Don’t blame fandom for Toomer’s Corner oaks poisoning
Let's keep the blame for the poisoning of the Toomer's Corner oaks where it belongs. (Associated Press)
The temptation among some in this whole sorry Toomer’s Corner oaks affair is to shake their heads and say, “Those crazy Alabama fans,” or huff and puff about SEC football and its fans being out of control.
But it’s patently unfair to take the actions of one individual who uses his fandom for a college football program as an excuse for destructive behavior and lay them at the feet of the school or blame the intensity of big-time college football. Just as it makes no sense to take anyone who commits a shocking crime and somehow attribute it to his race or religion or make the leap to blaming it on society in general.
Remember the guy who threw security into a tizzy and briefly shut down the Atlanta airport a few years back by running down the “up” escalator, and how some idiots tried to use it as an opportunity to bash the University of Georgia simply because he was a Dogs fan on his way to a game?
That was illogical and unfair, and so is blaming the University of Alabama, Crimson Tide fandom, the Alabama-Auburn rivalry, the SEC or college football in general for the poisoning of the oaks.
I like the way the Senator put it at Get the Picture (though I have to sanitize it for a family newspaper’s audience): Sometimes people behave like complete [jerks] simply because they’re complete [jerks].
IT’S NOT TOO LATE…
I speculated here a while back that for those young Dogs fans who haven’t been able to afford the minimum “buy-in” level of a Hartman Fund contribution to get season tickets, the aftermath of a disappointing season might make this the year to make the move.
And, indeed, it looks like donations to the Hartman Fund, aka the Bulldog Club — which entitle the donor to buy season tickets — must be flagging this year. The donation deadline was Tuesday, and yet two days after that a notice was put up on Georgiadogs.com that “If you have not yet made your 2011 contribution, please donate today to ensure you receive season ticket priority for the 2011 season.”
In other words, the deadline has passed but they’re still soliciting donations.
Even if you don’t want to buy season tickets for 2011, a donation of at least $100 to the Hartman Fund makes you eligible to request tickets to the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome between the Dogs and Boise State.
So what are you waiting for?
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382 comments Add your comment
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
2:55 pm
“WITHOUT THE TREE WHERE IS UGA GONNA PEE???’
UGA died, moron.
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
2:56 pm
BOY THEM BAMMER FANS AND AWBUN FANS SEEM MIGHTY UPSET DOWN THERE IN THOSE PLAINS AREAS…I MEAN NO TREES MEAN NO TOILET PAPA FOR THOSE FOLK
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
2:56 pm
THERES MORE AUBIE BOY
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
2:56 pm
“WHY is UGA a top school n the SEC?”
UGA leads the nation in remedial classes for incoming freshmen. They also “fix” grades.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
2:57 pm
“THERES MORE AUBIE BOY”
More stupidity from you, indeed. You sure do give trailer trash a bad name.
ml
February 18th, 2011
2:58 pm
you can blame fans and people for allowing, accepting, downplaying, excusing or even just looking away and ignoring an atmosphere or act that is negative or bad in nature. something that hurts others.
it’s called guilt by omission.
to see in our politics that it is aceptable to be hateful to others in the name of the group, no matter how mean someone in the group is to someone outside of the group, no one in the group dares get involved.
to call out a member of the group that is being mean to someone outside of the group would be seen as attacking a club member, as well as being labeled a traitor.
like the german citizens that thought they should try to protect that poor jewish person that was getting beat up, just because they knew it was wrong. what do you think happened to them?
i saw it in my my mom’s face and felt her hurt and sadness, after as a white woman in alabama she told others it was wrong to mistreat black people.
i saw it when as a graduate of lsu she went to sanford stadium with a lsu shirt on just to watch and support her team and was cussed at and hateful things were yelled at her and not one good georgia fan stepped forward on behalf of this lady that looked like a sweet ol’ mom that supported non-violence, was against hate,that was never mouthy,that was causing no harm and wanted no trouble while she was being attacked by bad people that were tarnishing the uga name.
