By Tanner Anderson, Page Editor
Feel free to disagree, but at times our school spirit is somewhat like the Titanic.
At times it seems indestructible, but eventually it ends up sinking.
Nothing but pure envy and awe flooded my basketball spirit after watching Kansas University put on a solid show against a talented Texas A&M team Monday night. Both teams had almost identical records, with the Aggies at 15-4 and the Jayhawks close behind with 14-4. Although the defending national champions are unranked this season, the magnitude and ferocity of the Kansas fans were as strong as they were during the final of the 2008 NCAA Tournament.
I compared this game to my recent fan experience, when ACU battled Eastern New Mexico, defeating its opponents 68-58. Only a handful of fans seemed to be present at that game; and after watching the Jayhawks and Aggies battle it out, I was overcome by a wave of jealousy for the fans that reside in Lawrence, Kan.
This yearning didn’t stem from wanting a better team; it came from wanting a more supportive fan base.
For two 20-minute halves, the Kansas University fans flooded the gym and from wall to wall reverberated the stands with endless cheers, chants and jeers.
It’s during the football season when our school spirit seems the largest, and to be honest that’s when going to athletic games is the most exciting.
You pick your designated section, and from the opening kick off until the very last down, students scream and cheer so loudly that their throats are sore.
And why shouldn’t they? Having school spirit and pride in your team is fun.
So why aren’t students taking advantage of these opportunities after the football season is over to root for our basketball team?
This year, the Wildcat Men’s basketball team is on the bubble of being a playoff contender.
With a record of 7-8 and 11 games left in the regular season, ACU students have a chance to support and positively affect the last five home games in Moody Coliseum.
Moody can hold a capacity of 4,600 people, and according to attendance records, each basketball game is only attracting an average of 420 fans, and that includes the moms and pops who drove from different ends of the earth to see their sons play in Abilene, opposed to the 8,796 fans who witnessed another amazing football season.
After seeing for myself this fun fact, I just have to ask our fellow sports fans, where’s the love?
This Saturday at 4 p.m. our team will be playing Angelo State at home.
Let’s at least have more fans for the home team than Angelo State.
Kay See
posted 1/23/09 @ 10:55 AM CST
Amen Tanner….It is sad when there are more retired faculty and retired staff and ACU alumni at the game than there are students and current facualty and current staff.
The baskeball teams (the women’s team need your support too) are getting into the most exciting part of their schedules. With Angelo State this weekend, then Tarleton State on Tuesday evening, the ACU students need to pack Moody! You know that Angelo State and Tarleton State will bring their fans, including their students.
So, put your Wildcat purple on and bring a date and come support the Wildcats….don’t forget, baseball season is just around the corner and this year should prove to be an outstanding year for the ACU baseball team as well!
By the way, my hats off to Coach Lavendar and team in their 4 overtime victory over Texas Womans. 290 points scored, 18 school, LSC & NCAA records broken that night and ACU won by 4! Way to go Coach!
Kay See, CPA
ACU Class ’81
Kyle Byrd
posted 1/23/09 @ 8:44 PM CST
Welcome to ACU…and Texas for that matter…football is king…
In my 5 years at ACU there has NEVER been the same level of support for any other sport as there is for football…Every single year there is some kind of effort to increase attendance but it doesn’t work.
One possible reason is that most of the basketball games are held during the week in contrast to football games being on Saturdays. Students are busy during the week trying to get stuff done.
I’m not saying give up on the effort. I understand this is just the yearly rant about how basketball isn’t as big of a deal here than people think it should be.
