No Booing

One last comment on the University of Washington football situation. I know that I said my last post would be the last, but I remembered something that happened at the game Saturday night that warrants a mention.

For the record we were sitting in the corner of the end-zone, Section 15, just above the tunnel. The cheap seats that I used to be ecstatic about scoring for $35, that are now $65. Thank God for the giant video display at the other end of the field.

The home team in purple and gold was losing by two touchdowns late in the third quarter and had demonstrated up to that point an uncanny generosity in allowing the opposition almost free and unobstructed use of the home turf. This is not what we have been used to watching over the past 50 years as traditional Husky defenses gave up yardage about as generously as Bob Cratchett's boss would. As you all know by now, it was not a pretty sight and the subdued crowd that remained was quiet and utterly without mirth. The guy next to me spent the entire third quarter with his head in his hands like an investor that just lost his fortune in the stock market. Our best player had broken his hand earlier, our best linebacker was out with a concussion and our best receiver was being escorted to the locker room with crushed ribs. At that moment I was amazed that it wasn't pouring rain.

I was sitting in disbelief and shock. Even though this same stuff has been going on since our last visit to the Rose Bowl in 2000. That is eight long, losing, ugly, uninspired years from a program that once rivaled the great teams, schools and programs anywhere. We have sunk so low that, as Stanford picked up yet another first down, I heard it from the covered section to my left.

A baritone rumbling sound that I have never heard in this stadium before. It was a spattering of boos.

Almost as quickly as they became audible, I heard from a few rows behind me a single voice in command tone instructing "NO BOOING". And it stopped. And I nodded in approval. Semper Fucking Fi lads, NEVER give up. And booing is the fans way of raising the white flag.

No booing because no matter the score, no matter how bad we are, no matter our proud history and tradition, no matter the gross ineptitude of the coach and the disparity of numbers on the giant scoreboard, no matter the amount of your annual contribution to your alma mater, THESE ARE KIDS PLAYING A GAME, NOT PROFESSIONALS MAKING MILLIONS AS ENTERTAINMENT.

You can boo the coach. You can boo the UW President, you can boo the AD, you can boo the refs for making bad calls, BUT YOU DO NOT BOO THE KIDS IN THIS STADIUM. EVER.

I am one for finding the silver lining. There it is. Whomever you were sitting a few rows behind on Saturday night, thanks. Nice call. I'll take that lesson any day of the week.

Even over a home victory.

No Booing.