COLUMN: Be true to your school
I never thought I would end up a martyr for my school, and then I went home to Utah Valley for the summer to work. Instantly I was branded an inferior breed of student attending an inferior school.
Having grown up amid the heavily entrenched Zoobie subculture (fans of Brigham Young University), I was used to the strong sense of piousness endorsed by these people. I should have expected their converting zeal when I came back, but I wasn’t prepared for the heckling I endured. I was marked a heathen and they used all their means to heal me from my apostate ways of attending – heaven forbid – a school other than BYU.
This harassment was something I dealt with just fine until they started attacking USU itself. Then the gloves went on. I’m a strong believer in the Beach Boys song “Be True to Your School.” In every school I’ve ever attended, I’ve been a strong supporter and a die-hard fan. USU is no different.
The most common attack on USU was the supposed lack of talent of the sports teams. This confused me greatly. What right does BYU have criticizing Aggie sports teams when they have struggled as much, if not more, in their major athletic programs in the past four years?
The more I thought about this, the more I realized just how talented the teams at USU are. This year USU will participate in its second year in the Western Athletic Conference. When USU joined this conference, many surmised the Aggies had no right to play at this level and would fall flat on their faces. The exact opposite seemed to be the case.
The most obvious instance is the basketball team. The men’s basketball team has consistently performed at a high level in the NCAA, leaving little doubt that they were capable of Division-I play. Heading to the NCAA tournament last year established a precedent that the Aggie basketball team is here to contend and is fully capable of competing.
Although basketball is the obvious choice of top-notch Aggie athletics, it is not the only one. Take for instance the women’s soccer team. Last season the team tied for second in the WAC, losing only two games to Nevada and San Jose State. Three of the players were also named All-WAC. This season the soccer team returns 18 letter winners and six starters from last season.
The list doesn’t stop there. Take a closer look at the football team. Even though the team has struggled for years, they have still maintained a high level of play. Even though the football team only won three games last year, they tied for sixth place out of the nine teams in the WAC. Not bad for a first year in a much more challenging conference than the Aggies have competed in.
Each team has stepped up and showed how tough the Aggies are. Sure USU hasn’t been crowned WAC champions yet, but they’re well on their way. It’s rare to find a school where every program is winning every game and bringing home championship titles. But it is also rare to find a school where each program is exceeding the expectations of the media and the rest of the conference. USU is one of those schools.
It’s sad that many students at USU still consider the sports teams here inferior. Even though USU hasn’t claimed a WAC title, the caliber of play is high and the teams are putting in the effort to win games and show that the Aggies are a force to be reckoned with. USU is a school with a rich history of athletic excellence, and has groomed and produced many professional athletes in a variety of sports, including football and volleyball.
I’m always impressed with the consistent support for the basketball team each year, as the Spectrum is packed for almost every game. This fan support is a boost for the basketball team and makes the Spectrum one of the hardest arenas for opposing teams to play in the country. There’s a lesson to be learned here. If fan support can do this for basketball, imagine what it can do for other sports. The volleyball, soccer, softball and football teams all need this support.
So next time you’re tempted to criticize an athletic team, pause for a second and look at the bigger picture of Aggie athletics. Even though USU isn’t on top yet, it’s coming. Rather than point the finger of scorn at the athletic teams, give them your support. Be proud to wear the Aggie blue and cheer for your teams.
Seth Hawkins is a sophomore majoring in public relations. Comments can be sent to him at sethhawkins@cc.usu.edu.