Junior hurdler Victoria Goodenough, pictured here, is among the hundreds of varsity atheletes at Ursinus. Photo courtesy of Grizzly Archive.
As the Ursinus College football team makes its way down the walkway on Saturdays in the fall, a certain passion and drive follows them as they approach Patterson Field. The energy that the fans create throughout a game certainly plays a role in the team success.
That being said, the Bears have played three home contests to a half empty, unenthusiastic, and relatively quiet student section.
The issue of weak attendance and participation from the student body is not a problem that the football team faces alone. Throughout the year, a majority of sports teams— basketball, field hockey and lacrosse, to name a few — play to a semi-filled stadium with mostly parents and other family members of the players.
I understand that this is a competitive academic institution and the coursework can be overbearing at times. I understand that studying for biology labs and reading for CIE takes a great deal of time throughout the day. As a student-athlete, I personally understand that free time is at a premium to any college student.
All that being said, I still do not think it’s asking too much for a student to take a few hours out of his or her weekend to support one of the various athletic teams.
What I don’t understand, and what I think is most disheartening, is how a campus of roughly 1700 students can be so united with support in some aspects but greatly separated in others. Tickets to AIRBAND and the various plays performed throughout the year sell out within hours, yet only a handful of students support a field hockey team that has made the national Final Four five years in a row.
Take a second to let that sink in. Five consecutive trips to the national Final Four. We have been blessed with one of the best field hockey teams in the country, but we still can’t take the two-minute walk from New or North to show our support and appreciation.
There are various sports games and activities that go on throughout the year. If you make the effort, I am sure you will find one sport or another that suits your liking. The next time you have the opportunity, go check out a sporting event, even if it is for 20 minutes. Know that your attendance does not go unnoticed to the players out there on the field.
As hard as it may be for some to admit it, the truth is we all love Ursinus— otherwise we wouldn’t be at this school. So why not make the most out of your four years and appreciate the opportunities you have to be an actively engaged student? Don’t wait until your 20th class reunion to attend your first football game during the Homecoming festivities.
Marcus Foster
mafoster@ursinus.edu