Growing up with a large family introduced me to many things, one of them being competition. As I grew older I started to participate in sports and I found a new love for everything sports.

I remember waiting for Saturday to roll around not for the cartoons but so I could go play basketball.

As I started to play at a more competitive level in high school, I realized that I was an average athlete and I was not going to go much farther than to play as a hobby.

I entered college and must say one of the first things I looked forward to was going to the “big game” and supporting my school in a large and raucous student section.

I first tried soccer and while there were always students at the games, it usually only averaged maybe a hundred students a game.

Next I tried volleyball and there were more people, but Brooks Gym was never packed for the games I went to. At this point in my search basketball season was right around the corner and I knew that it was the sport that would be flooded with people. But as I strolled into the Mini-Dome for my first game it seemed just as empty as any other sporting event.

It was only preseason play and no one shows up for the warm up games. But when we got into conference play there were still seats open every where.

This seemed impossible to me, both of our basketball teams were coming off Atlantic Sun Championships and went to the NCAA tournaments, but no one went to their games. This lack of interest in the athletics of the school became extremely clear when I started to attend softball games and I saw maybe three students attending.

So I asked myself why or how is this happening? Do the students not care or do the students even know about the games in general?

I asked friends and classmates at random and while my methods were far from scientific, I received a clear answer best put by two students.

“I never know when the games are,” said Aaron Pritchard. “I live on campus and still have no idea.”

So is there no advertising for the games? I know that there is, but sometimes you have to look to find it. If you don’t see it how do you find out if there is a game on campus? You have to get online is the short answer and go to the athletic website, at www.etsubucs.com.

“There is no atmosphere for support on campus,” said Katie Thompson. “Except for a core group, the students don’t seem to care.”

This, from my observations, is exactly what the problem is and there is no simple solution except to get as many friends to go to games and just enjoy it.

This is college it only happens once. Don’t let it pass without supporting your team without any regrets, unleash the super fan inside you.

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