The Daily Gamecock

Navy players deserve respect, courtesy at game

Harassment from USC students inappropriate

Many Carolina fans failed to represent what the university is all about on Saturday.
Passion for our esteemed football team is nothing to be ashamed of, but booing Navy, a division of the armed services, crosses the line.

It's typical for the student section to be filled with boos, screams at the opponents, and harassment of the away team's sideline, but restraint should have been shown for those who wear a military uniform.

While it's all well and good that you're upset that the triple option was hard to stop, at the end of the day those with gold helmets left the stadium and upon graduation will put on a uniform to protect this country.

Of all things Carolinians should respect, those who go out into hostile territory and let us safely enjoy a football game every Saturday should be included.

Cheering and screaming while Navy is on offense is perfectly acceptable — I'm not saying we should be quiet and let them win. But the personal boos, rants and name-calling is what was unacceptable.

There's no need for it; the player probably can't hear the derogatory name you just yelled at him anyway.

We can pump the stadium full of noise all day — after all, we are in the SEC — but there's no need to disrespect the guys that have committed five years of postgraduate life to protecting the liberties we at times take for granted.
We are better than that. It's saddening that a simple lack of respect still exists for some.

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