A fan's guide to a sports rivalry.

Rivalries can be fun, but  can also get old and annoying very fast.  Typically, it isn't the game itself that is annoying, but the fans sitting on either side of the rivalry.  Here is your fan's guide to keeping a sports rivalry fun for everyone.

1. Passionately cheer for your team to do well.
2. Do not cheer for the injuries, penalties, or other bad things to happen to the opposing team.  (The game is always more fun when it is close, clean, hard fought, and has both teams at full strength).
3. Do not be a fair weather fan...Win or lose, always support your team fully. 
4. Do not blame a loss on the refs, there are/were plenty of opportunities that your team likely did not take advantage of. 
5. Always spell your rival's team name correctly.
6. If your team loses, congratulate the rival team, acknowledge they played better, and move on.
7. If your team wins, do not seek out rival fans just to rub it in.
8. If your team loses, acknowledge that it was likely because the rival team played well, and not because your team "had an off night".
9. Never storm the court or field.  It is dangerous for players, coaches, and refs...and should never be done in a rival game (or any game for that matter).
10. Acknowledge that rivalries typically have a long history...but it is bad sportsmanship to throw out "we may have lost today, but we still have more overall wins"...or statements of that nature. 
11. Remember it is possible to support your team, without bad mouthing or using derogatory nicknames for opposing players and coaches. 
12. On social media, support your team before, during, and after the game...but do not just "appear" after your team wins acting like you have been supporting the team the whole time.
13. Keep the sports teams and the academic institution separate.  Attacks on the academic institution are childish and pointless. 
14. Remember, ultimately it is only a game.  The individuals involved are human beings who have feelings, make mistakes, and when it comes down to it are way better than any of us are at the sport we are watching (even when they are making mistakes).
15. Trash talking can be fun, as long as it stays lighthearted and does not become personal attacks.



This is not an exclusive list (and is strictly my opinion)...but if we all follow these guidelines, the rivalry should continue to be fun for all fans, players, and coaches.