The crowds at college sports events are rough, and they’re getting rougher.

While media and social critics focus continually on the commercial elements of college competition itself, less attention has been paid to behavior in the grandstands, where the use of abusive language has fallen in line with professional norms.

“I ... yelled some of the most obscene, awful things you’ve ever heard during the course of the game while drinking heavily from my sweet Jim Beam 14 oz. flask,” wrote one poster to a college bulletin board. “Some of the stuff I said even made me blush. Either way, welcome to college football. Get over it.”

College administrators are increasingly concerned about such attitudes and are taking initial steps to confront an obvious disconnect with higher education. A story in the October 31 issue of USA Today cited programs that have been implemented at several Division I institutions to combat the use of inappropriate language.

The problem is hardly unique to Division I, however. It ranges from the pros all the way to youth leagues. An ad hoc group in Division II is asking whether better fan behavior could be an effective marketing tool and what role athletics administrators must play to bring about meaningful change.

“I think there may be a tendency to give the abusive fans a pass because they’re actually in the stands and everybody craves for attendance at their events,” said Pfeiffer President Charles Ambrose, who is leading the examination. “I don’t think loud and abusive language should be tolerated under any conditions, but there’s also a practical element to this. How many fans are we driving away because they feel like they can’t bring their children to our games?”

Mars Hill Athletics Director David Riggins has enlisted his campus student-athlete advisory committee to help build a better environment and is excited about the results. One key feature involves having a Mars Hill student-athlete join with an athlete from the opposing team in reading a statement that affirms that the competition about to occur is an extension of the classroom.

Other administrators say that such approaches are laudable but that there’s no substitute for confronting bad behavior. To that end, Division II hopes to develop material that will show ADs and other leaders how to deal most effectively with difficult situations.

As if the matter isn’t complicated enough, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union has opined that the loud and vulgar language should be protected as free speech. While that premise seems highly debatable, university administrators are careful with the threat because terms like “vulgar,” “profane” and “abusive” are all subjective appraisals.

In the meantime, Ambrose regards “hope” as the best of all four-letter words. “Division II is going to change the cultural tide of college athletics,” he said.

Come heck or high water.

Mars Hill sportsmanship statement

"Welcome to today's South Atlantic Conference contest between the Bulldog's and the Lions. We see this field as an extension of our classroom environment where we learn dignity and respect for others.

"Today we ask for your enthusiastic support of your respective team. We also ask that you support the student-athletes from both institutions by honoring our request that you treat all fans, official, coaches and student-athletes with respect.

"Thank you."