I have a dear friend who's a diehard texas fan, and he's one of the best fans I know, b/c he is unapologetically objective about texas. He isn't a blind fan who just spouts the party line, he looks at the team with a critical eye and doesn't pull any punches.
While the media and texas fanbase was going gaga over Colt McCoy, he and I were still watching to see something special from him (he was impressed after the Nebraska win, I thought he might be something after I watched him carry y'all to the win over Tech in Lubbock, although I'm back on the fence after K-State/A&M).
He'll flatout tell you the texas linebackers were mediocre to terrible last season, the offensive line was overrated, and the secondary was horrible.
He's also quick to praise players on other teams, even rivals. He thought Adrian Peterson was a little overrated by the media, but acknowledged his talent. He raves about Michael Goodson more than I do (I remember what Fran did with Derek Farmer & Courtney Lewis; I don't wanna jinx Goodson).
In short, he is a fan of college football who doesn't let his allegiance to one school overshadow his appreciation for the other great players in the game. He's objective, and it shows.
If you want to be a better fan, just try to be more objective. Saying a player at another school is great doesn't lessen your program or a player on your team.

Oh, and if you really want to be a fan other fanbases can admire, police your own. If you see a dumbshit giving a 'heil hitler' salute during a football game as the Aggie Band walks onto the field, cheerfully inform him if he doesn't put his arm down, you will break it. There is no place for that in college football, and there is no reason one fan should embarrass your whole fanbase. (BTW, I saw plenty examples of this in '98 when I was in Austin, didn't see any in '04, so good job to those of you who stepped up and told people to quit that crap; I don't think it still goes on, I was just using it as an example of unacceptable behavior.)

I wish there was some way to eliminate the interaction drunken fans have with opposing fans before, during, and after games, b/c that is where you have your most problems, but I don't know how you'd do that, short of taking alcohol away from tailgating, and that isn't going to happen (or an acceptable solution).

6.  I will welcome discussion on sports other than the Big 3. In fact, I will make every effort to attend at least one Longhorns sporting event outside of the Big 3 each and ever year.  And I will revel in their successes, commiserate in their defeats, and glory in the amazing display of athletic talent that's regularly on display outside of DKR.

I don't know what frustrates me more.  The Fact that BZ always beats me to these comments, or the fact that (Due to my lack of writing skills) he states them much better than I could.

I think that during a game, or even a moment, all "Great fans" get carried away into that "Illogical Passion".  That feeling is why a lot of us love to go to games or watch them.

I think the objectivity and policing our own Beergut mentioned comes into play the next day when we discuss it at our BON water cooler.  That objectivity is why we compliment him and even the SC fans that comment on this site.

But I agree with BZ, being Stoic and disciplining those around me is not really a game experience to me.  At least not the one I want.  I recognize that there are idiots at every school, and some of them get tickets.  I wish I could stop that.... but alas.

of course there is, but his point seemed to me to be not so much about the violent or profane, as much as it was about passionate idiocy.

Cursing and throwing things is a little different.  If a grown man was beating a child I would stop him too.  

I guess what I was commenting on was the generality that the constantly objective, always mild-mannered fan is the "Best" fan.  Taking away the obviously extreme cases, I would disagree.

PS I also do not think we should take A&M for granted this year.  I think they are going to be every bit as good as last year on the offensive side of the ball, and our defense has a lot of question marks.

1. I will support my conference against all others. We get to rag on the Aggies, because they are Our Aggies. Others do not have that privilege.

2. I will remain a fan of the sport as well as a fan of my team. Winning is not everything. Good football is played at schools other than Texas.

3. Though I support my players, I also demand that they give their best and practice good sportsmanship. They represent me and my university.

4. I recognize that everyone has the right to complain -- about anything. However, I expect that they will do so civilly and understand that others are not obliged to take them seriously.

10. No cheap shots about a school.

I don't care who you are, you don't make fun of tragic incidents that have happened in a school's history.
A&M had Bonfire, texas had Charles Whitman, Virginia Tech had their tragedy this past Spring. If you bring them up to downgrade a rival, all you're showing is your inability to discourse intelligently, so you're grabbing for the sucker punch.
That isn't being clever or funny, it's just proving your father should've worn a condom.  

The simple fact that a blog like this would have an in depth discussion about how to be the best, most respectful, prideful fans we can be... is pretty impressive.

And with all sides so passionate...  this place is just at a higher level than the other sites I visit where people comment.