"This is U.Va.," Rashawn Jackson said. "This isn't Michigan or LSU or Tennessee or Virginia Tech. The fans here aren't that patient, you know." (This is a quote in "Wahoos' Woes Grow with Stunning Loss to Duke," Nov, 1, www.virginiasports.com). I strongly disagree with Jackson's claim that U.Va. football fans are less patient. If anything they have been patient. Virginia Football has been on the decline for several years. If a coach at any of the major football programs Jackson listed produced so few wins, the fans would not have tolerated the mediocrity so long. Fortunately U.Va. fans have finally begun to vote by their absences. The athletics director and president need to act!
But what of those fans who do choose to still attend and spend hundreds in the process? According to senior DE Nate Collins, "We don't care... fans don't help us win, we help ourselves win." What an arrogant statement to make! I cannot believe that the defense would rather have total silence on third and 1 instead of a roaring crowd encouraging them to make the stop and force the punt. Collins goes on to say, "We don't control who buys tickets, who comes, who sits in the stands, who leaves." I have to disagree again. Of course the players have control since they are the only reason that fans exist. People attend to support and encourage you, to acknowledge your talent, and wish you success. To say fans are insignificant is tremendously disrespectful.
These same supporters are the primary funding source for an excellent stadium and practice facilities. Players should recognize this importance and athletics deptartment officials should do the same if they would like to... well, keep their jobs. The fans are currently discouraged and, whether or not the team acknowledges it, they are vitally important to the football program.
Players should remember that the next time they lift in their state-of-the-art weight room, or play an opponent in the stadium on homecoming in the pouring rain and hear fans praising them with the "Good Old Song" after a pick six for a touchdown.
Catherine Jones\nCLAS II
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