not one person.
it’s the kind of things that allow bad people to do bad things.
it should be like when i see an american hurting america, i’m more mad at them and will confront them even faster than someone or something that isn’t american that’s hurting america.
but these kinds of things are deeper than the first level of thinking and thinking has become a bad thing, especially independent thought, in country today.
all you have to do is say you’re a christian, not know anything about christ.
all you have to do is say you’re a patriot, without ever doing anything patriotic.
people are responsible for not acting.
you do have some responsibility for the behavior of your family.
an atmospehere was created in which this moron believed his behavior would be accpetable and maybe even cheered.
there is guilt by omission.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 18th, 2011
2:58 pm
Auburn Fan
Rabid fans are the types of people who get on their rival’s blogs and spend all day posting inane posts. Are those the kind of rabid fanatical fans that you are referring to?
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
2:59 pm
“BOY THEM BAMMER FANS AND AWBUN FANS SEEM MIGHTY UPSET DOWN THERE IN THOSE PLAINS AREAS…I MEAN NO TREES MEAN NO TOILET PAPA FOR THOSE FOLK”
Funny how the rabid fans are those that never went to college.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:00 pm
“Rabid fans are the types of people who get on their rival’s blogs and spend all day posting inane posts. Are those the kind of rabid fanatical fans that you are referring to?’
This blog is about Auburn, Gump. Not sure if you can’t read but the column is about a rabid fan who poisoned a rivalry.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:01 pm
“Rabid fans are the types of people who get on their rival’s blogs and spend all day posting inane posts. ”
So why are you on an Auburn blog? I mean, this column IS about Auburn.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 18th, 2011
3:03 pm
Auburn Fan
I thought that this is tha Junkyard Blawg in the AJC. Not the Payola Postings in the Cow College Weekly.
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:05 pm
LOL…LIKE THEM BAMMER HAMMER AND AUBIE BOYS…LIKE SCAM WAS A GENIUS…WELL HE WAS HE TOOK AU FOR A RIDE WORTH 180,000 AND IN RETURN-DEATH PENALTY
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:05 pm
AUBURN FAN HAS A CRUSH ON UGA
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:09 pm
“I thought that this is tha Junkyard Blawg in the AJC. Not the Payola Postings in the Cow College Weekly.’
You’re not smart are you. The title of the column is about TOOMERS CORNER.
Please continue to call Auburn a cow college. It’s funny for two reasons. 1: You never went to college. 2: You can’t even spell simple words.
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:09 pm
Enter your comments here
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:10 pm
“AUBURN FAN HAS A CRUSH ON UGA’
Why would I have a crush on a school that has more players and employees arrested than any other school in the SEC? Why would I also have a crush on a school who’s football team couldn’t win a crappy bowl game in Memphis?
“IN RETURN-DEATH PENALTY’
So when is that gonna happen?
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:12 pm
PHIL
Please explain what the NCAA death penalty is and how a school receives it.
This should be fun.
how2fish
February 18th, 2011
3:13 pm
Just the facts sir first off your an idiot 2nd your wrong UGA didn’t even lead the SEC last year let alone the Nation…lets review so far your a moron and your wrong ..5150 UOAD the only time I saw anything Ben Jones did wrong was that one play at MSU which I think he was flagged for and the incident was NOT repeated…a far cry from the serial dirty play of Fairly. And as you stated all it takes to earn your hate is to play well in that regard Ben is worth your bile…ya’ll have a great weekend. Oh and 5150 I’d hold off with the white redneck comments….just to keep the discussion civil. Or it may be that you think all white guys are rednecks? And being number 3 in the SEC is a hell of lot better than No.1 in the ACC, little 10 or far roaming 12 or whatever they are calling them selves these days.
