The Sunderland fans are a pretty reasonable bunch, there are miles worse out there eg Leeds and Newcastle, and we dont carry a reputation for causing trouble; which doesn't mean that we are soft but it means that we go to enjoy the day and hope for a win.
We have taken, for example, the maximum allocation at Millwall - just over 3000 - in recent seasons and there hasn't been one scrap of bother. Millwall hasn't bothered our fans because there has been nowt to get bothered about.
I would like to think that if you went up and spoke to an SAFC fan you'd come away with a pretty favourable impression of us - just like your mate you were at University with.