Miami Student

Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Editorials

Tonight will mark one of the most important sporting events that Miami University has hosted in recent history. After Wednesday saw USA Today publish a full-page article previewing the game, and after numerous students have braved the cold, rainy weather to camp out on the bare unforgiving concrete in front of the Goggin Ice Arena doors, the day is finally here: our No. 1 ranked Miami RedHawks versus the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines. The Miami Student editorial board did more this week than just watch Super Tuesday election returns and talk about our favorite members of the team-we decided to take a look at the campus vibe surrounding the weekend's games.

While our staff is split over whether camping out for a mere hockey game is really that exciting, we all understand-and would be blind not to see-the evolution in dedication that this campus has undergone. One looks at pictures of Duke University basketball campouts and you see a place that this university could be at within a moderate amount of time-especially if our fans show a willingness to stay with the program through thick and thin. Each recruiting class brings in high impact players that will continue our on-ice tradition years into the future, as will the university's support of the sport-one can only hope that the fans continue, as well.

However we must once again address the interaction between the Athletic Department and the students. Understanding that sporting events schedules are made far in the future, it is still unfortunate that two basketball games are scheduled to precede this hockey game, and that special provisions are being made to try and capitalize on hockey's success by spreading its fan base around. School spirit is an important aspect to foster, but it is unfair and borderline disrespectful to both men's and women's basketball teams that a group of hockey fans, in order to gain tickets, will be required to attend their earlier games. We should not be in the business of piggybacking fan support in order to fill the stands. We do not ask for priced student tickets, but alternatives like at the University of Pittsburgh show how simple such things as online lottery systems (or even some sort of seat reservation system) could solve the problems of humongous lines and unnecessary attendance requirements.

But more importantly, from the four fans who do the bus cheer, to the students who line up as soon as Friday classes are released and finally to the smell of the arena when you get through the doors and into the seats-this has contributed to the excited atmosphere on campus. This weekend is a unique moment in our university's history that will be the showcase of our talent and of our intensity. But beyond everything else, it is so refreshing for us at The Student to finally see the seemingly ever-present Ohio State University love eclipsed on campus-let us hope this rally around the RedHawks never fades.

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