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News Editor Mindy Wiggins |
Now that the time for editorial writing has rolled around once again, I suppose that I could complain about one of the many things at Tech that needs to be reorganized, repaired, reconsidered, initiated, or terminated. However, instead of whining about these issues, which receive many complaints, I've chosen to match my editorial with the rest of this Matt Kuchar-dominated issue. The emergence of Kuchar at the Masters last weekend provides the perfect opportunity to discuss the school spirit, or lack thereof, of Tech students.
If you are still unaware of Kuchar's performance at the Masters last weekend, it is probably a good indication that you need to get your vision checked, considering the fact that stories about him are plastered on the front and back pages of this issue. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning (again) that Kuchar finished in 21st place at even par for the tournament, nine strokes off the lead. This impressive finish automatically qualifies him for next year's tournament, which, by the way, is one of the most prestigious of all golf tournaments.
It can be said with a great deal of confidence that, following the conclusion of last weekend, the name "Matt Kuchar" is known in most American homes, which represents a phenomenal rise to fame for the Tech sophomore. It is even more phenomenal to consider the possibility that his rise to fame can be attributed to more than his 21st place finish or the fact that he is the 1997 U.S. Amateur champion. The kid captured the hearts of his audience, which turned out to be most of America, with nothing more than his smile. He went through the tournament with a blissful, relaxed enthusiasm that is comparable to the demeanor of a Little Leaguer playing in the World Series.
The impression that he made became evident with the number of times that his name was mentioned, along with a mention of Tech, on television and in newspapers over the course of the tournament. His presence in the tournament, along with that of Tech graduate David Duval, led to more publicity than Tech has seen in a while. Tech students should be proud that one of their fellow students has brought such recognition to the school. However, it is a saddening, yet realistic, thought that many Tech students are not even aware of all of the attention that we got over the weekend. It is probable that many students are still unaware of who Matt Kuchar is.
I have noticed in my three years here that quite a few Tech students suffer from a severe lack of school spirit. It is true that Tech athletics have a group of consistent supporters who always cheer them on, but there are a substantial number of students who are completely clueless about Tech athletics. In fact, it is reasonable to assume that many students have never attended a single game in their Tech careers.
If Tech were a small school with a minuscule athletic program, the apathy might be explainable. However, Tech has a huge athletic program. We are in the ACC, one of the most competitive and entertaining conferences in college sports. Many Tech athletes go on to become professional athletes, and the teams that we play against are the same way.
Tech students don't seem to realize that they have the opportunity to see future professional athletes in action. A perfect example of this apathy is the turnout of the UNC-Tech basketball game last quarter. Granted, there were problems with ticket distribution. However, it is embarrassing when Tech alumni refer to the turnout as "disgusting."
The purpose of this editorial is to urge apathetic Tech students to be more supportive of the athletic programs. You know who you are. Put down the calculus homework for a couple of hours to go to a game. Trust me, your kids would rather hear stories about how you were able to see certain professional athletes play while they were in college instead of how you learned to solve a triple integral.