Brian Schnee
Equinox Staff
It seems almost too easy to do with a sometimes difficult transition from high school to college. Of course athletics shouldn’t take any more priority than any other organization at Keene State College, but shouldn’t they be cared for like they used to be?
By “used to be,” I mean in high school. Didn’t students show up to home athletic events and cheer for their squad?
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It’s the pride and joy, the guts and perhaps to some the most memorable things about college. I know, there is no Keene State College football and hasn’t been any since the 1930s but I feel like a majority of students at KSC just don’t care aboutbeing part of the universal term “the sixth man.”
This means a group of students and fans cheering and making the game’s environment even more enjoyable and it is a relatively universal term in most sports. The sixth man isn’t meant to be a sexist concept; however, the point of having a strong sixth man is to gain home field advantage.
Just ask a basketball player how important it is to be cheered on during a big game. It’s sickening to look around Spaulding Gymnasium on a Thursday night to see 75 percent of the seats open.
Now, it’s not a requirement, but attending an athletic event is a way to participate, meet other students and get involved on campus with little effort.
It is perfectly understandable that sports aren’t for everybody, but why not try and support others that try to make a positive impact on our college lives? Being in a “sold out” gymnasium is awesome.
Again, I’m not asking you to paint your face or take off your shirt and swing it around while completely harassing the opponent but how hard is it to yell every 10 minutes “HERE WE GO OWLS!” It isn’t too much to ask, I swear. It’s not only distracting to the opponent but adds a natural advantage to being at home.
Thus the term “home field advantage.” What I’m trying to say is that this “advantage” doesn’t happen at KSC. It’s time to change. There, are you happy? It sounds like a political advertisement when I say that things need to change.
It’s not just winter athletics in the Spaulding Gymnasium; I am talking about all of it. The athletic complex has progressively gotten quieter since my freshman year. What happened to showing up for games and getting involved? Athletics are more than just about the players themselves; they represent the college and most importantly you, the student.
Owl Nation is a student-run organization that promotes student involvement at athletic games.
I applaud their effort after helping to start an organization such as this in high school. So do me a favor and give it some thought.
How about you go to the next sporting event, open up a little bit and yell a few words of encouragement?
Hell, how about you bring a friend with you? I’m sure the athletes, coaches, administration and other students will appreciate it.
Brian Schnee can be contacted at
bschnee@keene-equinox.com