As heavy snowfall hits Syracuse this winter, Syracuse University students are staying inside to avoid the struggle of going through the thick snow in freezing temperatures. Meeting up with friends between classes around campus used to be a simple, enjoyable experience before the temperature in Syracuse dropped.

Now, students travel with their hoods on as quickly as they can to get where they need to go. One of the only social events at SU that hundreds of students attend during this snowy season are the home basketball games.

School spirit at college sports games is something that many college students in the U.S. actively participate in, Paige Lymen wrote in her article “Why are college sports so popular in the USA?” Many students, she said, feel better connected to their school by going to the games and supporting the team.

There is a major sense of pride and school spirit that comes with joining the SU community. Otto the Orange is loved by students and he can be seen dancing and high fiving people in the crowd during games.

Men’s basketball games typically gain huge attraction from students and families in the Syracuse area. Even if they don’t know much about the sport, going to Syracuse turns many students into basketball and football fans. Many students come together to show support for their school and fellow students in the Carrier Dome, and attending sporting events is a fun way to stay connected to fellow Syracuse students and support the players. The fans are a big part of the games.

During the game on Feb. 5, attendance reached 23,298 — the highest number of fans at a college basketball game this season. Head coach Jim Boeheim said after their 92-69 win against Louisville that he “couldn’t be happier or prouder of the fans we have. … The students have been great.”

Faye Abou Nafeh, a freshman economics major from Lebanon, attended her first basketball game ever once she came to Syracuse.

“It was something I had never seen before and the fact that famous people go to the games made it even more exciting,” Nafeh said.

Rumors about special guests going to the basketball games were spread through the popular Instagram account that many SU students follow: @thetabsyracuse. When the account posted that comedian Pete Davidson would be at the Syracuse game against Louisville, many students were eager to attend. This was another factor in the skyrocketing game attendance last Saturday.

As classes become more challenging as the semester continues, finding time to enjoy with friends on campus is beneficial in maintaining students’ motivation. Students should take advantage of the exciting basketball games, because school pride is a part of the college experience, especially for the Syracuse Orange.

Jean Aiello is a freshman magazine, news and digital journalism major. Her column appears biweekly. She can be reached at jdaiello@syr.edu.

Published on February 8, 2022 at 11:03 pm