Sports > September 14, 2005

By Ryan Durham

Assistant Sports Editor

One of the best things about Wake Forest University is the strength of its varsity athletic teams, but how many people really go to games?

I’m not talking about the football games where people tailgate, and then attend, or basketball games that are almost impossible to get tickets to because of the Screamin’ Demons, who claim to be Deacon fanatics.

I am talking about volleyball, field hockey, soccer and other smaller sports.

Volleyball is a sport at the university that deserves our support.

This team takes to the court most weekends in the fall, yet the student attendance is usually lacking.

I remember going to matches last year as a freshman and realizing our volleyball team gets more support from the general public of Winston-Salem then from its own student body.

These players work just as hard as those on other more prominent teams here and still have to take a substantial load of classes, because like the NCAA ads say, “most of us will be going pro in something other than sports.”

The team even travels to tournaments as far away as Texas and Kentucky just to represent our school. We as a student body should do more to support these student athletes and show them that we appreciate what they do.

The volleyball team currently has a winning record of 4-2, all of which were at tournaments on the road.

They return Sept. 16 and 17 to Reynolds Gym to try and keep up their three-match win streak, and thus deserve a good showing from the students to help them out, especially since this weekend’s tournament is the annual Deacon Invitational.  Next, take field hockey.

The field hockey team has won three national championships in a row, but when was the last time that there were 2,500 students waiting in line to attend the game? Yes, every once in a while, the Screamin’ Demons will try and make a showing at one of these events but attendance could still be better.

We as a student body should be able to muster more than just 40-50 students for a national champion field hockey team, if we can get more than half of our student body to attend a basketball game.

Last year there were plenty of students at the tournament games later in the fall, but the team needs that support throughout the season not just at the end.

Its hard to imagine how good they could be if they got that much support all through the year. Our field hockey team is arguably the most successful team in the recent history of this university. They return to Kentner for games Sept. 16 and Sept. 18 hoping to continue their 4-0 streak that they have started.

The women’s and men’s soccer teams are also ones that could use our support.

Yes it can be a long walk out to Spry Stadium but it is well worth it for one of the action-packed games that are known take place there.

Currently men’s soccer is ranked No. 14 in the NSCCA/Adidas national rankings and the women’s team is ranked No. 10 in the nation. These teams are both off to great seasons and are looking to continue on with them.

The women’s team recently traveled to Oregon and Washington to represent our school and performed well. They are currently 4-1-1 on the season and return to Spry Stadium Sept. 22.

The men’s team is 3-1 on the season and has already participated in two tournaments. They travel to Durham Sept. 18 to face the Blue Devils, but return to Spry Sept. 20 to play Saint Joseph’s.

This is not trying to take issue with Screamin’ Demons or with the student body. This is merely challenging them to live up to what they should be doing and support every sport at Wake Forest, not just the big ones. Every team benefits from its fans whether they are called the “sixth man,” or the “seventh” on the volleyball court or the “twelfth” on the field. Students should be just as willing to go see an action packed field hockey or volleyball game as they are to see a basketball or football one.

Attend one of the upcoming games for one of these sports, or better yet, find a cross-country race to watch or a tennis match or a track meet in the spring. You can find a complete schedule of sporting events every week on page B2 of this very paper, or online.

So, go out and support all of our teams and continue to live up to the Demon Deacon Spirit.