Fans expect their favorite team to continually strive to become better players, but perhaps we should also make an effort to become better fans too.
Miami University isn't known for having the most loyal or even attentive fans. Outside of the Steve Cady Arena there is a general sense of apathy toward RedHawk athletics. But the support of a big crowd could be that added motivation the Red and White need to send fans home happy.
Now I realize that not every fan cares about sports as much as I do (trust me, I would never ask that-just ask my girlfriend every time I ask her who the Cubs' first baseman is), but sometimes a fan's behavior can even be detrimental to his or her team despite the purest of intentions.
At the football game against Syracuse University I saw this exact scenario play out.
Miami had the ball and it was 3rd and 1 late in the game. It was a critical down for the RedHawks as they tried to fend off Syracuse for their first home win in nearly two years. Whoever controls the scoreboard started playing the clip of Gene Hackman starting a slow clap to rile up his team in the sports classic Hoosiers.
While fans eat up that clip and always start cheering louder when it is played, that was the exact opposite of what the fans should have done.
The next play, battling the pumped up crowd noise, one of Miami's offensive lineman jumped early and earned the always-frustrating false start penalty. The 'Hawks went from 3rd and 1, to 3rd and 6 on this big play-a big difference.
I know what you're thinking: Why should I not cheer and support my team?
However, sometimes silence truly is golden.
The reason why you shouldn't cheer loudly in that situation is because you want to make sure your offense is on the same page-whether it's play calling or listening to the quarterback's snap count. You want to make sure they can hear the quarterback and not jump offsides or run the wrong play. You just want to make their job a little easier.
On the flip side, when the opposing defense is in a critical down, make all the noise you want because hopefully your enthusiasm can bump the opposition back five yards.
I might be nitpicking, but this is only one example.
Another time to make a little more noise while on defense is actually in the huddle. The longer it takes for the quarterback to get everyone on the same page, the more rushed the snap might be.
In the best-case scenario, the opposing offense might have to burn a timeout as the play clock winds down to avoid a penalty. Having the other team call a timeout isn't the most exciting play, but that timeout can prove to be worth its weight in gold in the waning moments of the game.
Heckling is completely acceptable. I do it at nearly every game I go to, much to the dismay of some of my closest friends. But remember to look around for little kids in the vicinity before you start running your mouth off too much.
Finally, and arguably most important, is attendance. No one wants to sing to an empty auditorium, so why would you want to play football in front of an empty stadium? The sound of crickets doesn't pump anyone up to do anything.
I can sit here and criticize fans for not showing up, it wouldn't be the first time, but I'd wager to say a packed house only helps.
None of these things are really a big deal, but sometimes a lot of little things can combine to make a big difference.
