Alvernia female student warned to stop climbing the glassREADING, PA. - College sporting events are typically the same no matter which game or sport is being played. Fans who come out in support of their team normally get loud and try to get into the opponent's heads. Some of these large groups of fans are commonly referred to as the "sixth man". The "sixth man" has taken the role of cheering to a higher and more intense level. The main goal is to be so loud that their team gets pumped up, and the opposing team gets intimidated. Most squads choose to stand up during the whole game. In this particular case, the "sixth man" has gone well beyond what could be considered acceptable with regard to gamesmanship and support.
In a hotly contested D3 college hockey game last weekend between Alvernia University and Penn State Harrisburg, drunk and disorderly Alvernia students hurled non-stop out of control verbal abuse at on-ice officials, Penn State players, and their fans.
While the video isn't very audible we can assure you what was being said went well beyond "R" rated. All of which was in front of parents and children with zero concern for any of them. From what Youth Hockey Info has learned, it isn't the first time for this group of abhorrent students acting wildly as they've been warned about their behavior at previous events. From beginning to end these raucous and very obviously overly intoxicated students continued to holler obscenities at anybody and everybody who wasn't there to support the Alvernia Golden Wolves men's ice hockey team. But it didn't begin there, the same group of students were also in attendance and acting out with their loud and obnoxious verbal abuse at the women's ice hockey game before. At times throughout the game, both men and women Alvernia students would make their way over to the Penn State section of the stands and shout obscenities with threatening comments and gestures toward the PSU player's friends and families. All of which was reported and the league has acted accordingly. The actions and behavior of the Alvernia students are completely unacceptable and therefore steps are being taken by the league and University. Going forward all home games for Alvernia men's ice hockey will include onsite security, a law enforcement presence, and a clear and secure path of movement for visiting team players, fans, and officials on, off, and around the ice and stands. It's kind of pathetic it has come to this and has to be this way but safety is the biggest concern and if the students cannot control themselves, actions must be taken.