OUR VIEW: Sports programs deserve support

Utah State University sponsored athletics and club sports deserve to be supported. The teams do well in their respective conferences or divisions, but do not receive proper backing.

Take the USU women’s volleyball team for example. Before Thursday’s home match against perennial-powerhouse Long Beach State University, the Aggies were perfect at home. They defeated Idaho State, in-state rival Utah and conference rival Idaho.

Despite the success on the court, a mere 1,000 people show up to the matches – on a good night.

Club hockey, on the other hand, is begging its fans to show up early to the games because they sell out before the contest even starts – and the regular season is just getting underway this weekend.

What makes the difference between what sports deserve and actually get respect from those that don’t?

The Utah State lacrosse club has a tournament this weekend on the HPER Field and the volleyball team hosts UC Irvine on Saturday in the Spectrum. The baseball club is also in town this weekend, playing games at Max Johnson Field in Providence.

If 19,000 fans can show up to support the football team in its Sun Belt Conference opener, then at least a quarter of that amount should be able to attend the games of the other sports on campus.

A winning program is a winning program and no matter what the sport or what gender is playing, the teams should be getting the well-earned respect through fan support.