Respect needs to come first for football games

Dear Students,

It has been thrilling to welcome you back for athletic contests. When we are at our best, our fans are fantastic and our student section in particular gives us a home field advantage unrivaled in the MIAC. But we need your help addressing certain behaviors at home games.

There are three main areas we’d like to address regarding student behavior at football games in Clemens Stadium: not being respectful during the National Anthem, intentionally knocking the endzone barriers down after every score and storming the field after every football win. These new traditions must come to an immediate end.

All three are contrary to one of the basic pillars of our Benedictine traditions and also to sportsmanship: respect. Respect for each other, respect for opponents and respect for guests.

The anthem piece is easy. If you choose to sing, be respectful and sing nice. Unfortunately, some think they are funny when they sing extra loud, and it’s just not. It makes us all look bad.

The barriers in the end zone are there to keep people off the field to protect the players and game officials. We can’t install permanent barricades because the field is used for many other purposes like intramural football, lacrosse and track and field. We understand that the fencing may move or shift when students get excited after a big score, but intentionally breaking the barriers apart needs to end.

To address storming the field, it’s something that can happen spontaneously after an incredible win.

In the first home football game of the year, and our first time gathering together for Johnnie football in almost two years, an incredible defensive stand as time was running out led to a thrilling 39-33 victory. It was 4th and goal with 17 seconds left to play, and it appeared Aurora was going to score and beat us at home. The defense held, a fumble was forced and we recovered. Storming the field in that situation was spontaneous and real. It was incredibly joyous and for a while, life felt a little more normal.

But to storm the field after a 55-7 win over Martin Luther, or the Bethel win that wasn’t in doubt because we controlled the ball the final five minutes is unacceptable.

There was no upset. We are St. John’s. We expect to win.

We also expect everyone to respect our guests and the visiting team, regardless of the score and regardless of the outcome. We encourage you to have a great time at games, enjoy each other’s company and support your fellow students. We also need to behave in a way that upholds our finest traditions. Storming the field gets in the way of the handshakes and sportsmanship between SJU players and the opposing team, an acknowledgement of a game well played no matter the score. Many of the players from each team are lifelong friends. They grew up together or went to the same high school. They compete like crazy between the lines, but when the final whistle blows, they seek each other out and renew old friendships. This is one of the best parts of MIAC athletics. We lose this when students needlessly rush the field.

Families of our players, many with small children, almost get trampled by our own students. One of our own students shoved a referee as the ref was trying to avoid being run over, and another took a swing at an opposing coach. I honestly fear that one of our students or student Life Safety officers will get trampled and seriously injured when some break through the barricades and storm the field.

If you want to go on the field after the game and congratulate your friend, roommate, etc. you are welcome to do that…after you allow the players and their families their moment. Getting together at football games is a celebration.

We promise to give our best in every game. We ask our incredible student fans to do the same. Be respectful of each other, every visitor to campus and our opponents.

Winning is our expectation and winning with class must be the standard for all of us.

Please help make every game the best and safest possible experience for everyone.