OUR OPINION: Vulgarity spoils the UND hockey experience

There's a word to apply to UND hockey fans. It starts with the letter C.

But it's not "cool."

Instead, the word is "crude."

At every game, there's a certain amount of this, but the level of vulgarity seems to reach a pitch whenever Minnesota comes to town.

That was evident last weekend.

The chants and signs reached new lows - the chants, especially.

Some of the signs were pretty clever. A favorite: Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Excuses.

Would that such creativity could be brought to the greetings aimed at opposing teams.

Of course, that would take a level of coordination that UND fans simply haven't demonstrated.

The crowd couldn't even get an effective "wave" going this weekend, much less a coordinated cheer - the call-and-answer kind that distinguishes some college sports events.

Students don't appear to know the words to traditional UND fight songs, either.

Still, students are the best fans at UND hockey games. At least they're noisy. People in the expensive seats - ice side and suite level - tend to be pretty reserved.

The student band is a highlight at every game, and the band's noise and its members' antics help divert, or at least drown out, some of the crude language.

Of course, students aren't entirely responsible for the unsportsmanlike atmosphere that often prevails at UND's arena. Put plainly, the Engelstad arena bears some responsibility, too.

The arena's video program isn't very sportsmanlike. Just after the opposing team is introduced, there's video of Minnesota players being bashed into the boards. There are replays of UND goals.

All accompanied by screaming vulgarities.

Surely, one complements the other.

Is it possible, at least, that this kind of atmosphere contributes to the kind of confrontations that led to fights, injuries and jail time after Friday night's game?

UND tries to dampen this behavior, but with little apparent effect.

Something more needs to be done.

Here are a few suggestions:

_ Discontinue the intimidating videos before games.

_ Use the impressive special effects in the arena to coordinate cheering.

A simple step would be to display the words to the songs that the band plays.

The equipment could be used to coordinate cheering by section of the arena, too. All of this gives fans an alternative to the kind of vulgar insults that are so prevalent now.

_ Use the band more effectively to coordinate cheers.

One step would be to divide the band with parts in a couple of spots in the arena. The bands, and fans nearby, could participate in call-and-answer cheers.

Toning down the vulgarity at hockey games is a worthwhile goal.

Sportsmanship is worthwhile.

So is civility.

Both are qualities to be cultivated.