“font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;”>As the Sports Editor, I have realized it is not the easiest task in the world to constantly write about a losing team.
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As the Sports Editor, I have realized it
is not the easiest task in the world to constantly write about a
losing team.
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Most of the sports teams at A&T are under 500, meaning they
lose more games than they win. But this weekend when I was covering
the volleyball team playing in theÂ
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this past weekend, I began to think about more than just the fact
they were losing. I began to wonder why.
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People can argue that it’s their lack of talent but that’s not the
case because if they didn’t have talent they wouldn’t have gotten a
scholarship to play one of these teams. I believe it’s the lack of
support our teams receive and lack of “Aggie Pride” amongst us.
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Too many times I hear people complain about the losing records of
our volleyball, football, baseball, and basketball teams, but if
all they hear is negative talk from their classmates and even some
alumni, how are they suppose to be successful?
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However, I am not saying it is alright
to lose, but everybody needs support regardless of whatever they
are doing in life.
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And when it comes to sports, if you were an athlete, wouldn’t you
be encouraged to do better and have more motivation if you had a
great fan-base and surplus support?
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At the volleyball tournament, there were many instances when our
team only loss by a few points, and I’m positive that if they had
more fans in the stands cheering them on, they would have pulled
through and won a few sets.
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Usually, most of the people that talk about our sports teams have
only attended the most popular games like football and basketball,
but have never attended some or one of the non-revenue teams like
tennis and bowling.
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While I was at theÂ
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I coincidentally sat beside Ronald Wilson, who attends many A&T
sporting events. As we were talking Wilson, a native of Newark, NJ
and 1976 graduate of Rutgers University said, “Most black people
who have attendedÂ
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not support sports that do not bring money, but for these
non-revenue sports, the cost to get in is free and the experience
is worth aÂ
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Also, if more people were to attend games it would help the
athletic department economically and would ultimately affect the
sports team positively. Once the athletic department realizes a
drastic change in attendance at events, they might possibly use
money to build better sports programs to recruit skilled
players.
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If you’re not out doing community service, schoolwork, or anything
else that is truly constructive, you should be attending any
A&T sporting event rooting your fellow classmates to victory.
Instead of scrutinizing them, how about we support them.
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Faculty and staff should be in attendance as well.
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Regardless of whether you like sports or not, it really isn’t about
sports. It’s about demonstrating your Aggie Pride.
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“list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;”> follow her on Twitter: @kayrobinson92
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- Karmen Robinson, Sports Editor