Mike Steiner
Sports Editor
It’s great to be back in New England, let me tell you. I was getting pretty tired of dealing with 75-degree weather. Too much sun can really put a damper on anyone’s day.
Before I left for my last spring break ever (not something I’m happy about saying by the way) I spoke with a few coaches about this and that. One of the things that came up was attendance at games.
With March Madness underway (my bracket is still doing well, miraculously) there’s no better time to discuss how important fan support can be to a team.
While it can’t be viewed as a main factor in their team’s success, it’s no surprise that all the biggest contenders in the tournament all have famously loud and passionate fans. There’s a reason Duke supporters are called “Cameron Crazies.” It’s not from going to bars instead of games and it’s not from showing up (or leaving) at halftime.
Which lead us to the elephant in the room: Most coaches will agree that fan support is inconsistent for the majority of the season.
That’s not to say there aren’t particular sports or events that don’t grab a huge crowd, but on those nights that aren’t marquee matchups or sports that aren’t the most popular, attendance is really lacking, which, to put it frankly, kinda sucks.
I’ve had the pleasure of following all the teams closely for almost two years now and to me, missing a game is a last resort. I’ve skipped too many assignments to go to games, which when looked at from a practical point of view probably isn’t something to brag about, but this is my school. I’m from Keene State and I’m proud to go out and support my team because I know they’re doing their best to represent me.
I don’t mean to make it sound like fans never show their support, however.
Earlier this year when the men’s soccer team was making its run to glory, fans were consistently out in large numbers standing behind the fence and screaming their support for KSC (while also screaming less supportive things towards the opponents). I look back at those games fondly because of the way the fans rallied around each other to support the team and the ultimate success that came along with our supporting them.
Midnight Madness was another example of great fan support. It was awesome sitting down and seeing a packed house standing and dancing and showing their support for both basketball teams, cheerleaders, and the dance team.
I don’t mean to call out fans, because those who do consistently go to games are making a difference. My grudge I suppose is with those who don’t go to games consistently.
One of my favorite parts of regularly attending games is seeing how players improve or overcome cold streaks.
There’s a lot more to watching a game than the box scores can explain, and you won’t know that unless you go to games and follow teams.
How many people have actually been to a swim meet or a track meet? Chances are, not many. This blows my mind since they are arguably two of the most successful teams in the entire NCAA over the last few years.
Those that have been to one or multiple of these meets knows that there are few instances in sports that are more exciting than the homestretch of a race.
Unfortunately it’s only those few that know.
Chances are if you’re reading this column you’re not one of the people the coaches are referring to, and for that I thank you.
The fans at my high school were crazy about our sports, and it was an awesome experience. Rushing the field after our soccer team won the league title will always be one of my fondest memories.
We were so crazy that we were asked to leave multiple away games solely based on the fact that the athletic director didn’t know how to handle such a large showing from an away team.
In fact, our fans were so well known that during the first week of college at Southern Connecticut State University where I went freshman year (ironically, they were the Owls as well,) I told someone where I was from and he said, “Oh, you’re the town with the crazy fans. Man, we hated you guys because you were so loud.”
That was amazing and something I couldn’t wait to tell my friends from home about.
I’m not asking everyone to go paint their bodies or wear those ridiculous one-piece spandex suits to games. In fact, it would probably be better that most of us didn’t do either.
What I am asking is that we try to get more involved in the school’s sports. It’s baseball, softball, and lacrosse season, and unfortunately those are some of the least attended games on campus. Every one of those teams are predicted to have a great year, so why not give watching them play a try? I can promise you they would appreciate it.
Mike Steiner can be contacted at msteiner@keeneequinox.com
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