Illini fan writes Op-ed: "Shocked & appalled" at Gopher fans during National Anthem

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Illini fan writes Op-ed: "Shocked & appalled" at Gopher fans during National Anthem

An Illini fan wrote this op-ed in the MN Daily today:

I am neither a University of Minnesota student nor an alumnus. In fact, I graduated from the University of Illinois in 1983 and eventually served for 25 years in the United States Army. I was in attendance at the Minnesota-Illinois football game last weekend — our homecoming at Illinois. My family and I recently moved back to Illinois, and this year, I bought season football tickets.

I’m writing not about what happened on the field during the game, but about something that occurred before the game —specifically during the national anthem. As it happened, we had some Minnesota fans seated near us. This wasn’t unusual, since we’ve had opposing team fans sitting near us at all the games so far.

As a veteran and an American, I take great pride in standing for and singing along with the national anthem. The words contained therein are powerful and are meant to inspire great pride in our nation and the heroes who have given us so much over the years. Many have sacrificed so much to ensure our freedom, and they deserve our utmost respect.

We were singing the National Anthem and came to the last line of the song, “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” That line means so much. We are free, and it is because of the brave that we have such freedom. Nevertheless, several of the Minnesota fans inserted the word “Gophers” in place of the word “brave.”

My wife and I were completely shocked and appalled that anyone would do such a thing. I consider it a great affront to all the brave souls who have come before to desecrate our national anthem in such a way. I’m all for team spirit, but I believe there are lines that should not be crossed. This shouldn’t be read as an anti-Minnesota rant. I would be equally disturbed if I heard Illini fans doing likewise.

My wife spoke to one Gophers fan during the game. He told us that this practice has become commonplace at some Minnesota sporting events. I don’t know if that’s the case, but if it is, I would hope that organizations or individuals with sway would encourage the fans to forgo this practice. Our nation, veterans, military, public servants and citizens deserve the respect that the national anthem, sung in the correct manner, gives them.

http://www.mndaily.com/opinion/letters-editor/2014/11/02/respect-our-national-anthem

Go Gophers!!
 


He must not go to many sporting events. I don't like it either, but almost every teams fan base does this.
 


I've heard it- don't do it myself- but, come on. After reading the headline, I was expecting to hear of not standing or not removing caps or loudly talking. Get over yourself. I've heard it many times at many different venues not just in Minnesota. Sorry it ruined his game day experience.
 


Glad the 14 people at Illini games are all very patriotic.
 

When the band plays the Battle Hymn of the Republic ( Swinging gate ) a lot of fans don't stand, or remove their hats. It is what it is.
 

Great. Now Norwood will come out and say he wants yelling "Gophers" disbanded from the end of the National Anthem like the "We Hate Ioaw" chant.
 

Dude is spending too much energy worrying about this.
 



Good thing he doesn't go to any UND hockey games. Every single fan screams Sue at the end.
 

Boy, the title of that piece made me expect something else. I partake in yelling "Gophers" at the end even though I am fairly adamant about standing, removing caps, and being respectful through the song as well as when the colors are presented during the Battle Hymn. That said, I can certainly understand why someone wouldn't like it, and think there is room for fair minds disagree. However, the only thing that I would think would justify the kind of offense that this gentleman seems to have taken would be somebody talking or otherwise causing a disruption throughout the song. Even if people choose to sit or not remove their headware, I might pass personal judgment on them but as their disrespect does not really impede my ability to reflect and honor the flag and our troops the way I see fit, I don't get too worked up about it.
 

Oh look, this complaint again. Isn't it hate week? Don't we have better things to discuss?
 

Little ironic that this guy is offended by people excercising the very freedom the song proclaims so loudly. Typical. You are free as long as your choices match mine. But if you want something different then you are a bad American.
 



Nate said:
He must not go to many sporting events. I don't like it either, but almost every teams fan base does this.
Click to expand...

Not only that but it has been going on for years everywhere. Like you I am not a huge fan of it but also don't view it as overly disrespectful the way this guy does. Like others, based on the headline I was expecting a very different article.
 

I'm siding with our Illini fan on this one. We oughtta ALL (fan bases) be better than that, but particularly Minnesotans should be above such juvenile and disrespectful behavior. What are we, 9 years old?

