OUR VIEW: Let’s hear it for the little guys
Some sports just get all the glory.
For the average Aggie athletics fan, the two main sports on their radar are basketball and football. Anticipation for basketball season is high and various opinions abound about the football team. While the spotlight might be focused on these popular sports, other smaller sports are being neglected – even though these sports are bringing great recognition to the university.
First off, consider the cross country team. This quiet sport is made up of a small group who has consistently placed high in tournaments this season. Sadly, while performing at as high a level as any other athletic program, this team often goes unnoticed.
Yet the cross team recently brought home the greatest WAC honors the school has ever received, as both the men’s and women’s teams took the WAC championship title. For not getting much credit or support – financially or from fans – the cross country team has brought in more titles than either basketball or football. Not only that, this is the second year in a row the men’s team has claimed a WAC championship title.
Cross country is not the only small sport quietly accomplishing greatness. The women’s soccer club finished WAC play undefeated this weekend to claim a top spot in the WAC. Though faced with a tough preseason, the soccer team found a way to beat all odds to show USU has a place in the WAC: at the top.
When USU was first admitted into the WAC, many feared the competition would be too tough and the school would spend the majority of the time in the bottom rankings, but this has not been the case. Aggie athletics have proven to be as competitive and potent as any other team in the league and the smaller sports have led the way in this.
USU soccer, cross country, volleyball and track and field are teams that are well-respected, not only in the conference, but throughout the region. These smaller teams are winning awards and establishing a pattern of athletic competence that will attract athletes to the school and bring in more talent and money.
Instead of concentrating solely on the major sports, Aggie fans should support all their teams and give them the fan support and credit they deserve. After all, these are the teams that are brining home the titles.