Staff Editorial: Terps need to clean up their act

Students at the University of Maryland at College Park recently won a victory for free speech. They were not, however, crusading to be able to voice their opinions about government, protest injustice or evangelize. They were defending their right to chant obscenities at basketball games and wear T-shirts emblazoned with such choice phrases as "F--- Duke," and "F--- J.J." The First Amendment may prevent the University of Maryland's administration from threatening offending students with legal action, but school officials, along with men's basketball head coach Gary Williams, should take it upon themselves to put an end to the obscene behavior.

  The Atlantic Coast Conference is known for its intense rivalries--perhaps few played with as much fervor as Duke versus Maryland men's basketball games. Yet, in the past few years, the conduct of Maryland fans has downgraded the quality of the games, and moved too much of the focus away from the court. The Jan. 21 contest, during which students sported the aforementioned T-shirts and participated in lewd chants, was not the first incident of obscene conduct by Terrapin faithful.

  Students caused more than $500,000 in damage to their campus after the Terrapins' loss to Duke in the 2001 Final Four, rioted again twice during the school's run to the national title during the 2002 season, and most disturbing of all, threw a water bottle at the mother of former Blue Devil center Carlos Boozer, causing a concussion.

  Without a doubt, the most unbelievable aspect of the entire situation was the surprise expressed by Gary Williams when the national media labeled Maryland fans' conduct excessive. ESPN has gone so far as to avoid airing shots of the Comcast Center crowd during live broadcasts--Coach Williams, this means you have a problem on your hands. Since legal action cannot be invoked to halt improper conduct, as the leader of the basketball program, the responsibility falls on your shoulders. Addressing the crowd before games is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough. Students need to know that you mean business, and they need to hear it more than once.

  In all fairness, the Cameron Crazies are by no means perfect. We have been known to be condescending and pick at the personal characteristics of visiting players. We have thrown condoms and panties on the court, and do have one specific cheer that entreats at certain school down the road to "go to hell and eat s---." However, we do not target obscenities at specific individuals, and do not attempt to inflict physical harm nor property damage. The Crazies have come a long way since the more boisterous days of the 1980s and early '90s. Before many games, guidelines for acceptable cheers are distributed, and on several occasions, Coach Krzyzewski has spoken directly to the fans when they got out of hand.

  In one specific instance, the Crazies launched into a series of, "Fire Mike Jarvis chants," during a home game against St. John's. Coach K quelled the chants during the game, and in the weeks that followed, Jarvis received a multitude of personal e-mails from Duke students, apologizing for the transgression.

  The Crazies listen to Coach K, because we respect his leadership, and have a genuine love for the Blue Devils and for the game. The Crazies are famous because we are clever--and for the most part, classy. Here is our challenge to Maryland fans: If you are really the equal of Duke, on and off the court, prove it. Clean up your act, and listen to your coach. You are not only tarnishing your reputation, but that of your players and college basketball as a whole. From this point forward, when the Terrapins take the floor at the Comcast Center, the fans will have as much to prove as the players.