There are plenty of opportunities before, during, and after games to "zing" our opponents. Take those shots. Not a shot that undermines the national anthem, for goodness' sake. I appreciate the gentleman's service, and that of his millions of brave fellow soldiers. The anthem should serve to unite us at this time of almost unprecedented division in the land. It should NOT be trivialized by some lame attempt to stick it to our opponent or to "strut".
 

Carlson 79 said:
I'm siding with our Illini fan on this one. We oughtta ALL (fan bases) be better than that, but particularly Minnesotans should be above such juvenile and disrespectful behavior. What are we, 9 years old?

There are plenty of opportunities before, during, and after games to "zing" our opponents. Take those shots. Not a shot that undermines the national anthem, for goodness' sake. I appreciate the gentleman's service, and that of his millions of brave fellow soldiers. The anthem should serve to unite us at this time of almost unprecedented division in the land. It should NOT be trivialized by some lame attempt to stick it to our opponent or to "strut".
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Well said. I've never been a fan of the everyone else does it defense.
 

Just remove the anthem from sporting events and then we don't have to worry about this anymore.
 


GopherinPhilly said:
Little ironic that this guy is offended by people excercising the very freedom the song proclaims so loudly. Typical. You are free as long as your choices match mine. But if you want something different then you are a bad American.
Click to expand...

Don't agree with this line of logic. I am on record on this thread saying that I don't mind the "Gophers" yell at the end. However, espousing freedom of speech/expression does not mean that you cannot be offended by the way someone chooses to exercise those rights. An extreme example would be if there was a Nazi demonstration on my street this weekend. If I say "that is offensive, and I don't think that people should say those hurtful things and behave that way", does that mean I am an enemy of free speech? No. What free speech means is that I don't say "I think these Nazis should be arrested for their offensive views."
 



I guess its in Illinois where at some games the entire crowd stands and screams their heads off not singing along at all or listening to the words.
 


I must roll my eyes at this one. I don't say "home of the Gophers", I let the singer do the singing. But inserting the team's name is no more common among Minnesota fans than it is among any other fans. I've never actually heard any Gopher fans say it - I am sure it happens, but I haven't heard it. He probably was watching the Gopher fans looking for bad behavior to get outraged about. Had he looked for similar behavior among Illini fans, he would have found it. Confirmation bias at work. I'm not defending anything, simply pointing out that stones are being thrown in a glass house.

Sent from my LG-L38C using Tapatalk 2
 

Gopher Americanus. A peculiar breed of freedom loving Gophers who exude their patriotism in the last line of the National Anthem, giving their last bit of devotion to that freedom. Let freedom ring!

Speaking as a veteran!
 

Hope this Illini fan never goes to a Blackhawks game. Personally, I love the cheering during the anthem (and so apparently do the veterans that they have on the ice before every game, at least they go along with it, anyway). But I've heard people criticize that "tradtion" as well.
 

RodentRampage said:
I must roll my eyes at this one. I don't say "home of the Gophers", I let the singer do the singing. But inserting the team's name is no more common among Minnesota fans than it is among any other fans. I've never actually heard any Gopher fans say it - I am sure it happens, but I haven't heard it. He probably was watching the Gopher fans looking for bad behavior to get outraged about. Had he looked for similar behavior among Illini fans, he would have found it. Confirmation bias at work. I'm not defending anything, simply pointing out that stones are being thrown in a glass house.

Sent from my LG-L38C using Tapatalk 2
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I went to UND back at the turn of the century and the other students screamed SIOUX!! instead of brave and they were doing it before I ever heard anyone here do it. Every time they do, I think that we can do better than UND folk. Don't really care that they do it, I just see myself as better than UNDorks. AMIRITE?

I wouldn't bet against your theory, either.
 

Nate said:
He must not go to many sporting events. I don't like it either, but almost every teams fan base does this.
Click to expand...

I'm with you in that I don't like it but this has been going on for some time with other teams and certainly not unique to MN. I'm not sure where and when it started but the Atlanta Braves have been doing it for a long time. IMO, inserting the word Gophers sounds lame. More so, I think it shows good taste to leave the words alone. That said it is a very slippery slope to suggest that those who do modify the words are somehow less patriotic. In the big scheme of things, sometimes it is better just to ignore or simply not participate in doings such as this one rather than to let it bother you.
 



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