With a new coach on the floor, Ball State University's men's basketball team is ready to embark on a season full of potential.
Student fans should be with them every basket of the way.
Come tip-off Saturday, Worthen Arena should buzz with excitement.
Throw on the face paint. Dress in red and white. Flail the towels.
And make a whole lot of noise.
We're not a Big Ten school, but that's a pathetic reason not to rally behind our teams. Ball State students have free tickets to all home games - a rarity among NCAA schools. Students elsewhere often have to barter, camp out and fork over large sums of cash to get tickets to see their own school play.
But once those schools' students are in the arena doors - it's a four-quarter festival of screaming, chanting and stomping.
In the world of sports, there are spectators, and there are fans.
The spectator observes the victory. The fan takes part in it.
There's no reason not to have Ball State fans hanging off every inch of seat, packed to the aisle, ear-splitting in volume and with the enthusiasm of a Spring Break party bus.
Other schools do it without fail - win or lose, game in and game out.
We can do that.
We can be that.
But students must be in their seats when the first whistle blows.
The season is just beginning. Give the team the respect and encouragement it needs to make its way to the big dance in March.
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