Rivalries are part of the fun of college sports. Spectators root for their alma maters and other favorite teams, and those loyalties tend to last a while. Even though I finished my undergraduate degree a long time ago, I still enjoy watching our old arch rivals lose. With that in mind, I wanted to write/vent about something I witnessed at the football game last weekend, but I want to be careful not to come across as too negative.

First, a bit of background: I attended a community college because I had a scholarship and wanted to save money by living at home. I actually began my studies in a dual-credit economics course the summer before my senior year of high school. I did exceptionally well and obtained a few more scholarships to help offset tuition at the state university where I transferred as a junior. It wasn’t an Ivy League school or a Tier I research institution, but I received a solid foundation in my chosen major and earned a bachelor’s degree.

A decade-plus went by, and then I had the opportunity to return to school for a master’s degree with tuition remission assistance through my employer (a private university). One thing led to another, and here I am a few years later — just a handful of courses and one gigantic research paper away from being called “Dr.” (And this degree is through another state school, by the way.)

Ok, back to the football game …

Some fans from the opposing team (the aforementioned arch rivals from undergrad) were smack-talking and being typical, enthusiastic college kids. They weren’t being obnoxious (at that point), and besides — their team was beating ours soundly throughout the first half.

As the competition wore on, the crowd got more boisterous on both sides. Our guys finally turned the game around, and the opposing team started packing up to leave in the 4th quarter. As a few of the rivals walked past us to exit, I heard someone on the other side of the aisle rib them: “Go get a real degree!”

I took personal offense to that comment. If I could have seen who said it, then I might have confronted them about it. The sad fact is, that smart-aleck comment embodies all of the negative connotations of a private school. It reminded me of the pretentious snobs I knew in high school who looked down their noses at me for going to a community college instead of an elite school. It made me think of the people in the city around us, even today, who still feel alienated by the bubble of the rich kids’ school. (<<Granted, I know full well that many, many students receive financial assistance, but there is still a perception that private schools are for the wealthy.)

Mostly, it made me sad that people stoop to the level of insulting one another over a game. That comment wasn’t about football. It was a personal affront to the quality of their education. As much as I jab and tease about my arch rival, it is still a fine institution of higher education. My first degree came from a school of equal caliber, and I felt truly insulted on Saturday by my “own kind.”