When it comes to Seton Hall Athletics, one sport's popularity reigns supreme: men's basketball. That being said, it shouldn't be the be all and end all of students' attention.
With 13 additional Division-I programs, we, the students, should be showcasing our Pirate Pride through all of them.
Currently, eight Seton Hall Athletics programs are in season: men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, volleyball and tennis.
Of course it would be crazy for me to tell you that you are not a real Pirates fan if you don't go on the road and watch the golf, cross country and tennis teams.
But that doesn't mean you can't still support the team by following their Twitter or Facebook accounts or just following along on shupirates.com.
With this being my fourth fall sports season, I've noticed a major disconnect with fans as the season moves forward.
It's cool to go watch the first or second home games for the soccer teams, but as the weather gets colder, the attendance numbers dwindle.
The first regular season home game for men's soccer on Aug. 30 against Rhode Island drew 1,134 fans. The most recent home game against Bucknell on Sept. 21 drew 459 fans.
For women's soccer, it's a similar story. On Aug. 30 against Stony Brook 1,539 fans came to the game, while on Sept. 29 against No. 25 Butler just 256 came out to support the Pirates.
The volleyball team will come back to Walsh Gymnasium on Oct. 8 for a match with Hofstra, and I bet the same trend will continue.
What does this mean, Pirates fans? It's simple. Support your teams.
I understand we become busy with schoolwork and other activities, but we should make a solid effort to support them event for just a half, set, match period or however the game is timed.
When it comes down to it, we are all connected; we are Pirates. I may not be dribbling a soccer ball, reading a green, serving a tennis ball or spiking a volleyball, but as a student, I feel it's my responsibility to support the blue and white.
All this brings me back to men's basketball. The reason men's basketball is the most popular sport on campus is because it receives the most national attention, because of the team's historic success. Playing in one of the best basketball conferences in the country doesn't hurt either. The team gets more media attention than any of the other programs Seton Hall has.
The point of this piece isn't to curb your enthusiasm for the upcoming men's basketball season, because I'm just as pumped for Nov. 9 as anyone else.
What I'm trying to get at is that we shouldn't be like the national media and have tunnel vision when it comes to Seton Hall Athletics.
All the programs at the Hall are entertaining. The teams may not be winning national championships, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't show our support. Ask any student-athlete or coach. Fans can make a difference.
T.J. Brennan is a senior journalism major from Floral Park, Long Island, N.Y. He can be reached at thomas.brennan@student.shu.edu.
