Best Fans In College Sports

[EvanWKU]

I have already reached out to a couple of people in the SLU Athletics staff, but I want to say it to your face (sorta).

SLU has the best fans I have ever seen.

I really do mean that. I have been everywhere to see the Tops. SIU, MTSU, Marshall, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisville, UALR, Birmingham, LSU, Vanderbilt, Belmont and others. I have never been treated such a way.

I am a student, and I get the impression that some people are put off by a young and exuberant away fan.

I have been heckled, called horrendous things, harassed, and even attacked and had my property vandalized.

I was fortunate to get front row seating for myself and my sister. We happened to be in front of some SLU fans. Through the course of the game I can be loud and I stand, a lot. I try to be considerate, but the game just gets to me. They never complained. We carried a wonderful conversation throughout the game. Everything was admirable.

Not only is your interaction with opposing fans pure class, your students were well above board on the day. You fans are incredibly intelligent about basketball. You knew how and when to influence the game better than any school that I have ever seen, even better than WKU at times. You have a mesmerizing pep band, a beautiful facility, a gorgeous campus, and a fine city to be proud of.

You also have some wonderful smoked ribs from "Pappy's".

You also have one HECK of a basketball team. That was absolutely one of the top Women's games of the year, shame it wasn't on TV for everyone to see. You have a great set of girls and that was an amazing competition.

I will try to not become impassioned, as I mean no disrespect in any of the following.

Our CPoY Kendall Noble is our defacto PG (along with point-forward Tashia Brown). She took the inbound pass on the final play. Sidnee is a freshman, and at 5-6 the shortest player on the team. I looked to my sister and told her: "Sidnee hasn't scored. She is matched up with SLU #3 and is the best height match-up on the floor. If she has an inch we need to go to her." As Tashia Brown cut through the paint #3 dropped in to cover, leaving Sidnee wide open.

The smart move from SLU was to force Bopp into a shot. Someone should have pressured her, sure.But with tired legs of a short bench, defensively, that is what you look for (IMO).

I was behind the WKU bench, and could not see as well as other maybe did. The block near the end of regulation looked really good for me. The ref that called it was in the Center or Trail spot, across from the drive. I just am not sure that is his call. I can't say for sure though. The blame was off the officials when we failed to secure the basketball on two loose ball situations, before SLU took the lead. Then just an absolute dandy (or heart breaker) of a shot for a young player. (On a side note Sidnee Bopp's hometown in Arkansas is closer to StL than BG, and she had more than two dozen family and friends in attendance.)

We are currently playing with 8 players, as we have an injury (Michah Jones, pg), two (maybe a third) transfers sitting out, and a player taking time away from the team for personal reasons. Next season we only lose Jaylyn McLain, and have a good looking class coming in.

I will wrap this up by saying I think it is a crying shame that SLU and WKU don't play more often. I would be thrilled to welcome you to Bowling Green. Our men's sides haven't played since "89 (only 4 meetings). Our lone tilt on the women's side was in '90-'91. I would welcome the oppurtunity to come back to StL for another weekend as well. Best wishes, Go Tops, and Go Bilikens.

[Soderball]

I have already reached out to a couple of people in the SLU Athletics staff, but I want to say it to your face (sorta).

SLU has the best fans I have ever seen.

I really do mean that. I have been everywhere to see the Tops. SIU, MTSU, Marshall, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisville, UALR, Birmingham, LSU, Vanderbilt, Belmont and others. I have never been treated such a way.

I am a student, and I get the impression that some people are put off by a young and exuberant away fan.

I have been heckled, called horrendous things, harassed, and even attacked and had my property vandalized.

I was fortunate to get front row seating for myself and my sister. We happened to be in front of some SLU fans. Through the course of the game I can be loud and I stand, a lot. I try to be considerate, but the game just gets to me. They never complained. We carried a wonderful conversation throughout the game. Everything was admirable.

Not only is your interaction with opposing fans pure class, your students were well above board on the day. You fans are incredibly intelligent about basketball. You knew how and when to influence the game better than any school that I have ever seen, even better than WKU at times. You have a mesmerizing pep band, a beautiful facility, a gorgeous campus, and a fine city to be proud of.

