Tubby Tells Gophers Fans To Watch Their Language
By John Lauritsen, WCCO-TV
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Tubby Smith, the Gophers men's basketball head coach, thinks some of the chants coming out of the student section lately have been less than tasteful.
To make his point, Smith sent out an e-mail to students, who sit in the section known as the Barnyard, and asked them to refrain from using certain vulgarities.
"We are incredibly appreciative of your support, but I must express my disappointment of the language directed at the Ohio State team," Smith wrote.
Smith said chants, such as "F-blank-blank-blank Ohio State" and singling out players, don't belong in the college game.
"When he speaks up, people have a tendency to listen," Matt Thomas, a University of Minnesota student, said.
Respect for Smith might be enough to stop the chants -- for now.
"If he wants to send me an e-mail and tell me to tone it down a little bit, I will listen," a men's Gopher basketball fan said.
