Samford University is known for its academic prowess, growing student population and now its increasing athletics titles. The one thing it’s missing is its fans.
Auburn, Alabama or Samford? Will you make the two-hour drive to Auburn for the Tigers or the hour drive to Tuscaloosa for the Crimson Tide? Or you could save gas and money and stay in Birmingham to watch the Samford Bulldogs. Where will you be this weekend?
For a community that prides itself on being so tight knit, there doesn’t seem to be a level of support that matches that. So the question remains, where are the students? Where are the fans?
When you choose a university to spend four years at, you accept the offer, wear the colors and eat in the dining halls and restaurants, so why not go to the football games? It doesn’t make sense that after putting money towards tuition, funds that go to things to make your college experience more enjoyable, you would spend money outside of that to go to another school within the same state.
I understand that Samford isn’t as big as Auburn or Alabama, but we can make it feel that way. The more students that stay in Birmingham for a college football Saturday, the bigger the crowd and more interactive the game becomes. People leave for the community and reputation of culture at other schools but fail to realize that they’re robbing Samford of having its own.
Junior pitcher Jordyn Partain understands why some decide to leave — it’s for the big school experience and no one can really deny that Samford can’t quite offer that. However, we do have the power to make it better.
“I think it’s great wanting to go and experience different schools and what they’re like, but I would also argue that if more people stayed in Birmingham and put forth that same level of support they do for other schools, we could have that same feeling here at Samford,” Partain said.
Stop for a minute and think about the players. How do you think they feel looking up after halftime and the stands are bare? If we’re so proud of the titles they’ve won for Samford, we should do our part in showing up for them, just like they’ve shown up for Samford.
Senior Defensive Lineman Joshua Mathiasen shares this sentiment. As a player on the team, support means everything.
“I never really understood why people decided to go to SEC games when we are playing in Birmingham. I believe everyone should have pride in the school that they attend. I just know the fan base can grow even more, I’m a big advocate for dawgs support dawgs,” Mathiasen said.
At the end of the day, we share the same school, the same quad, the same “caf.” Samford can be your home and the school you cheer for every weekend if you just give it the chance.
Sports Editor
