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A true Wildcat fan

To the editor,

I have been a Wildcat fan since I was in my teens, in the early 80s. This was especially odd because I grew up in the heart of Sun Devil country, but never developed a liking for them or their fans. I am odd for another reason - I am obviously one of the few people that is truly a Wildcat fan.

My office, at the UA, is covered with Wildcat paraphernalia, and I am always in red on the day of a game. But I go way beyond that. I love my Wildcats whether they are winning or losing. I feel their hearts break with each loss and rejoice with them when they win. I stay until the end of the game, whether we are losing by 20 points or fighting a close race. I am embarrassed by their indiscretions, and I celebrate their graduations and kind deeds (which, by the way, are rarely newsworthy). I, being a true fan, do not bad-mouth the coaching staff or players after a bad game, then act like we are old friends after a win. I do not call for the resignation of the coaching staff after a .500 season. The head coach happens to have an incredible record and the respect of his players. I happen to know of situations where he has gone above and beyond to help a player or family of a player. Of course, being human, I do question judgment, occasionally, on the part of a player or coach, but until I am ready and able to don the pads and play the game, I have the utmost respect for those that do it, and continue to support my Wildcats.

Debbi Howard

Undergraduate adviser, political science