Even while missing the "M" in Miami, fans find a way to keep spirits high during hockey games at Steve Cady Arena.

Home advantage key factor for success of Miami athletics

By: Dan Kukla

Posted: 4/13/07

Fans are much more than spectators who simply watch a sporting event. They are a critical part of the game and can have a direct impact on the outcome.

In college sports, this effect is magnified and Miami University athletics are no exception. Currently the RedHawks are 8-1 on the baseball diamond here at Oxford, but stand at 9-9 on the road.

When playing in Steve Cady Arena this past season, Miami hockey posted an impressive 15-5-1 record while struggling to a 9-9-3 mark in away games. Similarly, the basketball team was a solid 11-2 at home, but held 7-13 when away from the friendly confines of Millett Hall.

Senior guard Doug Penno is a strong believer in the home court advantage that Miami fans can provide.

"Personally for me, I may get that extra boost playing off the crowd," Penno said. "We've had a lot more students these past two years and that makes the game a lot more enjoyable and much more of a college basketball atmosphere."

Student sections are one factor that makes college sports so unique. In professional sports, the fans don't interact with the players on a daily basis.

However, in college athletics the fan base is made up of students who go to class with the players and see them on a day-to-day basis.

It is this distinct relationship that college students have with the college athletes that differentiate collegiate sports from professional.

According to hockey team captain Ryan Jones, this also gives the players an extra incentive to win and not let the home crowd down.

"We always feed off the fans, especially here when the students are as loud as they are," Jones said. "There's certainly something that we play for and we really appreciate that."

But what about away games, where the tables are turned and the atmosphere is suddenly hostile?

Fans have the opportunity of enjoying sporting events within close proximity of the action. As a result, players, coaches and referees are all able to hear whatever fans feel so inclined to say - from the good, to the bad to the ugly.

At the collegiate level, students filled with alcohol, hate for a rival team or just getting into the spirit of the game, come up with some of the most creative, yet crude, chants and sayings around.

"Muck Farshall" and "Muck Fichigan" are two common T-shirts you see around Miami's campus.

"When Marshall was in the conference I wore (the 'Muck Farshall' shirt) to support Miami when they played them," said Miami senior Zach Silberman. "They were our biggest rival a few years back so I wanted to make sure I supported Miami."

But do the shirts take it too far?

"I don't think those type of shirts are inappropriate," Silberman said. "If you had a shirt depicting the death of a player or team, then that is taking it way too far. But just making fun of the team and showing pride for your own team is not inappropriate."

It's those fans that do take it too far, that can sometimes have a negative impact on the players.

"Sometimes fans will take it a little too far and some of the guys on the team may get a little disoriented when they have fans screaming at them," Penno said.

Beyond the battle against hostile fans, teams on the road must also struggle with the challenges of travel.

"Travel itself is a big factor," said basketball Head Coach Charlie Coles. "It makes it hard to get into a routine; that's what throws you off. It's just hard to play in an unfamiliar environment."

Penno and Coles both agreed that long bus rides, uncomfortable hotels and demanding schedules can all be quite taxing on players and coaches especially during long road trips.

Senior softball player Leslie Macedo echoed the opinion of Coles and Penno.

"Routine in athletics is everything," Macedo said. "You have a batting routine and a pre-game routine. Travel definitely interrupts that."

There is no denying the many challenges that come with playing road games. However, no matter how difficult they may be, there is no way to make them go away.