Until a few weeks ago, I had never arrived late to a Hoyas Basketball game. So when I showed up at the front entrance of the Verizon Center twenty minutes late for a game against Seton Hall, I didn’t think much of my tardiness. That is until the rent-a-guard at the door informed me, and my flock of fellow freshmen, that there were no more student wristbands—and we would be relegated to the 400 level. Shocked, my friends and I began the great journey upward. Several escalators later, we took a seat next to the other stragglers and attempted to stem our nosebleeds.
You’d be surprised at the amount of time there is for reflection and contemplation, so high up. A few of my initial thoughts: “They look so small from up here,” and “I could’ve had more leg room had I stayed in the taxi.” But soon my mind drifted to loftier notions.
I gazed down at the grey throng of students and saw that a surprisingly large number weren’t even paying attention to the game. I looked at the non-student sections, whose members were equally unenthused. I surveyed the arena as a whole: embarrassing! Why were those comatose students down there in the student section, while I, a loud and proud Hoya, was up here needing binoculars! I started formulating a list of things that need to be changed.
As fans, we have to get up for every game. The team needs us, as we know from the ups and downs of this past week playing Duke, USF, and Villanova. The insane amount of energy demonstrated when we play top-ten teams secured us wins when we were the underdogs. By comparison, the embarrassingly lethargic, lifeless crowd we put together for the South Florida Bulls left us open to the wrath of the arrogant, but undeniably talented Dominique Jones. The fans can’t be blamed for a loss, but the team definitely feeds off the energy created by a great crowd.
Another thing that needs work is the actual cheering. Some of the brightest, most creative kids in America go to Georgetown, yet we rely on the rote “LET’S GO HOYAS” chant whenever we’re on offense. As a fan, it’s hard to repeat the same chant over and over again. It’s time we switch it up a little. “WE ARE GEORGETOWN” and “HOYA SAXA” are good when thrown into the mix, but we need to diversify our portfolio further. How about getting into the other team’s head. Call out a specific player—“SMITH IS RATTLED” will work, for example, when Smith messes up twice in a row. Or try the simple “CRY ABOUT IT” when a player thinks he’s doesn’t deserve a foul. Get creative—you have four whole syllables to work with.
Something that has been bothering me since the very first game is that when the other team is at the line for a free throw, Georgetown fans moves their hands right after the player shoots. What good does that do? We need to mess up their concentration mid-shot. The hand-wave should happen at least one second earlier, and I am personally shocked that Georgetown students have failed to see this logic.
On a grander scale, I think it’s a travesty that great fans are relegated to the 400 level just because they weren’t able to finish their pregame on time. This next proposal might be the most controversial, but I believe it will improve the atmosphere at the Verizon center. The first eight rows surrounding the court should go to students. This would surround the court with a continuous circle of jeering fans and excited Hoyas and give the Verizon Center a true college-game feel. I realize that the University and the Verizon Center make great money off of these seats, but it sacrifices an enormous amount of noise and energy. The University wouldn’t really be throwing away money by adopting this strategy, either: arenas with amazing atmospheres attract top recruits, top recruits attract more national attention and win more championship titles, which is where the real money is. Do whatever you have to—charge more for a student ticket package—I want students to be closer to the game.
Going to high school in Charlotte, N.C., I grew up loving to watch basketball. In high school, basketball games were a hotbed of school pride and witty chants. I am so proud of Georgetown fans when we greet top-ten teams like Duke and Villanova with the energy I know we’re capable of. But at most games against less-respected opponents, I’d rather be in the student section at one of my high school games, and that should never be the case.
