My parents used to tell me in high school that they never acted like the kids in the student section at basketball games. I distinctly remember our principal even coming over to our section and telling us to tone it down even. Now, we’re a little older and in college. People don’t care how much noise we make at basketball game, just as long as we make it. But, there are those people that just sit there and do nothing. The people that don’t think it’s appropriate to get up and make noise. This column is to let those people know that it is ok. Why is Duke regarded as one of the toughest places to play in college basketball? Yes, it is true that every team that comes in there produces All-American candidates, but Duke is so good at home because their fans will not shut up. The students, nationally-known as the “Cameron Crazies” get there hours before game time and sometimes even camp out DAYS before a game to get tickets. Once the game is on inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, the madness begins. The students paint their bodies, wear wigs, and just plain act like a bunch of juvenile delinquents.
Duke is even hard to play in neutral arenas because the fans that go are “loud and proud.” They don’t care what people think, they love their Duke basketball.
Let me switch to our fans here at good ol’ MSU. Sure, we’ve got great fans, but they could be better. Don’t get me wrong, the student section with the help of a group known as “Rick’s Rowdies” has improved by leaps and bounds. The Hump is a very tough place to play, just ask Kentucky. But still, there is always room for improvement. The fans on the opposite side of the arena from the student section only seem to cheer at big moments in the game.
For example–they might stand up and cheer during starting lineups, when the band plays “Hail State,” and if State makes a big run. The key to being a good crowd is to be in the game constantly. People won’t look at the fans, and say “Wow, they act like a bunch of weirdos.” They’ll say something to the effect of “Wow, Humphrey Coliseum is a tough place to play because they’ve got great fans.”
For the students, I don’t want our student section to be known as a “wine and cheese crowd.” Get loud, get crazy–WEAR MAROON. The Hump can and is known as a tough place to play, but let’s make it tougher.
My point, Bullldog fans, is this. If this team is going to do great things this season, we need to first win all of our home games. We can’t do that without you, the fans. State has some very tough games remaining at home. Alabama and Mississippi, just to name a few.
Speaking of Mississippi, I would like to comment on my trip to Oxford this past Saturday. To tell the truth I was not impressed at all with the fans at Ole Miss. Especially with the gruop that refers to themselves as “Rod’s Squad.” For most of the first half, the fans sat on their hands and I occasionally may have heard a “defense” chant from the fans or the students. Granted, when Ole Miss finally jumped back into the game in the second half, the crowd got into the game, and it became a little tough to hear, but still, I think we have much better fans. Don’t get complacent, MSU fans, we still have room for improvement. Don’t just make this the toughest place to play in the state of Mississippi, or even the SEC. Make the Hunphrey Coliseum the toughest place to play in the United States. It’s not that hard.
Older people will always speak of the previous generation, “we never acted like that when we were that age.” My suggestion is not to worry about what other people think. So, come to the games, get loud, get crazy, and support the Bulldogs. It should also be said that it’s not just the men who deserve your support. State has a pretty darn good women’s basketball team as well. Not to mention the fact that the other women’s sports are very good. Our MSU women’s basketball team is 12-5 and 3-1 in the SEC as of right now, with a win over eighth-ranked Georgia last Sunday. This team is not a fluke, folks, trust me.
In closing I would like to reiterate what I talked about earlier. Go support our athletes. It’s the least we as a student body can do for them to show our appreciation for the hard work they put in. Let it also be said again that both the men and women deserve our support. Until Tuesday, be good.