2008 Woodie Awards
Rowdy fans what home court is about
Sam Kussin-Shoptaw
Issue date: 2/16/07 Section: Sports
The Loggers won their 35th straight game at home on Feb. 12 against the visiting Whitworth Pirates. Until Feb. 10's loss to Whitman, the Loggers seemed unstoppable in front of a home crowd.
UPS fans this season have been commended by Tacoma natives who have been going to games for years, by visiting coaches and players, by News Tribune writer Wendy Carpenter and by Logger players and coaches alike. And yet as a fan I don't feel welcome in our own gym.
The student section is constantly berated and scolded by those mysterious power figures sitting behind the scorer's table. It feels almost as if we are at a middle school basketball game and we have to behave accordingly.
However, this is college basketball and fans can make an active difference during the game simply by being loud and enthusiastic.
"The energy and enthusiasm that comes from the student section helps us a lot," Head Coach Justin Lunt said.
"The general atmosphere in the fieldhouse when everyone is pulling for us to win actively helps us play better."
Logger fans have changed the outcome of many games over the years, but Coach Lunt points directly to last week's PLU game as evidence.
"Being down 15 points with just a few minutes left is usually a hurdle teams can't overcome," Lunt said. "But the fans had our back and helped push us over that last hurdle."
Jason Foster agreed.
"Fans help with changing momentum." Foster said. "If we need a push we look to the stands, and this season and really over the last two years, the fans have been there."
So we've established that our home fans create a tough environment for visiting teams to play in. Stepping up to beat PLU was a feat, but the job done by fans during the Whitworth game was reminiscent of the Duke student section, the Cameron Crazies. No Pirate player touched the ball without hearing D-E-F-E-N-S-E chanted loudly. No Logger player drove the lane without feeling the support of "Let's go, Loggers" being shouted from every corner of the Fieldhouse.
UPS fans this season have been commended by Tacoma natives who have been going to games for years, by visiting coaches and players, by News Tribune writer Wendy Carpenter and by Logger players and coaches alike. And yet as a fan I don't feel welcome in our own gym.
The student section is constantly berated and scolded by those mysterious power figures sitting behind the scorer's table. It feels almost as if we are at a middle school basketball game and we have to behave accordingly.
However, this is college basketball and fans can make an active difference during the game simply by being loud and enthusiastic.
"The energy and enthusiasm that comes from the student section helps us a lot," Head Coach Justin Lunt said.
"The general atmosphere in the fieldhouse when everyone is pulling for us to win actively helps us play better."
Logger fans have changed the outcome of many games over the years, but Coach Lunt points directly to last week's PLU game as evidence.
"Being down 15 points with just a few minutes left is usually a hurdle teams can't overcome," Lunt said. "But the fans had our back and helped push us over that last hurdle."
Jason Foster agreed.
"Fans help with changing momentum." Foster said. "If we need a push we look to the stands, and this season and really over the last two years, the fans have been there."
So we've established that our home fans create a tough environment for visiting teams to play in. Stepping up to beat PLU was a feat, but the job done by fans during the Whitworth game was reminiscent of the Duke student section, the Cameron Crazies. No Pirate player touched the ball without hearing D-E-F-E-N-S-E chanted loudly. No Logger player drove the lane without feeling the support of "Let's go, Loggers" being shouted from every corner of the Fieldhouse.
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Dr. Shoptaw
posted 2/16/07 @ 10:57 PM PST
I think that Mr. Sam Kussin-Shoptaw has some amazing observations on the importance of an active student section for a productive collegiate basketball season. (Continued…)
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