Today, the twelfth of March 2001, I was informed that many of your students were reprimanded for their actions during Saturday's hockey contest. While I too was in attendance and do believe the fans were both boisterous and out of line, there are indeed several aspects to recognize. I will first of all establish that I do not condone the way in which the boys carried themselves; however, the words and comparisons you used in your speech to them was somewhat ludicrous. Let it be known that no man would be proud to say they knew these kids on that afternoon, yet to draw out and develop the situation using the examples as far as you did simply was far fetched and unjust action.
To first of all mention that ND's proud and high standing reputation was tarnished and "knocked down a peg,"" is a fair and true fact. However, to challenge these boys to question their own morale and think about how badly they hurt the school's name was blown out of proportion. To accuse them of disgusting the 4,000 fans in attendance is something you should feel bad about exaggerating. Not only could the chants and noises of the ND student section not be heard very clearly on the other side of the arena, but also Fairfield's side had many discriminating chants that you failed to acknowledge. Furthermore many of the spectators on Notre Dame's side were middle school children, who I distinctly witnessed many of them wide-eyed and awed at the students' energy and support of their team. You all accused them of chasing people away from our school in essence, when in fact many of the children in the building definitely felt all the more reason to attend ND, given the fact that thei!.
r student body was so plentiful, supportive, and energetic during the game. If anything, they realized ND students stick together and support one another whole-heartedly.
To lecture them on how the fans didn't "even support your fellow teammates because of your actions,"" is another statement that you should realize is false.
