GW shouldn’t listen to the students who will clamor for it to “stop trying to make sports a thing.”

And despite a terribly silly name, students shouldn’t laugh at “The Revolutionary Rivalry.” (But feel free to snicker at the so-called “Tri-Corner Hat Trophy” that goes to the winner.)

The rivalry GW has built between the University and George Mason University in Virginia is a smart move, as GW needs an A-10 conference rival to hate.

After all, Georgetown is neither in the A-10 nor a legitimate rival for us, despite the number GW students with rejection letters.

Hatred is good in sports. And it’s something that we at GW don’t have enough of. In a press release on the GW-George Mason rivalry, University Director of Athletics and Recreation Patrick Nero called for “hard-fought, but friendly competition.”

The last three words should be ignored.

Of course, there should be sportsmanship on the court, but there shouldn’t be anything friendly about it. To be effectively rally a crowd, rivalries need an element of nastiness. And part of that nastiness must come from the crowd.

This isn’t a call for irresponsible unruliness or for an increase in profanities, but don’t be afraid get aggressive and create a home field advantage for GW athletics.

This rivalry will take time to develop – and students shouldn’t reject forming new traditions.

Until the Revolutionary Rivalry becomes more established and students learn something about George Mason to be disliked, follow the lead of Dave Chappelle’s character from the Playa Haters Ball: “I don’t even know you and I hate your guts. I hope all the bad things in life happen to you and nobody else,” George Mason.

The writer is a senior majoring in international affairs, is a Hatchet columnist.