Great comment on students from Scott van Pelt

"I was as angry....I still am," [Van Pelt] began. "I may say things that get me into trouble. I just don't care. When I turned on the television and I saw that wall where the students are supposed to sit and it looked like the Longwood game, all I wondered is what happened to my university.

"And I know what happened: They started letting in a lot more smart people that are really driven about their futures, and you guys had to study last night, and good for you. We had class back when I went to school, too. And we went to games. Because part of a college experience is a well-rounded experience, and going to athletic games is a big part of that.

"And our students right now at Maryland have this attitude where they can't be bothered to go. Like the football games, they come late and leave early. There was a football game this fall where it was about 50-to-Idontevenknow against Wake Forest, and the student section was empty. I think it was 'hot' that day, or something.

"And last night, it's an ACC game, you're in the middle of the conference season, still have a chance to make the tournament, you're gonna have to run the table. And the team can use some support. And this might sound corny, and this is where I might sound like an old guy, and I don't give a bleep....

"The problem is this: we've got a student body now that believes that the season's one game, and it's the Duke game. And that's stupidity. That's one of eight conference games. They had to win last night. Thank God the team brought the energy. They had to provide it for themselves. And this is disgraceful, man. It's disgraceful that you can't be bothered to show up for a 9 o'clock game on a Wednesday night and provide a good atmosphere for a basketball team that's still not out of it.

"God forbid, God forbid this team ever cratered like Georgia Tech or Wake Forest is this season, because it'd be empty. And I read online, a student writes on one of the chat rooms, 'You wanna have a great crowd, have a great team. Who have they beat that's any good?'

"The notion that a college basketball team like Maryland would have to be great in order to earn the support of the student body is laughable. You can wait the rest of your life to be that jaded and that cynical, ok? But when you're in college, to think that the team has to earn your support? That's not how it works. You just support 'em because you go to college. And you're only there for a short period of time, so try not to suck. Try not to be so jaded and cynical, and show up eight times a year for conference games. It's not like we're asking you to solve cancer. Go to a basketball game. It's freaking free. That's all I've got for you on that....

"It just bums me out. I'm not mad at 'em. It just bums me out that they can't be bothered to go to a game....It's the ACC. You desperately need to win the rest of your games. And the crowd can provide an atmosphere that the team can tap into, and when they do, they provide a great atmosphere. There was an apathy toward the game last night that I just was stunned by....It bothered me so much last night....

"I think students are more motivated, they're more focused on their careers, they're more driven. Good for you. Part of the college experience is living a little bit, outside I have to do my econ homework. And look, you're talking to a guy whose GPA was pitiful, but things worked out for me in the end....I didn't miss games, you know?"

onetouchfutbol wrote: I don't think it's that tough to get a vacation from ESPN if Colin Cowherd's life is any example...