2008 Woodie Awards
Booing Your Team: Right or Wrong?
Chris Schoenbauer
Issue date: 10/11/06 Section: Armchair QB
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Everyone has heard the sound either at a stadium in person or on the television. Many of us are guilty of making this sound at a sporting event. As fans, it is our job to support our favorite team through thick and thin. The question is: what exactly does booing do to support the team, and is it the right or wrong thing to do?
First of all, it should be made clear that this question only applies to one type of person: a true fan. A bandwagon fan would probably never boo the team anyway because they would just find another team to become a "true" fan of. So what is the point of booing? Usually, it is the fact that we are angry or upset with the way the team we support is performing on the field. Sometimes this is because of a bad season and sometimes it is because in a particular game the team is playing below its potential.
If booing your own team is a sports sin, then I too am guilty of this. I have supported the Washington Redskins and the University of Maryland since as far back as I can remember. For most of the 90's, both football teams were in disarray. They were not very good and did not show much upside for improvement. Through all these years I never booed either team. However, I can remember in late 2003 when I did boo the Redskins at a home game. This is of course a few years removed from a playoff appearance and when Spurrier had come to town. The Redskins were supposed to be the toast of the NFC East. Yet after a disappointing year, and what obviously was all of the players giving up on the coach, I remember a play against Philadelphia when Champ Bailey "oleyed" a receiver and let him into the end zone. I booed and screamed more than I ever have before. This was mainly because I was disappointed in the season that had been put together.
I also attend most of the Maryland football games, home and away. When the Terps traveled to West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers the odds were stacked against the team. They were on the road on Thursday night against the number six team in the nation. They had a horrendous first quarter but settled after that and scored twenty-four points. I was actually pleased with the heart and grit shown. However, the following week the Terps hosted Florida International for a cupcake win. To everyone's surprise the game came down to a final play with the Terps hanging on 14-10. During the game though, I found myself booing a lot. I was disappointed at the team's season (they were 3-1 heading into ACC play last weekend), but I was upset with how they were playing down to their competition. A few days later I felt bad because a win is a win, but the showing on the field was atrocious.
First of all, it should be made clear that this question only applies to one type of person: a true fan. A bandwagon fan would probably never boo the team anyway because they would just find another team to become a "true" fan of. So what is the point of booing? Usually, it is the fact that we are angry or upset with the way the team we support is performing on the field. Sometimes this is because of a bad season and sometimes it is because in a particular game the team is playing below its potential.
If booing your own team is a sports sin, then I too am guilty of this. I have supported the Washington Redskins and the University of Maryland since as far back as I can remember. For most of the 90's, both football teams were in disarray. They were not very good and did not show much upside for improvement. Through all these years I never booed either team. However, I can remember in late 2003 when I did boo the Redskins at a home game. This is of course a few years removed from a playoff appearance and when Spurrier had come to town. The Redskins were supposed to be the toast of the NFC East. Yet after a disappointing year, and what obviously was all of the players giving up on the coach, I remember a play against Philadelphia when Champ Bailey "oleyed" a receiver and let him into the end zone. I booed and screamed more than I ever have before. This was mainly because I was disappointed in the season that had been put together.
I also attend most of the Maryland football games, home and away. When the Terps traveled to West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers the odds were stacked against the team. They were on the road on Thursday night against the number six team in the nation. They had a horrendous first quarter but settled after that and scored twenty-four points. I was actually pleased with the heart and grit shown. However, the following week the Terps hosted Florida International for a cupcake win. To everyone's surprise the game came down to a final play with the Terps hanging on 14-10. During the game though, I found myself booing a lot. I was disappointed at the team's season (they were 3-1 heading into ACC play last weekend), but I was upset with how they were playing down to their competition. A few days later I felt bad because a win is a win, but the showing on the field was atrocious.
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