Spring Break
Calling all Beaver Nation
Tori Hill
Issue date: 10/27/09 Section: Sports
Late Saturday afternoon, I took a break from my heavy load of studying for midterms, tuned into ABC, and watched as the Oregon State football team took on the University of Southern California.
Though the Beavers showed no shortage of perseverance and heart, they couldn't fulfill their hopes and dreams of upsetting No. 4 USC for the first time in 21 contests at the Coliseum. Instead, the team returned to Corvallis with the scoreboard lights burned into their memories - USC: 42, OSU: 36.
But as Scott F. Fitzgerald once said, "Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat."
I am not mentioning Fitzgerald's quote to encourage the members of Oregon State's football team; I am mentioning it to remind the fans of Beaver Nation of the commitment they have to this program. As fans, you have a responsibility to show up and support your team in their time of need. If ever a time has come, the time is now.
Saturday's game showed that Oregon State is willing to rise to the challenge. Now I'm challenging the fan base to do the same.
Reser Stadium houses roughly 45,000 people; however, the stadium has yet to sell out thus far in the 2009 season. The last time Reser was "rocking" full of people was Dad's weekend of 2008. USC's Coliseum sold out against Oregon State last Saturday with ease, seating twice the capacity of Reser - roughly 93,000 seats.
I understand we're in a current economic recession. The Willamette Valley does not have a large metropolitan area like those that serve as a benefit to schools such as USC and UCLA, and Oregon State fans must travel from cities an hour or more away.
However, OSU has a stadium half the size of USC's Coliseum, a team that has repeatedly defied the odds, and a town that has been voted as one of the best sport cities in America by Sporting News Annual. Selling out a stadium the size of Reser shouldn't be a problem.
Not only does fan attendance add to the overall experience of an Oregon State game day, but it's also imperative to the athletic department's ability to offer scholarships, pay for equipment and make sure the student athletes have the accommodations that are necessary for their success on and off the field.
Football is the number one revenue generator for Oregon State Athletics. Ticket sales, as well as donations to the Beaver Athletic Student Fund, are what make it possible to provide scholarships to many of these athletes.
Seeing a sea of orange and black as the cameras pan the packed crowd of Reser isn't the only reason to aim for more sold out events. The opportunity to be a part of the university and support these student athletes is the greater reward.
This Saturday is the annual homecoming game at Oregon State, where the Beavers will play host to UCLA, kicking off at 1:00 p.m. This is the chance for Beaver fans to rise to the challenge. Pack up your tailgate, sport your orange and black, put your game face on and show your pride in being a part of the family and tradition that is OSU athletics.
Tori Hill, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
Though the Beavers showed no shortage of perseverance and heart, they couldn't fulfill their hopes and dreams of upsetting No. 4 USC for the first time in 21 contests at the Coliseum. Instead, the team returned to Corvallis with the scoreboard lights burned into their memories - USC: 42, OSU: 36.
But as Scott F. Fitzgerald once said, "Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat."
I am not mentioning Fitzgerald's quote to encourage the members of Oregon State's football team; I am mentioning it to remind the fans of Beaver Nation of the commitment they have to this program. As fans, you have a responsibility to show up and support your team in their time of need. If ever a time has come, the time is now.
Saturday's game showed that Oregon State is willing to rise to the challenge. Now I'm challenging the fan base to do the same.
Reser Stadium houses roughly 45,000 people; however, the stadium has yet to sell out thus far in the 2009 season. The last time Reser was "rocking" full of people was Dad's weekend of 2008. USC's Coliseum sold out against Oregon State last Saturday with ease, seating twice the capacity of Reser - roughly 93,000 seats.
I understand we're in a current economic recession. The Willamette Valley does not have a large metropolitan area like those that serve as a benefit to schools such as USC and UCLA, and Oregon State fans must travel from cities an hour or more away.
However, OSU has a stadium half the size of USC's Coliseum, a team that has repeatedly defied the odds, and a town that has been voted as one of the best sport cities in America by Sporting News Annual. Selling out a stadium the size of Reser shouldn't be a problem.
Not only does fan attendance add to the overall experience of an Oregon State game day, but it's also imperative to the athletic department's ability to offer scholarships, pay for equipment and make sure the student athletes have the accommodations that are necessary for their success on and off the field.
Football is the number one revenue generator for Oregon State Athletics. Ticket sales, as well as donations to the Beaver Athletic Student Fund, are what make it possible to provide scholarships to many of these athletes.
Seeing a sea of orange and black as the cameras pan the packed crowd of Reser isn't the only reason to aim for more sold out events. The opportunity to be a part of the university and support these student athletes is the greater reward.
This Saturday is the annual homecoming game at Oregon State, where the Beavers will play host to UCLA, kicking off at 1:00 p.m. This is the chance for Beaver fans to rise to the challenge. Pack up your tailgate, sport your orange and black, put your game face on and show your pride in being a part of the family and tradition that is OSU athletics.
Tori Hill, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Adam E.
posted 10/27/09 @ 2:27 PM PST
I had every intention of taking my family to the game this weekend, until I saw the ticket prices. Unfortunately I cannot afford to pay $65 each for 4 seats in the upper corner of the stadium. (Continued…)
Trent D.
posted 10/27/09 @ 4:41 PM PST
Seriously, Bobby D. needs to lower ticket prices. Better to fill all the seats at 35 bucks then leave 65 dollar seats sitting empty.
Brent
posted 10/29/09 @ 12:19 AM PST
So the writing was there. A good solid piece. Perhaps a little too "essay-y" but good. What I want to know is how much Bobby D paid you to write this. (Continued…)
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