By Frank Aimetti - STAFF WRITER
On October 22, Hofstra’s third annual Midnight Madness will kick off a basketball season that will see third-year coach Joe Mihalich’s team face not only increased expectations, but also a problem a bit closer to home; why doesn’t the average student care?
Never was the apathy more apparent than last year’s Midnight Madness event where droves of students flocked to the Mack Center, not to see the basketball team, but rather to grab a complimentary t-shirt in the lobby before heading back outside. The inside of the arena was hardly any better as students appeared more interested in consuming free food and drink before they too walked out the doors. By the time the team came out and the festivities had begun, most of the crowd was already gone.
Perhaps Hofstra students had reason to be skeptical, with the program enduring three straight years of sub-par basketball with a low point during the 2012-13 season when four players were arrested for burglary.
However, the problem was not just with supporting the basketball team. The hard truth is that Hofstra students simply don’t have much school spirit when it comes to supporting Pride athletics.
The problem also was not in the quality of the games, as for the most part, the teams have done their share. A 13-4 run to open the 2014-15 men’s basketball season, including a buzzer-beater win over local rival Stony Brook, did not seem to elicit any buzz on campus.
A nationally-ranked men’s soccer team still draws sparse crowds and little fanfare from the student body. Conference champion and NCAA tournament participant women’s volleyball team received little more than a mention despite a fantastic season. A men’s lacrosse team with national expectations failed to make any waves in the student body.
So why the indifference? A common answer might be to point to the football program, or lack thereof. Other than being a more popular sport than basketball, football also offers a tailgating culture that no other sport can bring to the table. Pre-game barbecues help to create an atmosphere that makes the game fun for casual fans and helps connect the fan base in a way that a sport like basketball or lacrosse does not.
Attending sporting events at Hofstra generally is not part of the culture of the campus. When I attend basketball games, I notice that the alumni and family sections are more active in cheering and creating a loud and hostile environment for the opposing teams than the student section is.
The backbone of any loud, involved collegiate crowd is the student section and that is where Hofstra’scrowd tends to fall short. Outside of the hardcore fans in the first few rows, who are as loud and involved in the game, it is common to see the student section sitting or not cheering during key parts of the game.
During a pivotal late season contest against conference rival William & Mary last season, nearly the entire arena stood during the climactic final possessions. In an almost surreal sight, the only part of the crowd that remained in their seats was the back half of the student section, who simply looked bored.
Hofstra (19-12) ranked seventh out of ten CAA teams in 2014-15 men’s basketball attendance, lagging behind even basement dwelling teams such as the College of Charleston (8-23) and Towson (12-19), despite a stellar season for Coach Mihalich and company. If success does not bring increased attendance or increased fervor in the crowd, then what will?
Being a Hofstra student or even a fan of Hofstra as a school does not seem to really correlate to supporting Hofstra athletics.Hofstra apparel is extremely common around campus and the general sentiment among the student body is that the majority of students enjoy attending Hofstra. However, the connection between being a Hofstra student and being a Hofstra sports fan could not be weaker.
Outside of the occasional ad flashed on a TV screen in the academic buildings, I’ve found that advertisement for Hofstra sporting events is nearly non-existent and awareness of game or match dates is even rarer.
It is not a priority for Hofstra students to attend sporting events and a big part of that is the accessibility of the student-athletes. While I can’t say enough good things about every student-athlete I’ve written about and talked to during the past few years, on a lot of levels, it almost seems like student-athletes are a different “class” of Hofstra student.
The average Hofstra student might not connect with a student-athlete the way they would with a fellow student, because in many ways, despite attending the same school, their experiences could not be more different. Due to the time commitments they face from practices, workouts, and preparation, student athletes tend to be fairly insular, which might make it hard for a typical student to see a student-athlete as ‘one of them’.
A personal connection to the athletes, or lack of, might just be the difference between a student choosing to attend a Hofstra sporting event or not.
In the end, it comes down to whether Hofstra sports will ever become a priority for the diverse student body of Hofstra. Sustained success is an effective way of drawing dedicated fan support as many Hofstra fans have faith in teams due to the strong accomplishments of Hofstra athletics in recent years.
In essence, fan support comes down to two questions. Is attending a Hofstra sporting event worth the time investment for the typical Hofstra student? If students do attend, will they enjoy the experience and be drawn back?
The responsibility of making Hofstra athletic events an entertaining fan experience falls on everybody’s shoulders, from Hofstra administration, to the athletes, and to the current fans of Hofstra sports. Time will tell in the long run what the student response is to the lack of school spirit.
Right now, my advice for Hofstra students is this: check out the next big Hofstra sports game or match and give being a fan a try. You may even get a free t-shirt.