Now more than ever is a time to rally around the sports teams of Colorado Mesa University. Though the CMU student-athletes always deserve support, recent events make it yet more important. Sadly, the programs and athletes do not always get the support they deserve, and that is on us as students.

The recent sports opinion article “What do freshman think of CMU sports?” showed views expressed by some CMU freshmen regarding the sports atmosphere. The freshmen had no connection to The Criterion and their views were solely their own.

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It was disheartening to read for those of us who love our teams and regularly attend sporting events. To see that the newest members of the student body could view the sports atmosphere as “kind of weak,” or for them to perceive the crowd to be mostly comprised of parents, creates an uncomfortable picture.

If freshmen view CMU sports as being poorly advertised, weak in the atmosphere or poorly attended, it is because both the university and those of us who’ve been attending longer have allowed that to be the narrative.

Instead of showing up in large numbers and cheering passionately for our talented athletes, we leave seats empty. Instead of advertising the sporting events, the university relies on difficult-to-find calendars and the initiative taken by students to search out the games themselves.

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Many may claim their busy schedules are the reason they cannot attend games. To be fair, it takes a lot of time and energy to be a successful college student. On the other hand, nobody owns the monopoly on having a busy schedule.

Student-athletes also have very busy academic schedules. Yet they also have to attend practice and games. Often, a lot of their time is spent traveling as well. While they do that, they still manage to put on great displays of athleticism and successful academic performance.

With some exceptions, few of us face as much demand on our time as the student-athletes. 

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Yet they continually do great things in their sports. CMU football is always in contention for the RMAC title. Men’s soccer is dominant. Last year, the women’s softball team was ranked first nationally. That’s just to name a few teams full of exceptionally talented athletes that are definitely worth watching.

So we should all go watch as many of them as possible. Then, when freshman go the events, they will see a large number of their peers providing enthusiastic support for CMU sports. It will be difficult for them to view such an atmosphere as “kind of weak.”

Another, arguably more, compelling reason to show support for all CMU athletes is the waking tragedy we currently find ourselves in. The football team is grieving the loss of one of their friends and teammates. The recent death of Brett Oijiyi has hearts breaking throughout the student-athlete community and campus as a whole.

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In the face of such tragedy, our student-athletes don’t get to take time off and grieve. They still have to suit up and go perform at their highest level. That takes tremendous strength of character and serves as a powerful reason to give them as much support as we can. 

We can point to our schedules, bad advertising or other people as excuses. Or we can realize the importance of supporting incredibly talented athletes in general, and particularly while they are facing such a difficult time. 

Sure, the university should do a better job of promoting the events. However, those of us who’ve been here a while can figure out where and when the games are. 

Now isn’t the time for excuses. Now is the time to support the athletes, support the programs and show our freshmen that we can create an exciting sports environment.

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