UDM still struggles attracting fans to games

The University of Detroit Mercy has a historic basketball program and many other sports teams.

In the Titans’ heydey of Dick Vitale, and later Rashad Phillips, Calihan Hall used to be packed to the rafters for every basketball game. 

Basketball still receives the most attention of all the sports at Detroit Mercy, but it seems that enthusiasm has since wavered.

Veronica Towianski is a sophomore on the school’s cross country team, and she believes there is not enough support for the teams.

“Not enough people attend the (basketball) games,” said Towianski.

When it comes to other sports, the support and knowledge of them is almost non-existent.

“I did not know we even had a soccer team.” said junior Damilola Frazier.

With support of the basketball team lacking the other sports hosted at Detroit Mercy suffer even more. 

 “I heard there’s not as much turnout as we would like” said junior Antony Nedanouski.

A common thread among students at Detroit Mercy is that they do not really hear about the games going on on campus.

Even the popular sport of basketball has felt the effects of very little promotion.

Some students like Towianski believe that adding more sports will help draw more interest in all sports.

“I think they should add more sports,” said Towianski. “I would personally like to see football and swimming.”

It might not be attainable by such a small school like Detroit Mercy, but the addition of those two popular sports could revitalize the sports scene among students.

Other students think we have enough.

“I think we have a lot of the sports that other colleges have,” said Nedanouski. “There is no need to add more.”

What could be the reason for lack of support of the sports teams among students?

Could the relationship between students and student-athletes be strained?

“I have a basketball player in my class and he does not talk to anyone,” said Frazier.

The lack of connection could be a reason some students fail to support their school’s sporting events.

Most students disagree with a lack of connection with athletes.

For the most part students and student-athletes get along just fine, like how many other students with different backgrounds do.

“You don’t really hear about the games,” said Towianski.