Campus Does not Deserve Basketball Success
The Poly Post, April 7, 2009
By Renford Reese
Political Science Department, Cal Poly Pomona

I watched the Bronco's final two shots of regulation in the Division II national championship game in a restaurant in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. I remember turning to the waiter and saying with excitement "Eso es mi equipo.la universidad donde trabajo" (That is my team.the university where I work). The waiter and the staff shared my excitement. With 2.4 seconds left in overtime, however, I felt a tinge of guilt. I felt that I had not made enough of an emotional investment in our team to be a beneficiary of a Bronco national championship.

Although I have taught one-fourth of the players on the men's team and regularly go to home games, I still felt like I was a free rider. For example, I have only once traveled to see our team play on the road when most of the away games are within a 30-mile radius of our school. I am now inspired to become a better fan.

It was beautiful to see so many students, faculty, and staff, come out last Thursday during U-hour to celebrate the Broncos' historic athletic achievement. However, I could not help but to ask myself where have all of this energy, excitement, and enthusiasm been for our athletic teams over the years?

When I played football at Vanderbilt, we struggled to compete in the tough Southeastern Conference. However, what was most memorable was that all of our home games were sold out. There were no students in their dorms on game day.

When the athletes got up at the rally to humbly accept the warmth of the campus community someone stated that they traveled with a core group of 60 fans during their run. All-American Larry Gordon stated, "We had to overcome a lot on this run. We had to play in three time zones and had to travel with no fans." The national champions Findlay Oilers traveled with thousands of fans. In many ways, our campus did not deserve to have a national championship. With the exception of the athletes, coaches, athletic administrators, a few die-hard fans and consistent supporters such as President Ortiz and his wife, many people on campus were "Johnny Come Lately" free riders that made an emotional investment in the team with 2.4 seconds left in the final game.

To be more specific, although we have a small gym, our basketball games are rarely packed, with the exception of "Pack the Gym Night." In my 13 years at this institution I have not seen more than five of my faculty colleagues at a game-not counting those coming to be recognized on "Faculty Appreciation Night." I rarely see staff at games. Our campus community has not made a collective investment in our teams and we should. We should galvanize the same spirit that was on display last Thursday at the rally and support our athletic teams throughout their seasons.

During their incredible run, our guys displayed the commitment, determination, and grit that made us all proud. The campus community, in turn, should begin making a fraction of the same commitment to make our athletes proud of us.

--Renford Reese, Ph.D., is a professor in the political science department and director of the Colorful Flags program at Cal Poly Pomona. He is the author of American Bravado (2008), Prison Race (2006), and the widely discussed American Paradox: Young Black Men (2004). He is also the author of the Starbucks "The Way I See It" cup quote #294.