After reading Peter Hockaday’s article “Homegrown Attitude” (ODE, Feb. 1), I must admit that as a Duck fan, I was a little angry. When Luke Jackson said his hope was to win the rest of the season’s games, Hockaday replied by saying, “Sure, Luke.”
Hockaday thought the Ducks couldn’t beat Arizona, but as a fan, I knew the team had a good chance. The previous weekend in California brought two losses, but the Ducks improved many things and started working well as a team. Back at McArthur Court, the Ducks played an amazing offensive and defensive game, upsetting Arizona and proving they could win the rest of their games.
I’m sure Hockaday would call the win lucky, using the Arizona State game on Sunday to prove his point. The Ducks’ loss to the Sun Devils, who had only won one Pacific-10 Conference game, shows the Arizona game was just a fluke, right? There was one big factor, however, between the Arizona and Arizona State games: the fans. On Thursday, Duck fans packed the student section, but on Sunday, there was an empty balcony, a semi-full Pit crew and a few students in the corner section.
All those Duck fans who I thought believed in the team must have had other things to do, and the majority of those who did find time in their schedules left before the end. After the game, head coach Ernie Kent thanked the fans who stayed through the whole game and apologized for the team’s performance. Ernie was apologizing, when really the fans should be apologizing to him. Giving up on his team at the half? Not showing up for the game?
One thing to point out is the student tickets for the Arizona State game were sold out. When a student picks up a ticket and doesn’t use it, it hurts the team and students generally. The athletic department sells the ASUO tickets to the football and basketball games at discounted prices. The unused ticket could have been sold full price to someone else. Not using tickets wastes our student fee, loses money for the athletic department and raises ticket prices for students in the future. The Athletic Department Finance Committee and the athletic department are always in negotiations about student tickets. The less students show up, the worse we look to the athletic department. They’ll start to sell tickets to us at regular price and even reduce the quantity if students fail to use them. Do you want to have to start buying season tickets and sitting in assigned seats?
There’s nothing like the “running of the bulls” to get that good seat in The Pit. What makes Mac Court so special is the fact that, as fans, students have the opportunity to help out the team. If they jump up and down enough, fans can actually shake the opponent’s basket. Students make a difference, and their support helps out the team. There is no place in the country like Mac Court, and students have four years to experience its glory. Don’t let the years pass by without bothering to take advantage of student tickets. Don’t miss your chance to be the sixth man. Don’t miss your chance to be a real Duck fan.