It was sad to see so little support for our athletes. Unfortunately, this trend is not reserved for soccer games. Few fans come out for any sporting event on campus. Professional athletes are seen as pampered millionaires and owners viewed as profit-driven leeches who ruin each sport. Here in Houston, both the Oilers and the Astros are attempting to move out of town, and, for the most part, no one seems to care.
Fans are disgusted and have little reason to show any fan support or loyalty to local teams.
It therefore seems reasonable to think that such behavior could filter down from the professional ranks to the college level. Furthermore, college sport scandals have painted a picture of NCAA athletics as nothing more than the farm league for corrupt professional leagues. Yet, I do not believe that this alone can explain poor attendance. Rice is rarely on top of the national rankings, and this may contribute to a lack of campus-wide interest. Other factors may include the widening social rift between varsity athletes and the rest of campus.