Profanity not a pastime for 'true' fans

The Ohio State basketball game Tuesday evening was a heated battle between bitter season rivals, and it was for good reason.\nIU lost to OSU just 10 days before. The team was ready for revenge and so were the fans.\nEveryone was primed for battle: The players were pounding each other below the basket and down the court, while our fans were beating the other team. We were taunting and booing with the best of them, but some of the actions of crowd could have cost IU the game. \nOur fans were shouting profanities at the officials and the opposing players, so much that the stadium announcer reminded the crowd that "profanity could result in a technical foul on the home team."\nThis cannot be tolerated. As fans, we should not continue these actions. \nNo matter what our feelings are on the matter, we cannot put our team in jeopardy of a technical foul for "crowd control." We should be as supportive and passionate -- yes, even rowdy -- as we can be without going over the edge.\nIf we really are the true, diehard fans most of us claim to be, we should not be doing anything that could hurt our team. Chanting "bullshit" or any other profanity will not change a call from the official. It could only provoke another foul, and this one could result in two uncontested free throws for the opposing team's best shooter.\nBut taunting the other team, booing an opposing player every time he touches the ball or chanting "airball" when one misses a free throw is perfectly acceptable. In fact, it should be encouraged.\nWe need to give meaning to the phrase "home court advantage." The crowd should be wild. The noise should be deafening. We should make it impossible for the opposing team to concentrate.\nThe Big Ten Conference is known for rough games and undying fan support, but we're still behind the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference. Let's take a cue from them --at least their good sides. \nJust watch one of their games. Let's taunt, chant, dress in red or crimson, paint our faces and cheer as loud as we can like their fans. Our group should be the wildest and rowdiest fans in the conference to lead our team to victory.\nGive our "Crimson Crazies" the same menacing demeanor and tradition as their namesake, Duke University's "Cameron Crazies" from the ACC. \nIndiana basketball has always been a class act. It is our job to keep it that way.\n- Ben Cunningham for the Editorial Board