UGA Bubba
February 18th, 2011
3:14 pm
Auburn has used those trees for some pretty nasty trash talk before big games. They made the trees a symbol and symbols get attacked. Take all of the insults about UGA VII & VIII, the trashing of our hedges. So to me it’s just part of crazy fandom. However, the EPA needs to come down on the idiot really hard for these chemicals. BTW: Nobody is worse that ND fans win or lose
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:14 pm
“And being number 3 in the SEC is a hell of lot better than No.1 in the ACC’
UGA wasn’t number 3 in the SEC.
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:15 pm
Lack of institutional control and repeated recruiting offenses, not limited to paying recruits…example SMU….This will be AU’s second time in the past 20 years with major violations
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:17 pm
NCAA has always had the power to ban an institution from competing in a particular sport. However, in 1985, in response to rampant violations at several schools, the NCAA Council passed the “repeat violator” rule. The rule stipulates that if a second major violation occurs at any institution within five years of being on probation in the same sport or another sport, that institution can be barred from competing in the sport involved in the second violation for either one or two seasons. In cases of particularly egregious misconduct, a school can also be stripped of its right to vote at NCAA conventions for four years. The “repeat violator” rule gave the Infractions Committees of the various NCAA divisions specific instances where it either must bar a school from competing or explain why it didn’t. The NCAA still has the power to ban schools from competing in a sport without any preliminary sanctions in cases of particularly serious violations.
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:18 pm
your repeat is coming soon…1st scam…then others will be found out bc of trooper when yall are on probation
UGA Bubba
February 18th, 2011
3:20 pm
And; Auburn has more NCAA people sniffing around than a donkey in heat! They are going to lose: the NC, all wins in 2010, schollys, bowl games, Cheatnik, and half of their paid recruits
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:20 pm
fun aubie boy
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:20 pm
wow hows that vocab from a college grad baby
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:21 pm
where ya at aubie…that was fun
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:22 pm
and winner by ko…phhhiiillll
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:23 pm
“Lack of institutional control and repeated recruiting offenses, not limited to paying recruits…example SMU….This will be AU’s second time in the past 20 years with major violations
WRONG!!!!!!! To get the NCAA death penalty, a team has to be on probation and VIOLATE said probation.
Auburn hasn’t been on NCAA probation since 1993. The only team that could get it is Alabama since they are on probation until 2012.
Keep on trying, Phil.
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:23 pm
“and winner by ko…phhhiiillll’
You must be huge in your trailer park. Do the possums and rats worship you?
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:24 pm
“However, in 1985, in response to rampant violations at several schools, the NCAA Council passed the “repeat violator” rule. ‘
You moron, do you even know what that means? It means that a school has to REPEAT violations.
Auburn hasn’t been on probation since 1993. Can you count, Gump?
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:25 pm
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:17 pm
NCAA has always had the power to ban an institution from competing in a particular sport. However, in 1985, in response to rampant violations at several schools, the NCAA Council passed the “repeat violator” rule. The rule stipulates that if a second major violation occurs at any institution within five years of being on probation in the same sport or another sport, that institution can be barred from competing in the sport involved in the second violation for either one or two seasons. In cases of particularly egregious misconduct, a school can also be stripped of its right to vote at NCAA conventions for four years. The “repeat violator” rule gave the Infractions Committees of the various NCAA divisions specific instances where it either must bar a school from competing or explain why it didn’t. The NCAA still has the power to ban schools from competing in a sport without any preliminary sanctions in cases of particularly serious violations.
WHEN AU GETS ON PROBATION FOR SCAM THEN FOLLOWS UP WITH MORE VIOLATIONS BC OF TROOPER—READ ALL AUBIE BOY
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:25 pm
“And; Auburn has more NCAA people sniffing around than a donkey in heat! They are going to lose: the NC, all wins in 2010, schollys, bowl games, Cheatnik, and half of their paid recruits”
So when is it gonna happen, inbred? I keep hearing you losers talk about it but nothing ever happens.
