Letter to the Editor (9/18/06)

Dear Editor:

After watching today’s football game loss to Michigan State, I am… Dear Editor:

After watching today’s football game loss to Michigan State, I am embarrassed to be a Pitt alumnus. Why? It’s not because the football team busted their butts for four quarters while playing a bigger, stronger opponent. I am embarrassed because when I looked over to the “Panther Pitt” student section during the third quarter, most of the students were gone. What gives? The students are supposed to be the team’s most fervent supporters — this is YOUR team! Where are the students?

Maybe you left because we were down by 21 and you felt the game was out of reach. No game is out of reach in the third quarter! That’s when the team needs your support the most. Two weeks ago when we were crushing Virginia the stands looked like they did today. You don’t stay whether we are winning or losing. What kind of school spirit is that?

I’ve heard the tired excuse that you are inconvenienced because you have to be bused to the stadium because it is not on campus. Quit your whining and get over it. The situation is what it is. Or maybe you left early so you could begin (or continue) partying.

Look, the bottom line is that the football team asks for approximately four hours of your time seven times a year. That still leaves a lot of time to party (or study). The football team is trying to turn the corner and get back into the national rankings. The student section is great for the first two quarters. It’s just too bad that there are so few of you who realize that the game is four quarters long.

Ann Falcon Best

Arts and Sciences 1980