We at The Prairie would like to welcome back returning and new Buffs alike for this spring semester. For some, graduation is coming up in May while others are aiming to complete their first full year at this humble abode that is West Texas A&M University.
As much as we could write a piece that says all the right things about our university while trying to find glaring faults, like how parking isn’t that great, it’s been done to death.
We could point the finger at the different organizations on campus and tell them how they’re wonderful or how they’re terrible, but not this time around.
Instead, we want to challenge you, the student body of West Texas A&M University, to become more involved with the events that are held by groups such as CORE and our athletics department.
In the past, there have been numerous calls for more support for our athletic programs from the students – some from the journalism program and others from other various departments within the university itself. Most of them go unheeded, but it’s something that needs to be brought up and brought to the student body’s attention.
After all, it’s sad that most of the student representation is mostly the Maroon Platoon or those who are friends or family of the athletes. As much as the Maroon Platoon is appreciated for their efforts to rally the home crowd, it wouldn’t hurt to see more than just the hardcore groups and individuals coming out to support the Buffs and Lady Buffs.
When we caught wind of a new group called The Herd, it was a long time coming. In fact, more student fan groups should be welcomed and appreciated by athletes, fans and those who provide coverage of the likes of basketball, volleyball, soccer and other sports that don’t quite catch the imagination or passion as much as football.
So with the atmosphere provided by the first basketball games of the semester, it was a welcome sight. When students show up in droves, alumni and casual fans become excited while the players are pressed to play to the best of their abilities. This in turn encourages more victories, or at least better competition, out of both visitors and the home team.
In layman’s terms, it provides a true home field advantage.
The challenge will be this: can you, the WTAMU student body, show in droves on a consistent basis? And can you support a team through thick and thin?
For example, while we’re so quick to support the Lady Buffs Basketball team who are currently 13-1, will it hurt to stick around for a while longer and cheer on the men’s basketball team which is straddling a .500 record while dealing with the aftermath of head coach Rick Cooper’s retirement? If anything, we’re sure that Coach Patel and his players would want students to come out to the First United Bank Center to help them salvage their season and cheer them to some strong Lone Star Conference play.
After all, both students and alumni, even when dealing with not so great seasons, would support the sports programs hailing from most large state universities. The same goes with the small, private universities out in the eastern part of the United States.
Why can’t West Texas A&M?
So that will be our challenge to you. Not only do we encourage students to come out to regular season games for basketball, volleyball, soccer… you name it, we encourage our student body to support the Buffaloes and Lady Buffs on a more consistent basis.
