As the old adage goes, a tied game is like kissing your sister. Although I don't have any sisters, I can empathize with what that sentiment means.
The men's soccer team's draw at Brown University last Saturday was the strangest tie to which I, as a spectator, had ever been privy. Both Brown and Dartmouth fans were riveted for over 106 minutes of scoreless play, their emotions hinging on the fates of their teams' seasons, which hung in the balance.
Dartmouth did not walk away from the field that night with a win. And although it later accomplished its goal of earning a bid to the NCAA tournament by virtue of another draw between Columbia University and Cornell University, its players had no reason to hang their heads as they boarded the bus to Hanover.
The connection between fan and team is special and circular in nature. When fans are wholeheartedly invested, the team will feed off the energy of its loyal supporters. And only when fans feel the players reciprocate their support on the field do fans begin to share in the emotional fate of the team.
At Dartmouth, this kind of relationship between team and fan is absent. Sure, we root for our home team, but how many times can you remember holding your breath in the waning minutes of an athletic contest, heart pounding, knowing that your happiness is contingent on the outcome? I'd venture to guess never.
For the 50-odd Dartmouth students who traveled to Providence last weekend, the bond between fan and player was stunning. I can't remember being so emotionally invested in any game, let alone a collegiate one, since I watched the Yankees in the World Series several years ago.
If Dartmouth wants to generate greater student interest in athletics, it must cultivate more of these relationships between fan and team. And to do that, it will need to foster a more liberal environment for students to support the Big Green.
When I visited the University of Wisconsin this summer, I was awakened at 8:30 a.m. by the sound of loud music as thousands of students gathered before the Badgers' afternoon game against Oregon State University. It was a collective action spurned only by undying loyalty to the school's team. And it was a tradition encouraged by the university, as no public safety officers nor police unnecessarily interfered.
While Wisconsin may not be comparable to Dartmouth in many respects, picture the scene last Saturday in Providence. As Dartmouth cars pulled into the parking lot adjacent to Stevenson Field, they were greeted by blaring speakers and 75 to 100 students, parents and alumni who were eating, drinking and conversing.
And then, enter campus security. I knew this was too good to be true, I thought to myself. The officer ordered the music be turned down and stood in the middle of the buzzing mob to make an announcement.
"Alright guys," he said. "It looks like you're having a great time out here. I just want to remind you to keep it clean, and remember not to bring any beer cans on the field. We'll let you know if there are any problems. Enjoy the game!"
I struggled to pull my jaw off the asphalt as the music resumed. My mind immediately transported to Dartmouth, where I pictured three perturbed Safety and Security officers demanding to see everyone's Dartmouth IDs as Hanover Police was being summoned. I just couldn't envision what was happening there happening here.
And here's the thing: We partook in the tailgate before the Brown game, and not one Dartmouth student got in trouble. The stands were tense, there was some shoving, words were exchanged. It was all resolved. Dartmouth and Brown tied the game. We went back to Hanover that night with no damage to our permanent records.
It's time for the administration and the town of Hanover to start being realistic about the policies surrounding tailgating, outdoor consumption of alcohol and real sporting events. I'm not talking about a DDS-sponsored event at 11:30 a.m. with Collis Ray (no offense). I'm talking student-run, casual and responsible events outside of Memorial Field, Burnham Field and Thompson Arena, where Dartmouth students can operate the same way most college-aged adults do on campuses across the country. No more special rules. No more living in fear of Safety and Security and the police. Hanover is not a bubble, but it's not some Puritan settlement either. Let's grow up.
I'd like to be able to gather on my lawn on Saturday morning with my friends, drink a beer (legally) and toss the football around before Dartmouth football plays its final home game of the season against Princeton University. But I just don't know if its "worth-it" to risk another GLOS infraction or violation. At the very least, a mature discourse needs to be started.
Good luck to soccer again today, and go Big Green this weekend.
