There is a piece of every university sports game that impacts each team’s performance and spectators’ enjoyment: the student section.
While providing a community for students, it can also motivate the school’s sports team.
“The purpose is to give the players some morale and have someone cheer for them,” Nyaang Adhom, vice president of Hype and Public Relations, said. “Knowing they have someone on their side, getting into the heads of the opponents, it definitely boosts them. They want to play better because they know we’re counting on them, and they’re counting on us. It’s a two-way thing.”
It’s also something that can’t be faked. Athletes can only generate a certain amount of adrenaline on their own, so hearing the buzz from the crowd throughout the game can also provide motivation to the players.
Beyond the boost for the home team, cheering can also disrupt an opponent. In football, a loud crowd can disrupt the cadence of an offense, leading to them wasting a timeout or committing a 5-yard penalty by way of a false start or delay of game.
In addition, it could disrupt an opponent’s playcalls and communication, potentially leading to a game-changing mistake. There are also times when the crowd should be quiet, such as when the football team is on offense or when the basketball team is shooting free throws.
“For us, we heckle a lot, and the trash talk is fun. We get to mess them up if they’re taking free throws at basketball games,” Adhom said.
In any sport, there are numerous effects that a roaring crowd has on the final score. A large, energized crowd can be the difference between a win and a loss.
The student section allows for memories to be developed among the students.
“It’s a place where you can make a lot of friends,” Adhom said. “I’ve met a lot of people there just cheering for the same team. It’s a community, you get to know everyone.”
Showing up for games with energy can help the players perform at their highest level, while also influencing an opponent’s mistakes.
For information on upcoming Weber State University games, visit the Weber Athletics website.
