Our fans, our athletes and our campus support for teams reflect on the university. When no fans show up to watch a game, it gives the impression that as a student body, we do not care about our athletes. But support does matter. An athletic contest can be changed by the intensity of the crowd. A large following can make an athlete feel like he is representing an entire school rather than just a team.
Support gives each team more of a reason to play and play hard.
Furthermore, students need to realize that athletes are their peers. You eat lunch with them in your colleges, and you sit in the same classes with them. Just as we should not abandon anyone within the college, we should not abandon our athletes when they take the field. Sooner or later, campus disinterest in athletics will have repercussions. Whether a drop in recruiting or the eventual elimination of certain sports, small crowds can only hurt the university.