NU sports perform well when fans show upThe thrilling game against then-#14 Indiana reassured avid Northwestern basketball fans that not only is their continued support going to be eventually rewarded, but also that Welsh-Ryan Arena can deliver a true college basketball atmosphere during any given game.
Despite being vastly outnumbered by Hoosier fans, NU's student section was far louder throughout Saturday night's game. Amidst the cell phone waving, the "Samp-son's call-ing" and "Ke-vin Co-ble" chants, NU never trailed by more than six points in a game they should've lost by 30. The result was a nail-biting 82-85 close-call loss to a national powerhouse, with the student section showing up fully seated and fully geared with complete support. For once.
And that's a problem. The chilling fact is the average sports fan on campus know (and care) nothing about Kevin Coble outscoring Indiana's Eric Gordon and D.J. White combined that night. While there is clearly passion for this school's sports among a select group of fans, the dearth of school spirit and ignorance of NU athletics across campus is unacceptable for a Big Ten school. When the homecoming football game a few months ago draws half-filled student sections and even more absences in the middle of the 3rd quarter, a dagger hits the hearts of the loyal ones who stayed for the double-overtime win, not to mention the hearts of the student-athletes.
In the end, the students who bother to take the five minute shuttle to free Big Ten games at Ryan Field and Welsh-Ryan Arena will be rewarded the most if NU ever wins a bowl game again or an inaugural bid into the NCAA Tournament. But until more students come out to support this school, the chances of these happening might become very slim.
- Albert Lyu
McCormick Freshman
Rewards of sustainability within NU's sightI thank Meredith Laitos for her recent piece showcasing efforts towards sustainability at Northwestern ("NU's Green Efforts Spread Thin," Feb. 20). I was heartened to learn that students and administrators are working hard to reduce NU's ecological impact in diverse ways.
2008 Woodie Awards
The DAILY encourages you to share your thoughts on this story. Please help us keep the discussion lively, but civil. Comments that are abusive to others, off-topic or vulgar, or comments that misrepresent someone's identity, will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to delete any comments in violation or to close comment threads on articles.
Please e-mail online@dailynorthwestern.com to flag a comment or for more information.
Be the first to comment on this story