The Cameron Crazies have been known to cross the line in various ways during Duke basketball games, but nobody wants to believe they would chant what some of them are being accused of having chanted on Thursday night. NC State freshman guard Tyler Lewis lost his grandmother last Friday. He was reportedly close with her and has been taking it hard, and some people are accusing Duke fans of taunting him over it.
The chant in the video above is fairly inaudible. During Lewis’ second free throw, it certainly sounds like the fans were chanting “past your bedtime,” which was a reference to a message that was shown on the videoboard at Cameron Indoor Stadium, according to The Blue Zone. However, a number of people believe a small group of fans were taunting Lewis about the passing of his grandmother during the first free throw, and several students and fans have gone on message boards and social media sites to say that they were there and heard it.
I was sitting on press row toward the Duke entrance. No reason to demonize the student section, guys. Handful of dumb college kids.
— Nolan Evans (@RealNolanEvans) February 8, 2013
Tyler Lewis’ grandmother died last Friday. He was close to her and called her every day to check in. Duke fans chanted “How’s your grandma?”
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 8, 2013
While the chant in the video certainly is inconclusive, a number of commenters on The Blue Zone claim they were at the game and that it did actually happen. We know the Crazies did indeed heckle Lewis, as they reportedly chanted “Bilbo Baggins!” at him to make fun of his height (5-foot-11) earlier in the game. But joking about a lost loved one isn’t acceptable in any forum, let alone during a college basketball game. This isn’t the type of passion those alumni were calling for when they called out the Crazies.
UPDATE: The News Observer spoke to Lewis’ parents. Lewis’ father says the chant did happen, but it was from a minority of fans while the majority were doing the “bedtime” taunt.
“It was mostly ‘Past your bedtime,’ but there was an instant when a brief number of students chanted about Tyler’s grandmother,” Rick Lewis said Friday. “It wasn’t the entire student section, I think a few tried to outdo themselves.”
Stormstopper
The chant in question was “Past your bedtime.” I know that because I was at the game, and they showed someone on the video board holding up a sign saying it was past Tyler Lewis’s bedtime. Then, I heard the chant with my own ears.
Nora Deweese
wow thats sad very classey duke
pete
Duke fans have never had class. The suffer from a superiority complex. You have to think you arel superior to make up for the total geekyness of their fans. Who else but geeks would act like they do?
Bluecloud7
What isn’t classy is disparaging Duke students on hearsay evidence. I called my son, a Duke freshman, this morning to ask him about the chant. He was there. They didn’t chant “How’s your grandma?”, they did chant “Past your bedtime.” Perhaps not the most clever Duke chant of all time but not offensive either. They also chanted “Bilbo Baggins”, which, kinda clever. But the clearest evidence that the chant never occurred? Coach K is famous for shutting things down that cross the line. If the students had begun chanting “How’s you grandma?” en masse? Coach K would have shut it down, immediately. He probably would have called a time out to do so. He’s done it before.
Tarheels9999
This is utter BS. The chant was “past your bedtime”. Way to jump to conclusions. Jealousy will make people do anything.
And I’m a UNC fan!
Ryan McAvoy
Oh, so because you asked your son, a Duke student, he must be telling the truth
Steven Bortstein
and so what if they did chant “how’s your grandma?” at the kid. Unfortunately, we have become too damn politically correct or ignorant in some segments of society to believe that a 19, 20, or 21 year-old kid is going to do what is considered “morally” or “ethically” right. I’m sorry, this is what is called a home-court advantage, and if the poor kid without a grandmother can’t handle the abuse he’ll take at a meaningless Duke basketball game, how is he going to handle the abuse and berating and disappointments that will happen to him when he is a member of a working society. Suck it up, don’t be a baby.
Bluecloud7
I know my son better than you do. I know that I can ask him a question like this and be told the truth. So, yes, I know that my son was telling the truth, not because he’s a Duke student but because he’s my son.
Jason
Clearly they are saying “past your bedtime” the freshman looks very young and whimpy, hence the chat….media loves to stir anything against duke…..no class back at you. They chanted “pull your socks down” at the last game I was at, does that really mean “hope your mom drowns” ? MEDIA FAIL and you buy into it… lol
Dunkin' Donuts
This stupid article with no substantiation whatsoever, including a video clip which un-supports the claim, is more offensive than the alleged offense. Shame on YOU.
Jim Jordan
And because you hate Duke, the other version must be true. Hypocrit…
Jim Jordan
Well if they had chanted that, I would have been embarrassed as a Duke fan. That is the bottom of the barrel trash like behavior, which you don’t seem to mind. Home game or not, that would have ben over the line.
Otis Cecil
Or perhaps your son was among the select few that were chanting the insensitive remarks? Sounds like someone was covering his own BUTT and Mommy/Daddy wants to play “not my child!”
Bluecloud7
OK, so, you just called me and my son liars. Do you think that’s OK because we’re both associated with Duke or do call lots of people liars on the Internet? I’m just trying to clarify what you think is acceptable.
controlledmayhem1
duke fans have always been as**oles ! they are spoiled mama boys, who like to think that daddy and his money will always protect them. believe me, i have been amongst the “DUKIES” many times. CANT SAY I LIKED EVEN ONE OF THEM.
ScottD
Regardless of what was said…taunting is very classy…way to go Duke fans. Always been a-holes – thanks for proving it.
Matthew Bingham
I completely believe that all of the above things were said to this kid. How sad. And how would coach K be able to go and stop them from saying “hows your grandma?” when it’s so loud in that place? I hate Duke, period! Never ONCE liked any of their players until they got into the NBA and actually PROVED themselves. Majority of them are losers. Shane Battier, Bobby Hurley, Alaa Abdelnaby, just to name a few who got schooled at the pro level and became yesterdays news fast!
DodgeRam1500
so now fans are told what they can chant about? BS…Stop hating on DUKE
John Doughe
Dear Steven Bortstein,
Let’s see… Your entire family is loaded with whores, pedophiles and other degenerate scum the world loathes. Judging by your last name, you may have been taunted throughout your life and called a lot worse than jewboy more than a few times. Your Grandmother is a toothless old split tail who picks at her wounds while calling you abusive names. I hope you don’t take offense at any of this, especially when I don’t know you or your family personally. If you are taking offense, suck it up and don’t be a baby.
John Doughe
Freedom of speech, baby! Duke fans have that right to spew out of their s hit filled mouths whatever they want to say, because the constitution of the USA allows them. My freedom of speech allows me to say that the Dodge Ram 1500 is the single biggest POS out there, so there!
John Doughe
Otis Cecil is trolling you, BC7.