An Open Letter to the BU Zoo

Fellow BU Zoo members, lend me your ears.

With the return of the Zoo inhabitants from break, our men’s basketball team hosted the Hartford Hawks. Following the stunning 71-62 defeat, thanks to Hartford making 72 percent of its free throws, I began to noticed a habit of our Zoo which just has to be altered and another which needs to be reinstated.

The first practice which absolutely has to go is the “raising of the spirit fingers” while our foul shooter is on the BU Zoo side of the court. Now, I know your argument “… but Duke does it, so it must be OK.” No, it’s not OK. All you are doing is distracting your own player. If distracting your own player doesn’t define “home court advantage,” I don’t know what does.

Why don’t we just wave around white balloons and hand out Bearcats thunder sticks on top of it? The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim do it, so it must be OK. Binghamton University is currently shooting 75 percent from the free throw line on the season but was just 4-for-9 during the Hartford loss. You’re not helping to raise that percentage with your fingers, so let us all do BU a favor — keep your hands down.

While we are on the topic of adapted traditions, what ever happened to the pizza box? Sure, we still give away a few pies per game, but what happens to these boxes after the pizza is consumed? Have we lost touch with a BU Zoo tradition which is all of two years old? I submit that we start giving away these pizzas at the first available break in play, rather than halfway through the second half and only to those seated within the Zoo area and behind the hoop on the far end of the court. Two pies for each side, preferably to a row in the stands capable of throwing off opposing free throw shooters. Bring back the Pizza Box. Bring back the Bearcat chomp. I’ve spoken with friends at the University of Florida; they don’t mind us stealing the Gator chomp.

Fellow animals of the BU Zoo, I urge you to be intelligent with your fanhood antics and Broadus’ boys will make it to the big tournament. Do away with the useless actions, and bring back those which gave our team victories even under the leadership of Al Walker. Half of our remaining games are at home; make them count.

Sincerely,

Michael Ryan

BU Zoo