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:26 pm
AU’S GOIN DOWN AU’S GOIN DOWN…NANNY NANNY BOO-BOO
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:26 pm
“WHEN AU GETS ON PROBATION FOR SCAM THEN FOLLOWS UP WITH MORE VIOLATIONS BC OF TROOPER—READ ALL AUBIE BOY’
Thanks for proving my point about you being a total moron. Auburn isn’t on probation, Gump. Geez, can you even read and decipher English?
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:27 pm
“AU’S GOIN DOWN AU’S GOIN DOWN…NANNY NANNY BOO-BOO”
When?
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:28 pm
IN THE FUTURE AUBIE BOY IN THE FUTURE
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:28 pm
“The “repeat violator” rule
Repeat: to do, make, or perform again: to repeat an action.
Make sense, Gump?
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:28 pm
“IN THE FUTURE AUBIE BOY IN THE FUTURE’
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
UGA Bubba
February 18th, 2011
3:29 pm
Auburn Fan: Give it up your program is in trouble and will be hurting for the next two or three years. Move on to where you might be wanted.
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:30 pm
AUBIE LOVES PHIL
UGA Bubba
February 18th, 2011
3:31 pm
I think Phil Sent Auburn Fan over the edge
PHIL
February 18th, 2011
3:31 pm
THE REPEAT VIOLATOR RULE WILL BE IN EFFECT WHEN SCAM GOES DOWN-THAT ONE AUBIE BOY-THEN TROOP GOES DOWN-THATS REPEAT-FUTURE AUBIE BOY FUTURE
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:31 pm
“Give it up your program is in trouble and will be hurting for the next two or three years. Move on to where you might be wanted.’
Uh huh, so when is it gonna happen? I keep hearing you non-UGA grads talk about probation etc but nothing ever happens.
“There was no evidence that money had changed hands and there was no evidence that Auburn University had anything to do with it. We would up making a decision that felt to many people morally objectionable, but that fit the facts and the circumstances.
- NCAA president Mark Emmert
boots
February 18th, 2011
3:32 pm
Only in Alabama… Does passion run so deep between one university with two mascots and another with (count them) three mascots. One mascot is not enough when we are talking football in Alabama. So, the Sainted coach of the first university dies, and the second university celebrates by throwing toilet paper in their own trees so their own people have to clean it. Go figure. Understandibly, the first university (the one with two mascots) is upset by this. I’m guessing so is the guy who had to clean up the toilet paper.
Years later, the first university loses to the second university in a football game. This is particularly upsetting because the first university pays its coach $539 million a year which is a lot more than the second university (the one with three mascots) pays its quarterback. A fan of the first university then responds by killing trees, because that is, I guess, just what you do in Alabama when your team loses. He then calls a radio station to brag about it, provides his name and number and exactly how he committed the crime, and the only one surprised when the police call him about it is him. He even ends his call with a cheer for the first university, “Roll D@mn Tide,” which happens to be one of their two mascots.
Only in Alabama…
(Go Dawgs)
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:32 pm
“THE REPEAT VIOLATOR RULE WILL BE IN EFFECT WHEN SCAM GOES DOWN-’
Phil, you may be the absolute dumbest person I have ever encountered on a blog.
UGA Bubba
February 18th, 2011
3:34 pm
Auburn Fan: Remember back in the 70’s & 80’s when you guys used cheer leaders to lure the farm boys to sign with Auburn?
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:34 pm
Only in Georgia…
UGA Student Arrested; Violent Child Pornography Found on Laptop
http://www.criminallawblogatlanta.com/2010/10/uga-student-arrested-violent-child-pornography-found-on-laptop.shtml
Auburn Fan
February 18th, 2011
3:35 pm
“Remember back in the 70’s & 80’s when you guys used cheer leaders to lure the farm boys to sign with Auburn?’
Nope, got something to back that up?
5150 UOAD
February 18th, 2011
3:36 pm
Phil don’t you mean the UGA freshmen girls are doing that?