I'm what many of you may refer to as an outsider.
I was not born here, nor was I raised here. Nor do I plan on living here for any lengthy portion of my life.
But, for the time being, Memphis, Tenn. is my home. I'm comfortable here. In becoming familiar with the history and traditions of this school and city, a few things have become apparent.
Among the more obvious is its love for basketball. This I can relate to, somewhat, for it's been just more than two years since I relocated here from my former stomping grounds at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
I can say with some certainty that Husker football is to Nebraska what Tiger basketball is to Memphis. While all of you and the rest of the country may know Lincoln as a football town, I, too, know it as that — but I also know it as home.
I was raised on Husker football in all its glory. I can vaguely remember the illustrious teams of the ‘90s, teams that would likely be untouchable even today. During my time as a student in Lincoln, I witnessed at least twenty of the unparalleled 312-consecutive home sellouts at Memorial Stadium. I still get chills every time I hear the opening minutes of Alan Parsons Project's "Eye in the Sky."
And when I go back to Lincoln, I notice that some things change, but still some things stay the same. Among the unwavering are the class and grace exhibited by Husker football fans.
Here, too, I have noticed things. I've noticed this city has a long, tumultuous history. More importantly, I've noticed that I finally call this place home. I've called it other things, as I'm sure many of you have. But I'm proud to call it home. What else could I be?
While we encourage any and all feedback to The Daily Helmsman's social media feed, I was taken aback by comments made during and after our Tigers' football home opener against Mississippi State last week.
If the basketball team were to falter against an equally worthy opponent, would such a vitriolic backlash ensue? I think it wouldn't, and a double standard like this is wholly unfair.
Sure, Nebraska's basketball team is no gem. It may not equate with the Tigers' football team, either, though I couldn't tell you the last time it competed for a conference championship. I can't even say with authority that it's even won a conference championship.
But I have never, nor would I ever, make such spiteful, hateful, downright mean comments about either of my alma maters as were made about the Tigers football team last Thursday night.
The numbers don't lie. The Tigers football program is in shambles. And I'm no native Southerner, but I was raised to respect myself and to respect others. I'm sure many of you were, too.
So how can you show such disrespect to these athletes, your fellow students? Is their lopsided defeat at the hands of a nationally ranked opponent not enough public humiliation that you must hide behind the cloak of an online screen name and continue to assail them? Would you have the brass to out these athletes with such hateful comments were you to cross their paths in the middle of the UC?
After all, this campus is a home away from home for this school's athletes and for you and me, as well.
Just as Lincoln, Neb. was home to me. I called it home when, during my time as a student there, the storied football team fell to depths unrealized for more than 40 years.
And I called it home when the regional gathering of Neo-Nazis staged its annual marches on the front steps of the state capital, spewing hate within shouting distance of my back door.
Did these experiences test my patience? Of course they did, albeit in different ways.
But did they ever test my allegiance to the city in which I lived, or to the campus which I called home? Not once. If anything, my experiences as a student and resident at the University of Nebraska humbled me as a human being. I'm proud to have participated in such a tradition, and you should be just as proud of your time at The University of Memphis. When I receive my diploma in December, I know I will be.
I do not write this commentary to scold. Nor do I write to ask for the hateful among you to respect yourselves — I'll assume your comments represent you accordingly.
I'm addressing you to respect me, to respect the rest of the students and athletes and citizens who call Memphis home. I'm asking you to respect your home.
Because, no matter what, you've got to be proud to call this place home.
What else could you be?
