As fans trickle into Brownson Arena and stadiums on campus, many students ask themselves, “Where are all the fans?” and “Why is it so quiet?” and “Where is the rowdiness?”
More often than not these are questions that arise when attending one of many Mesa State sporting events.
Armed with over 7,000 students, you would think that this college would be in a state of frenzy over the college’s recent successes in athletics. Events like opening night in baseball, the homecoming football game, and the heated men’s and women’s basketball rivalry with Fort Lewis. But no, not even close. Instead, we see a mass of apathetic students oblivious to some of the major sporting events and rivalries. In a town of about 60,000 people, it would seem that Mesa State athletics would be the hottest ticket in town. There is no competition from professional sporting events, high profile entertainment, or a booming nightlife. Instead of attending the basketball games, it seems that Justin Bieber’s movie “Never Say Never” steals the spotlight from the night’s games.
There is zero school spirit here. If a survey were conducted, I guarantee that less than five percent of our student body knows the fight song. It may not seem like a big issue, but a fight song is what bonds the student body together. It’s our anthem. The Maverick anthem. No school spirit combined with no tradition creates a recipe for a disgustingly unenthusiastic fan base with all the potential in the world to be something full of pride and power.
The miniscule size of school spirit has haunted me for years and some major solutions are at the root of this problem. For instance, let’s start with the very basic mode for this issue. Expose those teams that play and make sure the valley knows of it. Flyers, TV commercials, radio ads, newspaper ads, anything to get the word out to Mesa State students and the Grand Valley. It’s astonishing how little sports get advertised in this area. As an athlete, it feels almost nonexistent and makes me want to vomit. If Fruita and Grand Junction high school can pack thousands into Stocker Stadium to full capacity, why can’t Mesa?
It’s on the college and the athletic department to promote sporting events and the effort can be greatly improved. Is anyone happy with 274 fans (attendance of Ft Lewis game) of a women’s soccer game in a brand new badass stadium? I’m not. That’s pathetic. On a trip this season to Missouri Western State University as I waited in the hotel room, a commercial came on the air that shocked me. “Come out and watch our MWSU Griffons take on the Mavericks from Mesa State in Colorado. The first 2,000 fans get a free MWSU T shirt,” the commercial said.
“Holy (bleep)!” I exclaimed. Now that’s promotion! Around 4,200 fans showed up to that game.
School spirit is nonexistent on campus there are no rallies, no chants at games, no traditional game day events leading up to the main event. Just the same boring routine that has plagued Mesa State for years. Sure, this isn’t Alabama where you will be screaming “roll tide” loudly along with 90,000 other students and fans, but come on now. This college in this city has far too much potential for a crazy rabid fan base to be obsolete. One thing that disgusts me more than anything is the fans at basketball games. Everyone is dressed for the nights parties and bars and even worse, totally silent. Do me a favor, if you’re sitting front row and not dressed for the game and dead silent, get the hell out of the way for some fans who want to get rowdy. If you dressed up for another GTL session at your buddies house party and came to a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke University and you tried to sit with the “Cameron Crazies” and you weren’t decked out in blue or even painted, you would get the boot and severely looked down upon. Why can’t that mentality exist here? If you are attending, why not do it to the fullest? Make the experience great for everybody. Fans and athletes alike.
My message is this. For all those who think your high school had more kids at their games than Mesa, stop whining, spread the word, and make a difference. Positive energy and excitement spreads like wildfire. Add fuel to this wildfire and the venue of the sporting event will explode. I still remain optimistic that things will change here at Mesa State. People complain that Mesa State needs more exposure, that it needs to be put on the map, and that people think it’s still in Arizona. Speak up. Make some noise. The definition of a Maverick is an “independent individual who does not go along with a group or party.” That sounds accurate for our fan base right? A herd of individuals.