LJ BB: BOTF#1

A UC student denizen in

USA-theme garb against

La Jolla.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

What the La Jolla High boys basketball team had to deal with at University City Thurs., Feb. 12, was part of a CIF San Diego Section event called "Battle of the Fans" (BOTF).

 

Jim Esterbrooks, an official on the staff of the CIF SDS office, attended the game and was busy evaluating UC's student crowd in a competition among four high schools.

 

For the Vikings before and during the narrow 65-63 win over the Centurions, the crowd was enormous and extremely loud.

 

But--in a change from the usual, dating back several years--no Viking was singled out for "Airball, airball" or other cheers aimed at one individual.

 

In some ways, despite the high volume of opposing crowd noise, the Vikes had it easy. How come? One of the rules of BOTF is guideline #1: "Focus on your school. Encourage and direct comments to your team only. Don't target individuals on the opposing team. Be loud, and be your team's '6th man'."

 

Esterbrooks, in fact, mentioned to a reporter that in his evaluation, he wanted student cheering sections mindful that there are other family members present--children and parents. So, to single out an opposing athlete and hammer them with a sarcastic cheer, "They wouldn't get my vote," said the former media liaison for the San Diego County Office of Education.

UC students, including my neighbor,

in "BOTF" competition.

 

 

There were basketball games at Scripps Ranch within memory when Falcon fans stood the entire game and verbally buried individual Vike players with withering chants. Unfortunately, a fight broke out at one game, and order had to be restored. That was several years ago, thankfully.

 

At other games, if an opposing crowd learned the first name of an individual player once a coach or teammate called it out, the student fans could be brutal with the sarcastic repetition of the player's name, over and over.

 

In a game this season, fans at one La Jolla game learned guard Gaynor Blackmon's name. They didn't hesitate to call out "Gaynor, Gaynor" repeatedly.

High schools in Michigan and Connectict carry on a similar positive-themed spirit competition among students.

 

Amanda Polcyn, a La Jolla High student attending the UC game, remarked on the "USA" theme the UC students chose for the game. "They picked that, but they didn't let us know," she said, so LJHS students who did attend the away game weren't dressed in any theme clothing or decorations.

 

The theme idea is part of the BOTF competition.

 

The positive aspect of the spirit competition can't be denied. It would be interesting, just as a thought, if a member of the U.S. military commented on students' use of American flags as clothing at the game. Traditionally, flag etiquette in the past included a ban on the use of American flags as clothing.

According to information on the CIF SDS website, this week was the last week for the four finalist high schools to show their spirit in the BOTF competition. Student leaders had to submit videos of their fan sections in action, as well as individual students recorded discussing their group's spirit.

Judging criteria included "positive sportsmanship, student body participation, school spirit, originality of cheers, organization of the group, student section leadership, overall impression/fun."

During pregame introductions of players, when UC students began the usually hooting at the mention of each opposing player, a leader on the floor in front of them put the quash on that by signaling with his hand to can the derision.

Number 11 on "12 Lessons for Success" directed to students is "Police yourself".

Vikes' Ladd Castellano (with ball)

before huge BOTF crowd cheering for UC.

Copyright 2015 Ed Piper