In March 2001, students at Southwest Missouri State University along with many Lady Bear basketball fans watched as Jackie Stiles broke the single season scoring record in women’s college basketball. The house was usually packed for Bear Basketball games, even before Jackie broke her record.

The SMSU Bears play in the John Q. Hammons Student Center, which has a main arena seating capacity of 8,846.

Students, faculty, Greeks, alumni and local fans filled the arena in support of their Bears.

I can remember the excitement and thrill of going to a Bears game my freshman year with a large group of my sorority sisters. We would sit with the other Greek students and the fraternity boys with their painted chests and enthusiastic school spirit. That was college basketball! The fans made it fun.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Southern and wouldn’t trade my friends and experiences here for anything in the world. And I’m very aware that Springfield is quite a bit bigger than Joplin and that SMSU has more than twice as many students as Southern. Just because we are a smaller school in a smaller town with a smaller arena doesn’t mean that our love for basketball and our school is small as well.

OK, so take Missouri Western State College.  On Feb. 5, the Lady Lions beat Central Missouri State University with 1,150 fans watching. Missouri Western played CMSU earlier this season and had 1,309 fans in attendance. A difference of 159 people, big deal. Right? Considering we have a 288 student advantage over Missouri Western then you would think we could do a little better at our games

On Feb. 12, 2,600 fans came to watch the Lady Lions beat Pittsburg State University. At the men’s game against Pitt State, 3,240 fans cheered on the Lions. Among those fans included several students dressed in wild outfits or in full green body paint rooting for their Lions. CAB members were handing out streamers and green and yellow bandanas at the door. The mass of people in the stands waving their green and gold could send a chill of school spirit down your spine.

At a normal home game, you can expect about half as many people in attendance and no one with painted bodies or weird outfits. I commend the fans who turn out for every game and are dedicated to our basketball program. There are those who are dedicated, excited fans. Those people are a minority at most games. Where’s the excitement and enthusiasm from the student body that goes along with college basketball?

I almost feel sorry for the person who plays our school mascot along with our cheerleaders. They try their hardest to get Southern fans pumped up, but oftentimes don’t seem to be successful.

“It shouldn’t be just the PSU games, it should be every game,” said junior center Paige Christiansen after the women’s game against Pitt State.

She’s right!  The players feed off the fans excitement.

In the end, it’s not about numbers or whether or not anyone came painted green and gold. It’s about having pride in our school and supporting our fellow students.

People say that college is the best time of our lives. Just like anything else, your experience here is what you make of it. If sports isn’t your thing, then find something on campus that you can get involved in.

Get out there and show some Lion pride!