COLUMN: Student athletes need support
A MOB
of Rice students jumped to their feet and
cheered their peers on to victory. Team pride abounded throughout the crowd.
On the field, the teams gave their all to make their supporters proud.
Was this last weekend's Rice football game versus Kansas State? The volleyball match versus the University of Florida?
No, this scene took place at the Third Annual Sports Carnival. The Student-Athlete Committee organized the event as a way for students and student athletes to interact while enjoying a myriad of games and contests. But in order for the carnival to take place, a lot of work had to be done.
Over $1,000 in prizes were collected from restaurants and businesses. T-shirts had to be designed and printed. Money had to be raised from the Rice community.
Tents, tables and chairs had to be ordered from the university. A caterer had to be found, as well as a PA system, a dunking booth and a cotton candy machine. And last but not least, the tricycles had to be assembled.
Who do you think did all this work? It wasn't an army of Athletic Department workers. Rather, all of this was organized by student athletes -- after their classes and long practice hours were over.
In addition to fostering relationships between students and student athletes, the second purpose of the carnival was to thank you, the students, for your support of Rice athletics. But we would like to question how strong that support really is.
At last weekend's volleyball match versus sixth-ranked University of Florida, around 10 students showed up to cheer on the Lady Owls. Over the past two years, student attendance at men's basketball games has dropped from an average of 800 students per game to just 300. And how many of you even know where the Rice Pool is?
In our opinion, student support of Rice athletics has been at best lackadaisical. For the sake of the Athletic Department and the university, this must be changed.
Whether you realize it or not, your attendance affects recruiting, home game schedules, television exposure and, most importantly, the athletes' performance. When the game is close, having a crowd present to intimidate the other team and to motivate our players can make the difference between a win and a loss.
And let's not forget the best reason to attend Rice athletic events -- they can be really fun! You wouldn't want to miss the chance to taunt the opposing team's bench with the Rally Club, to say "Hi!" to your mom at a nationally-televised ESPN game or to jingle your keys at another bad call by a brainless officiating crew.
But even more fun is seeing your friend Shaun Igo perform a monster slam dunk, your buddy Ndukwe Kalu tear through the offensive line to take down the quarterback and your peer Rebecca Case slam a kill down the line.
In the week ahead, you will have plenty of opportunities to prove your support for the athletes. On Wednesday night at 7:30, the volleyball team will take on the University of Tulsa at Autry Court. The following weekend, the women's tennis team will host the Rice Tennis Classic. That Saturday will also be a full day, beginning with the Blue Gray Swimming Meet and ending with a football game against the University of New Mexico.
So the next time you are trying to decide between watching "90210" and going to a Rice sporting event, remember the work the athletes put into your Sports Carnival and show your appreciation by turning out to cheer them on to victory.
Charles Klein is the vice president for external affairs of the Student Association and a Sid Richardson College senior. Michol McMillian is a cheerleader and a Lovett College senior.
This item appeared in the Opinion section of the September 27, 1996 issue.
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