Erin Quinn thinks some fans need to cool down

Author: Simon Keyes

Last year the National Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) made a recommendation to the NCAA to begin a sportsmanship initiative at the Division III level. The NCAA has asked schools and conferences to endorse and promote good sportsmanship on the fields and in the stands. In regards to this initiative, I spoke with Middlebury Athletic Director Erin Quinn about his feelings on sportsmanship at Middlebury.

The Middlebury Campus: Could you descibe what the sportsmanship initiative is?

Erin Quinn: There was a NCAA Division III initiative last year promoting sportsmanship, and NESCAC athletic directors have all signed up supporting the initiative, which is essentially a philosophical statement saying that we believe in promoting good sportsmanship. There are recommendations and a creation of awareness and education through coaches to their athletes (in or out of season), to parents (who are more of an issue each year) and promoting it throughout the campus community.

In my still-brief tenure as AD, I have become increasingly aware of the need for this. I have often thought in the past that there are certain schools and certain sports in which this was a particular problem, and that Middlebury is not immune to these problems. I don't think we've had too many egregious acts recently, but it certainly bears being vigilant and proactive.

TC: How do you see the state of Middlebury's fanfare and sportsmanship, both in the stands and on the field right now?

EQ: It's pretty good. For us it's isolated incidences. Our due diligence is to nip that in the bud so it doesn't trickle down to other fans.

TC: Has there been an instance when you were disappointed by our fan's conduct?

EQ: At a men's basketball game last year we had the potential for a great basketball game and we had an enthusiastic crowd. We had six full-time staff members there, yet it still crossed over into poor behavior. Nobody picked up quickly enough that the comments were getting personal and aimed at Colby basketball players. It quickly turned from small and personal attempts to be funny to a large group of fans insulting other players. It ruined the event for me and for others. Even people on the radio heard the fans' comments on the air.

Then later in the year at a women's playoff event, we needed to call in Public Safety due to poor behaviour from a parent of the opposing team. There is a level of behavior that people see on TV and a level of expectations that people have for behavior at D-I sporting events or even youth events, and we want to set a standard that is higher. Keeping all your comments positive and directed at your own team is the standard that should be set for all behavior.

TC: Most D-I, Ivy League and a NESCAC school here and there, while taking some action against unruly fans, are still very lax about their fans' conduct. Why is it important for Middlebury to hold high standards for behavior?

EQ: For me it's no different from when you're growing up and they say just because everyone else is doing it doesn't make it right. I think the national standard for fan behavior is very low, and it's much lower than the standard of behavior we should expect from our community. Take that level of behavior out of the sports realm and into the community realm and it's very inappropriate. Putting it in the sports arena does not make it right. Even at the highest levels, BU or Michigan hockey, we see schools taking action and maintaining good sportsmanship. At the NCAA convention there was a sportsmanship symposium on what is good sportsmanship. There is national movement, no question, towards a unilateral expectation of sportsmanship.

TC: When does the line between enthusiastic, loyal support and poor taste get bridged?

EQ: Often times there is humor in it, but in certain arenas it's appropriate and people willingly subject themselves to it, like in a comedy club. But at a sports arena, people do not all willingly expose themselves to peoples' humor or extreme actions. In our community, be it our college community or NESCAC community, people should feel comfortable, and they should not be subjected to ridicule, profanity and inappropriate comments.

TC: Would you equate taunting in the stands to cheating on the field? How is it any different from trash-talking on the field?

EQ: I'm about as traditional as you can get. On any team that I coach there is no taunting or trash-talking on the field. Playing the game with class was the image I wanted to portray. As a coach I wanted fans to show similar levels of behavior. The fans are representing our school as much as those on the field.

TC: A lot of times fans are referred to as the sixth or 12th man. What do you think the role of the fans should be in a sports arena?

EQ: I'm not sure that all students feel that they can do this, but supporting their teams directly, even in a vocal way, is fine. By taunting the other team, or yelling or booing at an official or riding an opponent, they are not helping anyone. Last year, the player the crowd rode for the entire game ended up winning the game for Colby. I disagree with the theory that maybe you can rile one of the opponents. I feel that if our team is playing great with class and sportsmanship and our crowd is loud and supportive, that if someone on the other team is prone to be riled, that situation will rile them. I don't doubt that some players will react negatively to derision from the crowd, but that doesn't bring me any satisfaction as a coach or a player. Cheering helps when it's supportive of the team and I know for a fact that we have fed off of the positive cheering.

TC: How did Parents' Weekend go?

EQ: The events over Fall Family Weekend were a great success. Many of the events were extremely well attended and the fans were treated to exceptional play. The crowds were enthusiastic and by and large they were supportive and appropriate. I am still surprised at how vocal fans can be, particularly parents, when voicing their displeasure with officiating at our contests, but overall I was pleased by the fan behavior and particularly thankful for their support of our student-athletes.