Eye on Rider:
The Sixth Man is a paying customer, too

When the clock ticked to zero, a tidal wave of cranberry overtook the court. Jubilation and pride filled the air at Alumni Gym in front of a national audience. The Broncs were now setting their sights on a championship. It was an exciting time to be a Rider student.

That was the last time Saint Peter’s visited Lawrenceville in 2005.

When Saint Peter’s came to Alumni Gym to play Rider on Sunday, Feb. 26, on Senior Day, the situation was slightly different: no television cameras, no championship aspirations and virtually no students.

Other than the people who had to be at the game, an observer would have noticed a reasonable amount of alumni, clusters of Cub Scouts and families, a contingent of Saint Peter’s fans, a few members of the Bronc Band, some scattered students, the dedicated dance team and the usual group of approximately 10 faithful student fans wearing their Sixth Man shirts.

These students, unofficially known around campus as the Rider Screamers, always lead the crowd with chants of “Defense!” and “Let’s go Rider!” The Screamers live and breathe Rider basketball.

But as I said, things were different on this day. The Screamers were not screaming this time. In fact, nothing came out of their mouths, as they stood with their arms folded. The Screamers were making a statement.

Only two nights earlier, the group was threatened by a certain athletic administrator, who arrived armed with Public Safety officers. She said if the Screamers continued their behavior, the next step would be to send them through the judicial process. Most likely the consequences would have meant banishment for the Screamers.

Back to Sunday. After a timeout, two middle-aged fathers angrily approached the Screamers and demanded that they sit down because their group of boys couldn’t see the game. One of the men claimed that he was a “paying customer,” which was why he thought the Screamers should sit down. After the Screamers refused, he brought a Public Safety officer with him. The officer basically issued the ultimatum that the group either sit down or leave the vicinity. The Screamers left.

I am proud to say that I am a Screamer. Along with my group of fellow fanatics, I go to every game, regardless of team performance. The absence of student spirit for the Broncs was clearly visible during Sunday’s Screamer protest during the first half. At one point, all a person could hear in the gym were Saint Peter’s fans making their peacock noises.

Sometimes, a member of the Screamers may make a rude comment about a player on the other team, or offend someone in the crowd with his language. But that is all part of the game. When we were in Buffalo for the conference championship last year, Niagara fans spit and threw beer at us. They taunted our players. But if one of us slips out the wrong word in frustration, our entire group may get kicked out of the gym.

If you don’t want us to disturb the children or elderly, then don’t seat us near them. Do what most schools do: reserve a student section and get us away from the families so there are no more problems.

Furthermore, it’s pretty embarrassing that the tiny Alumni Gym, which seats only about 1,700 people, is lucky to crack 1,000 fans for basketball games. Sadly, a group of Loyola fans who took the two-and-a-half-hour bus ride up to Lawrenceville almost outnumbered the Rider students at Friday night’s game.

Oh wait, I forgot: Rider was not on ESPN this year. That means that many of those fake, front-runner fans in the sea of cranberry from that Saint Peter’s game last year decided not to show up at all this season.

And this is probably the reason why families are starting to complain: We are the only visible student group in attendance. Athletics should promote their games more on campus, instead of constantly concentrating off campus. If they don’t, then they should take down the Broncs’ Zoo sign because the only thing resembling an animal in Alumni Gym is the mascot.

But the Screamers were there for every men’s game while Rider was in session. People fail to remember that we are the true fans supporting the team. But instead, we are viewed as an enemy.

Unfortunately, since we are students without deep pockets to supply donations for a new arena, we will continue to be pushed aside.

By the way, Rider plays Saint Peter’s today at 4:30 p.m. in the MAAC Tournament opening round at Albany. I’ll be there, but I’m sure many of you won’t.

— Mike Caputo