Purdue fans are not happy with their 1-8 football team or Ryan Walters, the man at the helm of the struggling program.
But don’t expect certain students to be voicing their displeasure about the whole situation at games after the school’s student section – the Paint Crew – sent out a note to its membership discouraging the participation in any anti-Walters chant.
During a basketball game between Purdue and Northern Kentucky last week a “Fire Walters” chant started at Mackey Arena, and with a game scheduled against Yale on Monday, it seemed someone wanted to get ahead of any further airing of grievances toward the school’s football coach.
“We have a strong reputation and we are well respected around college basketball for having class,” the message sent to the Paint Crew, the school’s basketball student section, read. “That being said we will not participate in any chants slandering our own coaches/players or the other teams coaches/players. Anyone participating in any such chants including chanting about our football coach, may be removed and have their membership revoked for the season.”
The note has drawn plenty of attention since it was sent to its members by an unidentified person associated with the Paint Crew’s social media accounts confirmed to the IndyStar that the athletics department at Purdue had “advised” the group to put out a statement “condemning the negative activity that a chant like that brings.”
Becoming part of the Paint Crew is a privilege and not one that is easy to obtain, according to the Purdue Exponent, the school’s student newspaper.
The Paint Crew also has an agreement that its members sign at the beginning of the year that states they agree to “be respectful” toward Purdue athletics employees, athletes and opposing players and coaches.
There are punishments laid out in that agreement should one of its members violate it.
“We do not expect to have to carry out any negative actions, but we wanted to reiterate our position of being a very positive and respectful student section towards both the opposing schools as well as our own,” the person told the IndyStar.
Purdue football has lost all but one game this season leading to an outcry from its fans to see a change in leadership for the program.
Their only win this season has come in the first week when they defeated Indiana State, 49-0.
They’ll host Penn State on Saturday in West Lafayette.
The basketball team has fared a bit better this season, winning both of its contests to start the young college basketball season.
