Author: Noah Brown
In recent years, there has been a
significantly noticeable decline in the atmosphere and enthusiasm in our
student section. What was once, and should still be, a beacon of
excitement and camaraderie for the city of Dana Point, has since become a
lackluster mob parading through the stands with a couple strays of
passionate students cheering on their team.
While
it’s important to add that the students are not entirely to blame,
there are several factors contributing to the gradual deterioration of
our school’s pride and joy; ultimately, it can be attributed to a few
things: The disconnection between our student body and sports as a
whole, price of admission, and the policies enforced by the school.
A
growing sense of disconnection between our student body and athletics
has ultimately led to a reduced sense of community and school spirit.
While the reasoning for why this is happening is unbeknownst to me, I
assume that it has to do with the lack of attention sports receive on
campus nowadays. While technically we do encourage students to attend
the football games every week, it seems as if we follow the same
automated advertising for every event: “Make sure to support ____ on
____.” It’s repetitive and old and at this point goes in one ear out the
other to everyone listening.
In some areas,
towns shut down on Friday nights to watch their local school’s football
team. Here, people can’t even be bothered to keep up with the team’s
record. As far as the ticket cost goes, students with an ASU card get
into the games for free, so that shouldn’t be a factor for a large
majority. I’m aware that we cannot change the price as the total amount
of money earned is distributed throughout the entire athletic
department. Since the price of admission cannot and will not change, it
only makes every other aspect of advertising sporting events that much
more urgent.
According to the
Dana Hills High School Football Game Guidelines email sent out by our
athletic department, our high school is an “award winning student
section” and is “amongst the most spirited of any high school in the
state” according to our own staff. At some point you have to wonder if
we’re looking at the same school because a quick glance at the
second-half turnout at one of our football games would make someone
laugh with embarrassment after expecting the so-called award winning
section to be packed. Instead, you’ll find over half of our bleachers
vacant.
For example, our football team kicked
off against one of the hardest opponents in our league schedule in what
was expected to be a blowout loss. Come halftime, it is a close 14-14
game. Nevertheless, our student section had completely depleted, leaving
our stands desolate.
For what turned out to be
a 42-21 victory, and our school winning their first ever outright
league title, you’d think our bleachers would be bumping with students
rampaging with cheers and confetti flying everywhere. But no, the only
seats occupied were those of players and cheerleaders parents who stayed
to support their kids. At least some people got to witness history.
