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Greensboro. N.C.
Are athletics at Guilford College the weakest link?
Karim Ali
Staff Writer
istening to NPR as I was driving back from
1 A wnrk | heard news about Iraq,
the U.S-Congress and Guilford
College athletics. Jordan Snipe's 86-
foot buzzer beater has popularized
Guilford College athletics throughout
the world.
However, sports are denied the
limelight at Guilford. Athletes often
complain about small crowds at
games. Playing tennis as a first-year, I
also felt a lack of support from my
friends.
In my experience, there were many
times when the home bleachers had
more fans from the opposing team than from undefeated in the conference, attendance
Guilford. jumped to 247.
Even now, according to Sports Information However, such comparisons explain less about
Director Dave Walters, mid-week games soccer lower attendances in the case of football. The
games only have 30 to 50 fans and road football team's record in both 2000 and 2004 was 1-9.
games have larger crowds than do Guilford home Despite a two-fold increase in the student body,
—
MAGGIE BAMBERG/THE GU.LFORDIAN
Nearly empty bleachers at Armfield Athletic center during a foot-
ball game,
games. With student enrollment at an all time
high, sports attendance seems to be at an all
time low.
Many people, including Golf Coach Jack
VWVW.GUILFORD.EDU
Writer Karim Ali
FORUM
Jensen, place blame on poor per
formances for poor attendance.
"People like winners," said
Jensen. "People don't want to be
associated with failure."
Performance serves well as an
indicator of attendance for
women's basketball. In 1998-99
when the team was 12-13, atten
dance was 130 on average.
In 1999-00 when the team was
i 19-17, attendance was 145. And
j in 2000-01 when the team won
its first division title and was
college population being 2511
in 2004 and 1255 in 2000,
games played this season
attracted fewer fans than
games played four years ago.
Assistant Women's
Basketball and Head Cross
country Coach Scott Smith,
provides other reasons as to
why Guilford teams attract
fewer crowds.
He believes that schools that
have an active fraternity scene
draw more support than
schools such as Guilford,
where no fraternities exist. I
agree. Inter-fraternity competi
tion, where fraternities compete
to see who can bring the
largest and noisiest fans to the
stands, does boost attendance.
Smith also points out that
being in the heart of ACC
championships and with sever
al division I schools nearby,
many Guilford fans are detract
ed by higher-profile games
going on at other schools.
Additionally, being a largely
academic institution, sports at
Guilford often find antagonistic
sentiments. However, athletes
competing at the Division 111
level at Guilford College are no
different than any other stu
dent.
They receive no sports schol-
ARSHJPS JHEY GRE P|AYJNG
sports to go to school. They
are going to school and enjoy-
www.guilfordian.com
INSLEE HACKETT/GUILFORDIAN
Possibly as a result of consecutive 1-9 sea
sons, attendance has been low at Quaker
football games, even at the traditionally
well-attended homecoming game.
ing sports as extracurricular activities. Where it
may be true at other places, Guilford jocks ain't
dumb.
According to Walters, 93 student-athletes have
GPAs over 3.0, and five of the 16 teams have
team GPAs over 3.0. Twelve have GPAs over
2.68.
Furthermore, 26 percent of the traditional stu
dent body plays a varsity sport.
Given that, Guilford students need to support their
classmates who happen to play sports.
Sports attendance at Guilford is needed to pump
athletes. Although good crowds seldom mean the
difference between a win and a loss, vociferous
fans contribute to team spirit. They enhance
school spirit, and provide true home court advan
tage.
I, like Walters, believe that sports attendance is
no different than attending any other college
sponsored event, be it a choir performance, a
drama presentation, or a Bryan Series lecture.
Games provide ways of involving with the com
munity and knowing what is going on at Guilford.
They are a time to exchange conversation, ideas
and fellowship.
If you enjoy being a part of the college, than
attending games is a good way to come and meet
with people that feel the same.
If you are a sports fan, you should attend games
because school spirit is important to you, you like
a good contest, and because you feel a sense of
allegiance to both Guilford and Sports.
If you are not the biggest sports fan, you should
attend games for the event, the opportunity to fel
lowship with friends, and enjoying the experience
of being a fan. If the event is outdoors, such as a
baseball game, you should attend to enjoy a nice
day outside and socialize.
You don't have to play a sport to cheer in
Guilford stands. You don't have to play basketball
to enjoy a good game. Plus by attending you may
get to witness momentous occasions like the
recent overtime buzzer-defying victory.
Why would you want to miss that?SH>
Feb. 25, 2005