Column: Standing fans made a defintive difference for VCU versus Richmond

Adam Stern
Executive Editor
Commonwealth Times Sports’ Twitter

OPINION

What is the point of cheering on your feet?

That question has been perhaps the most hotly debated one going between VCU fans over the last few weeks.

The answer is making a difference.

During the first half of Friday night’s 73-51 hiding of the Spiders, when VCU went on a 9-0 run that was capped off by a dagger of a 3-pointer from Troy Daniels which put the Rams up seven and forced Richmond to take a desperation timeout, the place went absolutely bonkers. I found myself sitting there, pondering and eventually concluding that the noise level in the Siegel Center was honestly the loudest I had ever heard it.

I was conflicted, though. I wanted to believe it, and I knew that. So part of me wasn’t sure.

But when VCU third-year head coach Shaka Smart walked into the media room after the game and said within the first few words that the noise level in the building was the loudest he had ever heard it since he came here, all of a sudden I knew it was true.

And the notion was cemented in my mind when a friend of mine who watched the game on television contacted me and told me that the commentators— including ESPN college hoops legend Jimmy Dykes— noted on the telecast that they were highly impressed with the fact that both student sections were standing up and making their presence felt.

Not just one.

Of course, little did they know that Friday night was the first night either ever or at least in recent memory that both student section sides at a VCU game stood up.

But they were impressed that this enigmatic and exciting mid-major school had fans that were matching the havoc their team was wreaking on the court.

They were impressed that they were at a mid-major school with a high-major sort of atmosphere.

More than anything, they were impressed the students on both ends made a difference.

Is it a coincidence that all these thoughts and words about VCU’s crowd being as energized as ever came out on the same night VCU’s official fan group, the Rowdy Rams, made their most concerted effort yet to have not only the East End of students stand up but also the West?

Granted, Friday’s game was against a team that is no lower than VCU’s third biggest rival, and thus fan support was at its highest, so naysayers do have ammo for their arsenal.

But I saw it with my own two eyes: the students standing up and going crazy, including those on the West End for the first time, made a difference.

It wasn’t a coincidence.

For years now, people around VCU’s program have spoken about how the atmosphere at home games is among the best out of all mid-major schools in the country if not all teams in general.

And yet, for years now, the Siegel Center has been only half as intimidating as possible.

But something changed Friday night. The atmosphere was different. It was loud. It was intimidating. It epitomized havoc.

It helped lead VCU to an overpowering win over the school’s crosstown rival, and in the process gave the Rams their best win of the season.

So next time you find yourself asking the question what is the point of cheering on your feet, watch the tape of this game.

The answer is making a difference.

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Note: If you’d like to read the original column written by the author about the need for VCU fans to stand up at basketball games that came out a month ago, click here