Aug. 25, 2010
My name is Dan Carr, and I am Viking fan.
I have been on campus for just under three weeks, and I can already say with complete certainty that I am a Viking fan.
I wasn't very familiar with Cleveland State prior to joining the sports information department. Most of my knowledge of the Vikings came from their basketball success in 2009, when the men's team upset Wake Forest in the NCAA tournament. Before that fantastic victory shook up my bracket, I had never even heard of Cleveland State.
And now, I am a Viking fan. And while that fandom is inspired by the play on the field, it was born out of something deeper.
My formal introduction to Cleveland State athletics came this past Sunday, when the women's soccer team hosted Marshall in both schools' season opener. The Vikings won only their second season opener in their short history. This was fun to see, but I became a Viking fan before the match even began.
In order to explain this sudden infusion of passion, let me first set the scene. It had rained all day on Saturday, and the clouds were not looking too promising for Sunday. Sure enough, a half hour before the game began it started to pour. Although the rain let up within five minutes, there were no guarantees it would not return.
The sky was dark, the clouds were ominous, and Krenzler Field, like most collegiate soccer stadiums, had nothing covering the stands. On top of the weather conditions, this was a women's soccer match, and soccer is not exactly one of America's favorite sports.
And yet, people came. Despite the possibility of being rained on, despite the lack of shelter, and despite the sport's low popularity, people came. Spectators arrived, paid for tickets, and stayed for the entire game to cheer on the Vikings against the Thundering Herd.
I don't wish to over-exaggerate the attendance. There were a little less than 200 people in the bleachers, far less than Krenzler's capacity. If you looked into the stands from the field, however, it sure looked like there was a large crowd.
The people who came not only stayed, they were also passionate throughout the entire match. They were enthusiastic, they cheered all day, they yelled at the refs when they thought a call should have gone the other way, and their excitement for the Viking athletes was contagious. And that was with only 200 people.
These fans braved the elements to cheer on a team coming off a down season. And they were treated to a good show, as Cleveland State fed off this enthusiasm and put in a solid effort against Marshall.
The Vikings dominated the first half, and played well enough in the second half despite giving up a couple goals to secure the win. And from the announcement of the starting lineups to the blaring of "Cleveland Rocks" once the final seconds had ticked off, this crowd was into the game.
Furthermore, school hasn't even started. I can't wait to see what the crowds are like on a better day when students are back on campus.
The women's soccer team put together a great effort and rewarded the fans with a well-earned victory. But part of the joy of being a fan comes as much from the game day experience as it does seeing a team you have emotional ties to win.
On this rainy Sunday, I walked away just as impressed with the level of passion Cleveland State fans have for their teams. They truly love the school and its athletes, and when you see that level of commitment it is hard not to buy into the passion. I'm already looking forward to seeing what the games will be like later in the year, with more of these fervent followers out to support their Vikings.
My name is Dan Carr. I will be working as an assistant in the sports information department for the 2010-11 school year.
And I am a Viking fan.
