The Sunflower Showdown, a football game pitting Kansas State University and Kansas University, brings out the most competitive side of the K-State student section. Alongside all the hype and fun, it also brings a lot of negative energy to the section. It is time for K-State students to remember how we pride ourselves on being kind and stop being so rude to the KU team, mascot, and fans.

During the game today I heard the F*** KU chant start not just once, but a couple times per quarter; every touchdown, penalty, or good play that either team had was laden with the chant and other offensive phrases. Many times, there was neither fault nor blame to be put on the KU players. The play was just well executed by them or poorly played by us and they scored a touch down or got a first down. So why is the spirit we channel such a negative force? I am in no way suggesting that we should start cheering for KU when they make a touchdown. In fact, I’m not even suggesting that we can’t do the things we always do, like jangling keys and yelling for distraction. I am suggesting that instead of getting hyped by chanting F*** KU we instead cheer on our own team. Chant along with the cheerleaders, start a defense chant or a Bill Snyder chant instead of trying to use all that energy that our student section possesses to belittle the opposing team.

KU may be our rivals and this game was a very important win in K-State, and more specifically Bill Snyder, history but we can’t let that fun, competitive atmosphere turn to spite and hate. The things I heard today from some of the people surrounding me were not helping the family atmosphere we pride ourselves here at K-State; they were focused on offending the “enemy” instead of supporting our own team. We need to remember that we are genuinely nice people who respect not just those who go to K-State but all people, and that people who go to KU are not inferior or deserving of the disrespect we dish out. K-State is an amazing school with amazing students, but when we are so offensive and rude to the visiting teams, we certainly don’t represent ourselves well. We need to work towards a common goal of respect and sportsmanship, especially if we expect to see that from others.