Love All: An argument for the support of all sports for SU

This fall semester has brought back a renewed energy for on-campus sports with the university navigating the latter parts of the pandemic, with each football and volleyball home game seemingly packed out with fans and students alike every weekend. This energy, however, quickly fades as sports like soccer begin their games on Sunday afternoons with very small crowds. This trend is why I question why haven’t the student body shown support for Soccer like they have for football or volleyball.
The first factor I considered when evaluating the clear disconnect was the timing of each of the sporting events. Soccer primarily takes place on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons at 1:00 pm which are typically open spots for most Southern student-related activities. However, when our soccer team plays there seems to be little to no interest in watching them play whether they’re successful or not.
This is also not to say that the sport should be viewed in the exact same light as football, seeing that it is a Southern staple. It should, however, receive similar support with the way that the Lady Jags play. This also applies to sports that are not in season but also face the same challenges like softball, baseball, and tennis. At the softball games that I’ve attended, I’ve noticed more rival team fans than our own in many cases. Our baseball team is historically dominant and has had consistent success through coaching changes and a whole pandemic. Yet, it seems that their support also lacks relative to their success on the diamond. Tennis is a more understated sport on campus but they1 deserve support as well with the amount of effort they put in. All in all, the question that remains is why? Why don’t we support these sports as much as we support Football and Basketball? Is this trend born out of expectation or is there a more logistical problem that we face?
Southern athletics has found success through extremely trying times yet doesn’t seem to garner the widespread credit that is due. I think that as a collective we should make a greater effort to show support during these times. Student support makes a great difference when our individual teams strive for big goals. In tight games where teams have their back against the wall and need one more push the students could truly fill that role. It’s like having an extra player on the field of play except more vocal and less physical. Student support would not only enhance the experience that going to Southern University gives but would also encourage alumni to give back. I think that overall when the students show up our teams will always show out.