To say we care about sports at Auburn is an understatement.
We love our football. We love our basketball. We love our baseball. So why do we as a fan base continue to neglect the remaining sports until they do something outstanding?
It may be unknown to some Auburn fans that we do have more than just ball-based sports. Equestrian, track and field, volleyball and women’s golf are the first to take a back seat for support from the Auburn fan base.
Softball stands were nearly empty before the regionals and a trip to the Women’s College World Series became likelihoods.
Seats in the Auburn Arena, especially student section seats, don’t begin to fill up for women’s basketball until near the end of the game—close to the start of the men’s game.
So is the foundation of Auburn fandom solely based on performance? What happened to the undying support the Auburn Family used to give?
To neglect these sports at Auburn is to neglect a huge chunk of athletics.
These competitors reap the same benefits of all student-athletes by working just as hard toward their respective sports.
To only start really attending games when things are going exceptionally well is to say these athletes aren’t worth the time.
Even in the worst seasons, baseball, basketball and football games still have a decent attendance rate.
Look how far softball was able to get this year with a middling amount of support.
What could they have done if they had this kind of fandom and crowd energy present from the very beginning of this season?
What could any sport have done?
While it’s true players, not the fans, decide the game, the energy is undeniably a part of a team’s success. You only have to listen to post-game interviews to know it.
It’s time we think about the message we’re sending to our ignored athletes here at Auburn when we don’t show up and show out for them as well.
You never know how far support can take them.
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