Is the Pit Crew good for the University? No
There are many problems some of my friends and I have with the Pit Crew. I think it’s a shotty sports fan group for the most part. There will be a commentary about this in the OC’s next issue, next week, but for now, read this article from SI.com and decide if the Pit Crew is a good use of student funds (granted they only get a few hundred dollars, but still). I really hope the athletic department discontinues the Pit Crew section in the new arena.
The “Pit Crew” is just an excuse for evil people to act out. Fans, as well as team members need to conduct themselves in a sportsman-like way. People who behave so outrageously are a nuisance to everyone–players on both sides, and spectators. COME ON PEOPLE!!!
I was in the Pit Crew for my first three years at the UO, but now I am just sick of it. The concept of it is great, but students really just don’t know how to execute it. When the opposing team is on offense, scream and stomp your feet. When we are on offense, shut up. If someone airballs a shot, chant “airball” every time that player touches the ball the rest of the game. And most importantly, don’t be lazy if you are sitting in the Pit. I realize that it’s easier to get excited when the Ducks are playing well, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to just stand there quietly when they aren’t. It’s times like that when the Pit Crew is needed most. Oh, and another thing, we don’t sit during timeouts! Personally, I don’t think we should sit any time but halftime. If you must sit, do it when the Ducks are ahead. Unfortunately, the Pit Crew these days doesn’t understand these simple rules that govern the group. If you want to be a passive fan, sit in the student section away from the Pit. There is nothing more lame to me than looking at the Pit and seeing 25 people jumping and the rest just standing there watching quietly. It doesn’t fire me up as a fan and it sure as hell doesn’t fire up the team (as our record reflects!).
On the issue of ethics, I don’t understand why the current Pit Crew is under the impression that it is smart to portray themselves as a bunch of douche bags. Jim Rome did a bit on his show about student fans acting out of line and the Pit Crew was the chosen clip for the segment. I’m pretty sure that when Bryce, Malik, and Maarty see how much the Pit Crew is embarrassing the team and university, they aren’t inspired to make shots. In fact, it probably serves as a detrimental distraction.
So I say to members of the Pit Crew: Cut the immature bullshit, learn the fundamentals of running a fun but intimidating student section, and stop embarrassing yourselves and everyone else at the game.
Ossie: I see what you mean. That’s basically what I would want, too. I hate the whole system where you wait in line just to get a wristband, that you then can not remove for an entire week, just to get a shirt that gets you in to the games before anyone who didn’t have time for that bullshit. My biggest problem, though, is the types of things they yell (as Drew said, racist, homophobic things) and the whole “Oh, it would be so funny if we posted Kevin Love’s phone number in the men seeking men section of Craig’s list” type of crap. It’s just obnoxious.
J: I definitely am not advocated to take the student section away. That is the last thing I want. It just needs to be changed from the whole system of waiting in line one time for your shirt and then you’re “in the club.” Plus, does the Pit Crew seem predictable to anyone else? Yea, they get loud (a lot of that is done by Mac Court
How else will the ducks win if we don’t yell racial slurs and homophobic remarks at players during the games?
While I’m certainly not proud of the Pit Crew behavior (I’ve avoided going to games this year in part because I was sick of it), I don’t think the student section should be taken away. Part of the fun of Mac Court is that the students get to sit so close down on the floor. I hope that continues at the new arena, but I’m totally over the Pit Crew’s behavior. It’s one thing to taunt another player, it’s another to do the kind of shit the Pit Crew pulls.
It’s not that the Pit Crew is indecent, it’s that they are uncreative and ignoramuses. And what kind of true fan shows up to the doors five hours before game time. Pre game activities should include drinking, watching college basketball analysis on ESPN and chasing skirts.
If you don’t want to get taunted, don’t play college sports. Civil decency nothing, the game demands blood! And insults!