You also have some wonderful smoked ribs from "Pappy's".

You also have one HECK of a basketball team. That was absolutely one of the top Women's games of the year, shame it wasn't on TV for everyone to see. You have a great set of girls and that was an amazing competition.

I will try to not become impassioned, as I mean no disrespect in any of the following.

Our CPoY Kendall Noble is our defacto PG (along with point-forward Tashia Brown). She took the inbound pass on the final play. Sidnee is a freshman, and at 5-6 the shortest player on the team. I looked to my sister and told her: "Sidnee hasn't scored. She is matched up with SLU #3 and is the best height match-up on the floor. If she has an inch we need to go to her." As Tashia Brown cut through the paint #3 dropped in to cover, leaving Sidnee wide open.

The smart move from SLU was to force Bopp into a shot. Someone should have pressured her, sure.But with tired legs of a short bench, defensively, that is what you look for (IMO).

I was behind the WKU bench, and could not see as well as other maybe did. The block near the end of regulation looked really good for me. The ref that called it was in the Center or Trail spot, across from the drive. I just am not sure that is his call. I can't say for sure though. The blame was off the officials when we failed to secure the basketball on two loose ball situations, before SLU took the lead. Then just an absolute dandy (or heart breaker) of a shot for a young player. (On a side note Sidnee Bopp's hometown in Arkansas is closer to StL than BG, and she had more than two dozen family and friends in attendance.)

We are currently playing with 8 players, as we have an injury (Michah Jones, pg), two (maybe a third) transfers sitting out, and a player taking time away from the team for personal reasons. Next season we only lose Jaylyn McLain, and have a good looking class coming in.

I will wrap this up by saying I think it is a crying shame that SLU and WKU don't play more often. I would be thrilled to welcome you to Bowling Green. Our men's sides haven't played since "89 (only 4 meetings). Our lone tilt on the women's side was in '90-'91. I would welcome the oppurtunity to come back to StL for another weekend as well. Best wishes, Go Tops, and Go Bilikens.

Welcome to St. Louis. Looking forward to your next return.

Had I been there, especially if you happened to be a Dayton or VCU fan i fear your experience wouldnt have been as pleasant. Ive seen some obnoxious away fans, i have been one a couple times.

I think the proper etiquette as an away fan is to root FOR your team, not against the opposing team, if that makes sense. Home and neutral anything except gross obscenity, (unless its remarkably clever) is fair game.

Im very guilty of violating it all. Ive said and yelled things at games im not proud of.

I doubt your experience would have been as good had the hilltoppers lost, so im disappointed your visit was as great as it was, but I am very pleased you enjoyed our city. Feel free to return and thank you for the kind words.

Collegiate athletics are at their ideal always a winner's game.

WKU normally competitive in conference... Would like to see that matchup. We are the RPI killers right now.

[EvanWKU]

I was saddened when I thought we had lost, but the game to that point was so well played (maybe not well officiated, though). The fans behind me gave me a friendly pat on the back during the timeout. I was feeling better than I have many a time. Getting caught in the moment is easy to do. I'm as guilty as any. With the little interaction I have had with VCU, I understand your issues.

We hosted Dayton earlier in the WNIT, and despite few traveling fans they were very classy as well. A rivalry is a rivalry though, we have a fierce on with Middle Tennessee (dubbed the "100 Miles of Hate")

Our men's team has been on a down turn since our sweet sixteen in 2008. Made a few tournaments, but have been average at best, and much worse. It appears we are hiring Texas A and M's assistant Stansbury (formerly HC at Mississippi State). I think this is a good start to get us back on track, he's a local boy. We will see how it goes. I think the pieces are there, and we should be looking at getting back to winning ways sooner than later.

Our conference was shambles this season. Plenty of basketball schools, but we all just crapped the bed. Several of our teams fail to understand RPI manipulation, and that (a long with a handful of just bad teams) keeps us well below the A-10 and AAC in hoops.