By Whitney Spencer
What is a fan? Well, Webster’s dictionary defines a fan as “an enthusiastic devotee, follower or admirer of a sport, pastime, celebrity, etc.” Every student at the University of Louisville should keep this in mind this weekend when our football team travels to Lexington, Kentucky to face the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
Last year, fans everywhere had a bad taste left from the 27-2 stomping we took at the hands of our biggest in-state rival. Some believe that this game was an omen for what turned out to be the worst season during Steve Kragthorphe’s tenure. Before the clock wound down, fans had already begun to turn.
I understand that all fans want to see their teams be successful, and watching such a defeat is hard to swallow, but fans are supposed to be fans all the time. You can’t choose to support your team as they demolish a lesser opponent, but turn your back as the competition stiffens. These things are just part of the game.
As Cardinal fans, you’ve experienced some of the best and most exciting sports moments in the past couple years. Though the football team has been struggling as of late, this is a new season and should be treated as such. When the players step out onto the field, they are focused on leaving it all on the field. When they have games as they did against UK last year, they not only disappoint themselves, but the fans as well. The last thing they need is to hear fans jeering them constantly.
For a moment, we as fans should put ourselves in the positions of the players and coaches. Imagine the immense pressure that weighs on them day in and day out. They must be the best and live up to all types of expectations. It can’t be easy. Then imagine what it is like to have the very people who you once turned to for support turning their backs on you, because you didn’t live up to their expectations.
To be a fan you must be willing to stick it out with your team—rain or shine, day or night, win or lose. To be a fan you must wear your colors on game day and every other day with pride. To be a fan you must support the players and coaching staff through every mistake and bad decision. As fans, what we sometimes forget, is that those people calling plays and making plays are only human.
As fans, I think you must stay true. You should wear your colors proud. Last year, there were people who were embarrassed to wear U of L t-shirts because we lost the game. A true fan will take whatever comes with a loss. It’s just a game. You win some and you lose some.
This Saturday, feel free to express yourself in any way you feel. Cheer, scream, yell or boo, but remember to be a true fan. Some balls will be dropped, passes will be overthrown and tackles will be missed, but a Cardinal fan is a Cardinal fan for life. So when the final score is in the books and the clock sits with no time left, support the Cards – win or lose. That’s a fan.
