradley fan has the same. Its a wash folks. It doesnt make it right it is what it is.

[bula-bloom]

Im sure every bad story I have some Bradley fan has the same. Its a wash folks. It doesnt make it right it is what it is.

Yep -- I understand but I doubt many people would have my perspective -- I have been a season ticket holder at Bradley for 25 years and at ISU for about 11 years -- I have also gone to the MVC tournament for the last 15 years or so -- so I see alot of ISU and Bradley basketball -- no doubt about it, there are jerks at both places -- but I'm in a good position to say that the "cheerleader incident" of the other night was over the top....and believe me, I don't get worked up very much at either place.

For example, I actually think the students are much better fans at Redbird Arena than Bradley for the past couple of years although I would suggest the other fans at PCC probably are a bit more knowledgeable and don't cry about the refs as much as at Redbird. I really like Jank as a coach and enjoy his frankness and openess with the media more than JL. But I do like the fact that I can drink a beer in my seat at PCC.

I'm sure I'll get much debate about the last paragraph above but I doubt there are more than a few dozen people that see most all games at both places.

OH just thought of one other thing different about the places -- you won't see a lot of "the wave" at PCC but you do at Redbird -- just my opinion but I think the wave is something for teams/fans that aren't very good -- ISU is a good team to watch so I don't understand the wave....also, I think the band should play more at ISU versus the canned music -- that would make it more of a basketball site-- the Bradley Band does a much more part of the experience.