The Older Man

A 62-year-old University of Alabama (UA) football fan, Harvey Updyke Jr., contacted a radio talk show and confessed on air that he poisoned two-century-old trees in Auburn, Alabama. He committed this alleged act in retaliation for the lose UA suffered this year at the hands of Auburn University (AU), and the irreverence displayed by the Auburn fans after the death of Alabama’s revered coach Bear Bryant in 1983.

There are two aspects of this story, which concern me – his age, and his obsession with a football team.

I am 62, grew up in Massachusetts and an avid Boston sports fan. I dislike the Yankees and use wicked derogatory language when speaking about them, but realize it is only a game. When the Sox win, it is a good day and a loss is a bad day, but there is always tomorrow. It is hard for me to comprehend a person my age doing something of this nature. I guess age does not matter when dealing with an obsessed person.

College football especially in the south creates rabid fans that become obsessive over their team. The pass ten years football’s popularity has increased a hundred fold, with the National Championship college game gaining more and more exposure. Six months of the year, the sporting world saturates us with college football encouraging fans to attend games and cheer for their team.

Most fans are college students who go, cheer the team on, have a good time, and if their team wins, may go a little overboard celebrating, but Monday morning return to class, and wait for the next game.

Boosters are alumni who donate large sums of money for college athletics. They want to see returns on their money and expect national titles, which leads to breaking rules during recruiting; giving gifts and money to the super stars of the team to insure they will remain at the school.

Mr. Updyke falls into the small group considered a rabid fan obsessed with his team winning at any cost. His life revolves around the team and will do anything to see them succeed. When they win, his life is going great and when they lose, he is miserable. He relives games played years ago carrying a grudge, will sabotage the opponent’s field; send hate mail, or even death threats.

Mr. Updyke told the radio host part of his revenge was the disrespect the Auburn students displayed when Mr. Bryant died by throwing toilet paper on the two trees, which is an Auburn tradition after a victory.

The other problem is Mr. Updyke showed no remorse or guilt. His actions spoke louder than words, as someone had to right the wrong of not only this year but also the one 27 years ago.

Mr. Updyke is out on bond, and if convicted could spend time in jail. If, he does he will be a hero to the Alabama fans and a villain to the Auburn fans. This is sad because it was over a football team who play a game for a college whose purpose is teaching higher education.

Mr. Updyke’s passion became an obsession because he did not realize it is only a game.