Where are the alumni at the games?

It was only a matter of time before an alumnus approached me with a phrase I get every football season – “Why don’t y’all students ever show up to the games?”

Most years I defend the students by saying a mixture of things, and I pretty much have to pull an argument out of my back pocket in order for it to make sense. This year, it was a lot easier for me to make my argument.

I understand the circulation for this newspaper is very limited, but I encourage the students out there to try and spread this to as many community members as possible. The message is pretty clear: The students show up; it’s everybody else who doesn’t.

I am tired of looking across the stadium from the student section and seeing empty seats on the alumni side. The attendance since the Memphis game has been steadily declining, and some blame has been put on the students but, in all fairness, you can’t blame us anymore.

Tailgating has increased in Walnut Grove and student attendance has been pretty steady and has grown year after year. Athletic marketing has increased their efforts.

The biggest sign of disappointment was this season’s Mississippi State game. After the strong efforts from the Athletics Department to make sure students were in attendance for that particular game, the alumni found a way to make excuses for not coming. They ranged from the early morning kickoff to cold weather.

There’s no secret that the major marketing push for fans is geared towards the older community members. Trust me, they aren’t playing “Stuck In the Middle With You” to attract more students in the stands. So if the student attendance is growing while the efforts of marketing are increasing, don’t you think it’s time for alumni to start looking in the mirror?

The Blue Raiders have one more home game this season. If they win, they will match the record for the most wins in a season for the football program with eight. I sure hope they don’t get that eighth win in front of only 15,000 fans, especially with surprisingly good weather lately.

It would be great for more students to be in the stands, but it would be even better if we can get a better showing from the 18,000 alums who currently live in Rutherford County.

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