LETTER: Loud cheering shows support
Dear Editor,
Do the column writers for The Statesman understand the concepts of rivalry or pride? We are students of Utah State University, which means when the Aggies perform we should support them with loud cheering.
When rivals like BYU or Utah come to the Spectrum we should not subdue our cheering (as one Statesman writer might suggest) and especially not cheer for the Cougars when they score (as another Statesman writer might suggest). Instead we should continue to welcome rivals to the Spectrum with a difficult environment to play in.
The Utah State basketball team has created a significant degree of school pride, for good reason. For the first time since 1985-86 the Aggies have defeated both Utah and BYU in the same season. In the past three years the Aggies have posted the third most wins in the nation (behind only Duke and Michigan State).
The Aggies have won 25 games in a row inside the Spectrum. I like to believe that the “standing” fans have something to do with the Aggies’ success at home. I believe any sportswriter would agree the Spectrum is the toughest place for opponents to play in the Big West Conference.
Aggie fans currently have something to cheer for, to stand for. If Aggie fans only stood on rare occasion, the Spectrum would not be the same difficult place for visiting teams to play. Yes, we stand. When something good happens, we cheer loudly, spread high fives and do other things to express our excitement. This celebration should be infectious.
If you want to sit down to watch the game, pay for reserved seating or watch the game at home, where you will enjoy it more. Your sitting presence and griping in no way helps our Aggies continue to succeed. The Monday edition of The Statesman should have been filled with columns praising Stew Morrill, our basketball team and their outstanding game Saturday night. It is unfortunate The Statesman employs some writers who do not understand the concepts of school pride and in-state rivalries.
Neil Abercrombie