CAPE STUDENTS FIND RULES INHIBITING

Administrators at Cape Girardeau Central High School have taken much of the fun out of attending athletic events at the school, several Cape Central students claim.

The students, who gave comment during Friday night's home boys basketball game against Poplar Bluff, are unhappy with recent actions taken against students for their cheers at Central events.

"They allow us to cheer to an extent, but not to our extent, to the administration's extent," said Bert Spradling, the only one of several Central students interviewed willing to give his name. "They have taken away the fun."

Some students have been unhappy in recent weeks with Central principal Dan Talent, who in a Jan. 13 game against New Madrid County Central chastised a group of students for continuously chanting the phrase "air ball" at a New Madrid player.

The Central administration contends that such comments directed at individual players are negative in nature and not in line with school and state good sportsmanship policy.

But the students said that since such comments are commonplace at other schools, why do Central officials have a problem with them?

"We just want to yell and get rowdy," Spradling said, adding that razzing the opposition is part of the enjoyment of being a fan. Also, Spradling and his associates contend that getting under the opposition's skin helps keep them off balance. There is no malacious intent involved.

"We feel that the administration has more to focus on than how we support our team," said one student who did not wish to give his name.

"We're not looking to take it to any new levels or break any new ground," he added. "We just want to do what fans normally do."

Another student pointed out that in little league baseball it is a common practice for players in the field to razz the batter with chants of "ay-batter, ay-batter, swing batter."

"If a 6-year-old can take that than an 18-year-old can take `air ball'," he said.

One Central student who identified himself only as a former member of the school's basketball squad said that athletes know that comments from fans are a part of the game and that it doesn't affect them.

"I had `air ball' yelled at me before and as a player you shake it off," he said. "It doesn't bother you."