Q&A: Why attend Southeast sporting events?

Jacob Haun- Southeast Spirit Club: Disappointment is usually the emotion that floods over me when I enter any athletic event at Southeast. Whether it's at the Show Me Center, where the squeak of the players' shoes drowns out the crowd, Houck Stadium, where the wind is more excited than the crowd, or at any other athletic event that is largely ignored by the general student population.

My entire first year as a student I spent going to games alone, sitting in a completely empty student section. This has always been really hard for me because I take such pride in multiple different parts of the university, one of which is in our athletic events.

For me, it has never been hard to go to athletic events. In some cases I have even cleared my schedule to make sure that I could attend. When I was in high school, you had to pay to get into all athletic events. Here it's free!

Contrary to what people say, win or lose, the atmosphere at athletic events is always fun. At basketball and football games, the show band/Golden Eagles Marching Band always provides entertainment and commentary.

Sometimes it's singing, heckling the other players or playing music that always brightens that atmosphere. They try their best to make the Show Me Center a formidable place to play. Other athletic events carry their own charm as well, like soccer with the excitement of finally scoring that goal or the individual music for each player in baseball. Then there is always the abundance of free stuff at nearly every athletic event, be it free T-shirts because we just scored or magnets for your fridge, free is free!

What I find increasingly upsetting, though, is that students feel that going to athletic events would be a waste of time, that Southeast sports are just doomed and will never experience success. Students can have a profound effect on the success of our athletic teams. A noisy crowd can be the ultimate defense mechanism to any sports team.

I am a firm believer that all of our athletes really want to succeed, and knowing that they have that support can be a real confidence boost. In 2010, I thought we had reached a real milestone. Southeast football had one of its most successful seasons ever. Crowds of students flocked to the stadium and a great sense of camaraderie was fostered.

I would love to see the students come together and support the athletic teams again, and I have no doubt as the student body that we can make this happen.

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Anthony Crawford

Anthony Crawford- Southeast Athlete: Southeast Missouri State University is home to a little over 11,000 students, making it significantly smaller than some Division I schools in the nation.

However, I can also say that SEMO is home to some of the most talented, hard-working student athletes that you will ever come across in your lifetime.

As a member of the track and field team here at Southeast, I am no stranger to the hard work and dedication that goes into mastering my craft. Day in and day out, my team works hard to prepare to dominate anyone that steps on that track wearing a different color uniform.

Whether you see the basketball team crashing the boards in the rec center or the football team hitting the field for practice, every student athlete at this institution gives their all, not only to showcase their talent, but to represent the Redhawk student body.

With that being said, I feel like it is imperative that each and every sports team at Southeast gets the proper support that they deserve. I find it sad that Houck Stadium and the Show Me Center are within walking distance of every dorm on campus, and yet students can't find time to go support teams, such as gymnastics or soccer.

I'm sure every athlete can attest that it feels wonderful doing the thing that they love most and having a cheering crowd at their back. An athlete just having that support and love from the fellow student body helps us perform at another level. Not only does coming to a sporting event benefit us but it benefits the students.

Who wouldn't want to wake up on a Saturday afternoon and go watch an exciting football game with some friends? Why not spend some extra free time going to see a volleyball match? I promise that students would not be disappointed. Student athletes here at Southeast put blood, sweat and tears into getting good at what they do and implementing it on game day.

To every athlete, it is always an excellent feeling stepping out on that track, court or field and having people in attendance acknowledging our hard work and dedication and cheering us on -- win, lose or draw.