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Back from Omaha

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 6:46 am
by BarryBooker
My family (wife and 2 sons) and I had a great time in Omaha! Disappointed with the outcome of course, but it was a fun experience and we're hoping to follow the 'Dores back out there next year or sometime very soon. We were sad to hear of racially charged comments from some fans toward players' family members. As others have said here and elsewhere, that's reprehensible, idiotic, etc, but unfortunately can be found almost everywhere in our society regarding race, religion, politics... clothing choices, driving skill or lack thereof... people suck sometimes -- myself included.

I was reminded of my Dad who was born in 1921, a WW II vet who wrote on 7/28/54 in a poem called "Forbidden Drink" about an experience with a man regarding a water fountain, "Was he a man who had wisdom great, Or was he the most pitiful soul I know?"

The MS State fans are probably my favorite among the SEC faithful from all of my trips to Starkville, Lil' Dewey's and my great relationship with the Stansburys when Rick was Coach. I see some similarity in fan attitudes between VU and MSU - some egomania mixed with an inferiority complex -- like, "We're great, don't you agree? Please agree..." Their fixation on Ole Miss - "...go to hell Ole Miss!" and us as the only SEC private school, being different from the others. Anyway, their fans were great to us and with the exception of one middle finger, treated my special needs son like a celebrity. He loved it (except the middle finger)!

IMHO, forgiveness/love is the answer. I KNOW the actions of a few while tainting the reputation of all, don't represent the attitudes of most. My sister Karen (A&S '87) is about to move to Starkville as an FCA staff member at MSU. We're excited to see Love in action on campus. Go 'Dogs, go 'Dores, go SEC!!!

Re: Back from Omaha

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 5:03 pm
by historybill
Adding to what Barry says here, it has to be acknowledged that Miss State's fans flocked to Omaha en masse and absolutely affected the outcome, to their credit.

Watching it on TV, it was absolutely notable just how LOUD Miss State's crowd was, and this after a season in which teams were playing in front of no crowd, partial crowd, half crowd. I wasn't there, but to me it seemed like the crowd was really helping MSU. And I think that's part of why the game was so awful for Vanderbilt fans to watch. I mean... it's been a long time since I saw ANY college sporting event with a loud crowd.

As for hostile actions of crowds in the SEC.... when I was in college, a drunk Alabama fan threw a beer on me (not intentionally; he could hardly walk). I was at a game in Knoxville once when I became aware that someone was throwing ice at us. And once in Vanderbilt stadium, a Florida fan chunked a beer and it hit my son.

These events all individually sound awful, but 99% of the time we all get along.

Re: Back from Omaha

Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 7:21 pm
by admin
Thanks for stopping by Barry. Hope to hear more from you in the VandyMania forums.