OUR VIEW: Football title affects the entire community
As students at Utah State University and as devout Aggies, we like to show our team spirit by going to the football and basketball games. We paint our faces and get temporary tattoos stamped on our skin as a sign of our dedication. But up until now, these outward displays of loyalty by the fans have been mere compensation for what the actual sports teams lack in performance.
It’s been more than half a century since the Aggie football team won nine games in a row. We’ve had to look on as big teams like Texas, Oregon, Florida, USC and UCLA steal all the thunder in the sports world.
However, blue-and-white fans rejoice. Things have already started to change now that we won the Western Athletic Conference championship. This Saturday, the Aggies will take on Idaho in a game that will determine whether or not we’ll take home in the WAC championship by ourselves or have to share.
“An outright conference championship means a lot,” said USU head football coach Gary Andersen. “There are not very many times in a career as a player or a coach where you get an opportunity to win 10 games, especially to win 10 games in the regular season. It’s a special place to be.”
Practically speaking, we are sitting pretty when it comes to beating the Vandals. The only way we could walk away without a piece of the championship is if a miracle happens and we lose on Senior Night, which we all know isn’t very likely. If we win Saturday – and we may go so far as to say when we win – it will be the first time the Aggies ever had an outright win since 1936.
USU football is making a name for itself, as well as the university. With our newfound fame in athletics, we’ve found our corner, however small, in the spotlight of fame. Sports teams and events may not necessarily lead to academic success, but prospective students are drawn by the amount of team spirit demonstrated in the college they apply to. Winning may not be everything, but it definitely raises the level of school pride and college atmosphere, in turn raising the admissions level and overall student body.
And of course, no one’s going to complain about the extra revenue the school will pull in from that. Community pride develops as fellow fans unite to cheer on their team and alma mater. The Aggie faithful have shown a lot of support and loyalty to the team, and now the Aggies can start giving back by rewarding the fans with some wins they can be proud of.