How 'bout that student section? A student perspective
[caption id="attachment_145027" align="alignnone" width="300"]
Photo by Clay Jackson/claysdaze.com[/caption]
I’ve put off writing this post many a time though the issue has been glaring for longer than today. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of Kentucky sports, I generally like to spend my once-a-week time slot here on KSR either (A) writing about positive things or (B) making fun of Louisville and oftentimes (C) both. Though Chane Behanan’s “indefinite” suspension and the hysteria over Kevin Ware’s triumphant and heroic return both provide me with an easy path to take the second option, I think there is a more important topic to address. Unfortunately, it’s not a positive one: student fan support, particularly at football games
As a student at UK and an ardent Kentucky football fan, I’ve always been critical of the support shown by the students to the football team. Many of you may disagree with me, but I believe that in general, Kentucky fans do an excellent job of cheering on a football team that has not always delivered the results that such support might merit. Although it could be said that this year is not going as well some may have hoped, I think that we can all agree that things appear to be looking up for Kentucky football. There is a high level of excitement around the program that has survived even through this season. Apparently the students didn't get the memo and that's troubling. In my view, even if there was no excitement surrounding the football team, only the reverse of what we have seen lately would be acceptable: the student section packed with the rest of the stadium lacking. It's our job and it's time for us to start looking at it that way.
First of all, salute to those students that did show up and cheer for their school today–you can ignore everything I’m about to say. The students should be the life blood of Commonwealth Stadium. Instead, we have been an obvious and embarrassing weakness when the rest of the stadium makes a strong showing under the circumstances. Those guys running around on the field aren’t just athletes. They are our fellow students. They bust their tails day in and day out so we can get on our Twitter accounts and tweet something like, “Cayuts by 80”, every Saturday before you go off and tailgate outside of the stadium and then NOT go into the game. Here are the facts from today:
(1) Your school was playing a top 10 team in the country and a loss was not assured
(2) Tickets are five dollars
(3) It was gorgeous outside (if you wore a sweatshirt)
(4) The student section was nearly empty when the game kicked off
(5) We have a new and exciting coaching staff that has made it clear how much they want the support of the students
These things matter. When recruits visit and see the rest of the stadium mostly filled in except for the gaping hole that tends to be the student section by halftime, they notice. If the students, who are supposed to be the most crazed and drunken bunch of lunatic fans that a college stadium has to offer don't show up for a game, then who will? Is it really that hard to roll out of bed at 11:30 to take the short walk to CWS and watch a football game? This is especially true of noon games–I was in undergrad once and I know that none of you have anything better to do at that point in the day. I also know that Kentucky students have pride in their school and especially in their sports teams. Why not show it?
If they don’t start showing it, something else has to be done. The atmosphere at CWS takes a huge hit when the student section is as empty as it was today. The players, recruits, and staff notice it and genuinely get upset by it. The opposing team and their fans definitely notice it. Just as important, the rest of the Kentucky fans notice it. Seeing all those empty bleachers has a way of sapping the energy from everyone else in the stadium. This isn't the University of Louisville, where attendance is optional and most students there are UK fans anyways. Kentucky fans are supposed to pride themselves on showing up and cheering for their squad. This generation of students needs to realize this because our elders are not happy with us today.
If the students won’t use these seats, it’s time to sell those tickets to someone who will. We can't have a giant chink in the armor in the lower stadium. That chink is a weakness just as obvious as any weakness that can be seen on the field. And that weakness can, has been, and will be exploited in the future. Please step it up. I really like you guys and know we can do better.
Photo by Clay Jackson/claysdaze.com[/caption]
I’ve put off writing this post many a time though the issue has been glaring for longer than today. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of Kentucky sports, I generally like to spend my once-a-week time slot here on KSR either (A) writing about positive things or (B) making fun of Louisville and oftentimes (C) both. Though Chane Behanan’s “indefinite” suspension and the hysteria over Kevin Ware’s triumphant and heroic return both provide me with an easy path to take the second option, I think there is a more important topic to address. Unfortunately, it’s not a positive one: student fan support, particularly at football games
As a student at UK and an ardent Kentucky football fan, I’ve always been critical of the support shown by the students to the football team. Many of you may disagree with me, but I believe that in general, Kentucky fans do an excellent job of cheering on a football team that has not always delivered the results that such support might merit. Although it could be said that this year is not going as well some may have hoped, I think that we can all agree that things appear to be looking up for Kentucky football. There is a high level of excitement around the program that has survived even through this season. Apparently the students didn't get the memo and that's troubling. In my view, even if there was no excitement surrounding the football team, only the reverse of what we have seen lately would be acceptable: the student section packed with the rest of the stadium lacking. It's our job and it's time for us to start looking at it that way.
First of all, salute to those students that did show up and cheer for their school today–you can ignore everything I’m about to say. The students should be the life blood of Commonwealth Stadium. Instead, we have been an obvious and embarrassing weakness when the rest of the stadium makes a strong showing under the circumstances. Those guys running around on the field aren’t just athletes. They are our fellow students. They bust their tails day in and day out so we can get on our Twitter accounts and tweet something like, “Cayuts by 80”, every Saturday before you go off and tailgate outside of the stadium and then NOT go into the game. Here are the facts from today:
(1) Your school was playing a top 10 team in the country and a loss was not assured
(2) Tickets are five dollars
(3) It was gorgeous outside (if you wore a sweatshirt)
(4) The student section was nearly empty when the game kicked off
(5) We have a new and exciting coaching staff that has made it clear how much they want the support of the students
These things matter. When recruits visit and see the rest of the stadium mostly filled in except for the gaping hole that tends to be the student section by halftime, they notice. If the students, who are supposed to be the most crazed and drunken bunch of lunatic fans that a college stadium has to offer don't show up for a game, then who will? Is it really that hard to roll out of bed at 11:30 to take the short walk to CWS and watch a football game? This is especially true of noon games–I was in undergrad once and I know that none of you have anything better to do at that point in the day. I also know that Kentucky students have pride in their school and especially in their sports teams. Why not show it?
If they don’t start showing it, something else has to be done. The atmosphere at CWS takes a huge hit when the student section is as empty as it was today. The players, recruits, and staff notice it and genuinely get upset by it. The opposing team and their fans definitely notice it. Just as important, the rest of the Kentucky fans notice it. Seeing all those empty bleachers has a way of sapping the energy from everyone else in the stadium. This isn't the University of Louisville, where attendance is optional and most students there are UK fans anyways. Kentucky fans are supposed to pride themselves on showing up and cheering for their squad. This generation of students needs to realize this because our elders are not happy with us today.
If the students won’t use these seats, it’s time to sell those tickets to someone who will. We can't have a giant chink in the armor in the lower stadium. That chink is a weakness just as obvious as any weakness that can be seen on the field. And that weakness can, has been, and will be exploited in the future. Please step it up. I really like you guys and know we can do better.
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