When surrounded by hundreds of other people with cheers and taunts coming from every direction, it is nearly impossible not to feel exhilarated. It is ironic that one of the most uniting forces in the world is sporting events, even if this unification only lasts for a few hours. Perhaps the enjoyment from sporting events does not come entirely from the game itself, but from all the sense of unity. There is an electrifying feeling that comes with being at a collegiate game (football, basketball, soccer, etc.) that draws out even those who are not “big fans.” While it is easy to reduce sports fan culture down to merely the enjoyment of the game, at a university, it is essential to consider the social factors and pressures that push student engagement. Finding a community can be difficult on a college campus, especially on one as large as the University of Maryland (UMD). A large sports game is the most optimal place to look for something greater. Sports fan culture acts as this solution for those looking for somewhere to belong.
For UMD, aside from its modest academic standing, one of its biggest appeals is its status as an NCAA Division I ranked school and its part in the Big 10 Collegiate Conference. When the university transitioned from the Atlantic Coast Conference to the Big 10 Conference in 2014, it marked a monumental shift in the university’s athletic department. Being a part of this conference would bolster the athletics’ popularity and funding. New rivalries were born, such as the current feud with Penn State University, along with a new emerging identity as a formidable athletic school. The fanbase for UMD steadily grew and has become the massive entity seen today at big-time football and basketball games.
Despite being a collegiate environment dedicated to discovering one’s passions and sense of self, there is a shared sentiment of feeling lost and overwhelmed amongst thousands of other students. However, at a sporting event, being a part of this large crowd provides a sense of identity for students to latch onto. If nothing else, at least every student is a Maryland Terrapin, and they can boldly proclaim and bond over that. Fulfilling this desire to belong becomes much simpler when packed into a small place where every person shares the same sentiment: victory.
Understanding sports fan culture as a means of social connectivity and identity formation gives insight into the more subtle reasons that colleges can have such explosive fans and the potential drawbacks that come with this. Although not inherent, violence within these settings and fan culture is a prevalent phenomenon, whether it be found in taunts toward the opposing team or actual altercations in the stands. UMD has its own examples of taunts. For example, UMD has a tradition of shouting “Hey! You Suck!” towards opponents at the beginning of games, or having students loudly shake newspapers at basketball games while the opposing team’s roster is being read. These taunts and traditions are typically taken as lighthearted, but it would be an oversight to ignore how empowered students feel to perform these jeers due to the volume of others around them also participating, so much so that it can lead to physical incidents at times.
The University of Maryland has taken measures to try and prevent these physical altercations from happening by penalizing those who get into fights or // use extremely obscene language, but this emboldened spirit still persists even past these regulations. The fan culture found within sports, specifically at the collegiate level, exists not only as a means to support a team, but as a way for students to fulfill this desire for community and belonging in a setting that is difficult to socially navigate.Exploring how sporting events are grounds for fostering connection leads to a broader understanding of the unique social dynamics and desires found on a college campus.
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