Reason 234982374183 why Andy Noel sucks

Oh, come on now...

Hello Season Ticket Holders,

Cornell University promotes good sportsmanship and has zero tolerance for any profanity, racial/sexist comments, or other intimidating actions at intercollegiate athletic events. The penalty for violating this policy is expulsion from the game and revocation of season tickets. There are no verbal warnings or second chances given for violation of this policy.

Furthermore, the band will not be permitted to play "Gary Glitter" at Cornell men's ice hockey games if students continue to chant a profane version of "Rough 'em up, rough 'em up, go CU."

Thank you for your cooperation in promoting good sportsmanship and in creating an inviting atmosphere (no profane language) in Lynah Rink.

Honestly, with the university endowment plunging 25% in 6 months, the idiots over at Athletics have nothing better to do than to send threatening emails to hockey fans?

It began during the first home games of 2009, the Niagara series two weeks ago. Our favorite usher, who usually stands at the door to the A/B aisle, had been shipped off to Section N (the Lynah equivalent of Siberia). The new usher came over to us during warmups and inquired:

"Are you regulars?"

"Umm, yes."

"Oh, well then I should tell you that with the new year there is a new, no tolerance policy about swearing. If you swear, you will be kicked out."

We asked her who this was coming from.

"Andy."

Ha.

Virtually everyone agrees that there are plenty of morons at the Athletic Department, and they have been responsible for the idiotic policies to come out of Teagle/Bartels the last few years. Andy Noel is the chief moron. I didn't have much of an opinion of him until he spoke at a Student Assembly meeting last year. He was at the SA to help deliver some sort of boring NCAA-mandated report about minority admissions and sports. One of the SA members, seizing the opportunity to confront Noel in person, started with a series of weak questions about Athletics' policy of revoking an entire season's worth of tickets for saying "fuck 'em up."

Noel launched into a lecture, declaring himself an "old-timer" and stating his desire to see Lynah Rink transformed into a family-friendly atmosphere.

Of course, destroying 30-year traditions like fish throwing and stifling fans' ability to cheer are certainly steps any "old-timer" would appreciate.

At the risk of digressing, just remember what Cornell coach Mike Schafer told the New York Times about the fish tradition:

“When I was playing here as a freshman, I thought the sight of fish flying over the boards was hilarious,” Schafer said. “It’s still a fun tradition that has lived on over the years, and it is all a part of the same kind of electricity that a college basketball fan might find at a Duke-North Carolina game.”

By reliable accounts, Schafer himself spends much of the game yelling swears at officials, players, or whatever else. And as others have pointed out on eLynah, Cornell Cinema shows movies with profane language. Hell, I've had plenty of professors who swear in class.

Again, Mitch and I addressed these issues in the Sun op-ed last spring:

Director of Athletics Andy Noel can preach about creating a family-friendly atmosphere at Lynah, but overall, his administration’s hard-line policies have hampered fan enthusiasm and creativity.

[snip]

This criminalization of the Lynah Faithful extends to cheering, as students frequently lament that they are afraid to start new cheers or yell loudly for fear of having their season tickets revoked (and not refunded) by the administration. Ushers patrol the staircases and openly glaring at students, as if daring them to finish “rough ’em up …”

One member of the Lynah Faithful recently pointed out to us, “Few businesses treat their biggest customers with the least respect.”

I'll have to think about this some more and try to figure out a reasonable policy that everyone can like. We're actually meeting with Athletics on Saturday to discuss a plan of action. For now, I'll enjoy being treated like a criminal at hockey games. Because obviously there's no benefit to having a lively fan base, right?

From the Athletics website:

Whether they’re cheering for the Big Red or joining the pep band in their rendition of "Give My Regards to Davy," the Lynah Faithful reaffirm the old saying, "there’s no place like home." In fact, the Big Red has won nearly 72 percent of its games played at Lynah Rink since its opening, with a 82-17-14 home record over the past seven years.

6-0-1 at home this year.