‘Sports Riots’ Mystify Nation’s Intelligentsia
(2002-11-26) — The nation’s most intelligent people, those who operate Universities, are at a loss to explain why hundreds of college football fans commit acts of vandalism and violence after big games.
“So far we have ruled out the effects of alcohol on young people with no accountability and no respect for authority,” said one university administrator. “Right now we’re studying whether it might be marching band music that sets them off.”
Other sociologists suspect college students may rush the field due to a deep-seated anger toward goal posts.
“The goal posts are a metaphor,” said one expert. “They represent a direction in life that gives meaning to existence. These students resent that reminder of their lack of goals. So they lash out, and tear the posts down.”
One university applied for, and received, a multi-million dollar grant from the Bacardi Foundation to study the phenomenon. Another college plans to require additional hours of sensitivity training for incoming freshmen.
