Letter to the Editor:
Basketball team needs fan energy

As a Rider alum and a long-time fan of Bronc Basketball, I was shocked and disappointed at the student attendance, or lack thereof, at the game against Marist on Monday, Feb. 5.
As Leo D. Rommel said in his excellent Feb. 2 column, our team may not always end up as a winner in the win/loss column, but it does have a great deal of heart and should never be counted out in any game.

This season, we lost three games that could have been won, against Niagara, Loyola and Marist at Alumni Gym. Perhaps if the student section had been packed and the associated noise had been deafening, these losses might have ended up as victories.

Alumni Gym, at one time not long ago, was a feared place for opposing teams to venture in to. People were squeezed in to the maximum, cranberry T-shirts were the predominant color, the noise was deafening and, as a result, the team usually won.

Now, we get scattered fans providing polite applause — the lack of passion is mind boggling. The alumni, administration, faculty and local basketball fans do our best to provide vocal support, but the students must be there if the team is to be successful.
Another disappointment was the total disappearance of our pep band — not one trumpet, drum, etc. to be seen. At any other college, this would never have been the case. Just look at any game on ESPN and you will see packed gymnasiums, with students and pep bands providing the background to guide their teams to victory.

I sincerely ask that you use your column to make a pitch for better attendance. It probably is too late for this season, but seasons thereafter could certainly benefit from more passionate student support.



— Joe Casarella
Class of 1955