COLUMN: Coyote students disappoint on one of the biggest stages of the year

The final matchup against the in-state rival Jackrabbits of South Dakota State in the DakotaDome was a setup for something big for the Coyotes.

The crowd came up big, over 4,000 people attended and many stuck to the game’s red out theme. The crowd was loud and the student section was nearly triple its normal size, but you couldn’t tell.

Apart from drunken heckling of South Dakota State and USD players, the student section wasted what was a chance to turn the Dome into a huge home court advantage for the Coyotes.

Many have said that the student section was much louder than usual, which is true. It’s easy to be louder when the usual is hardly making a sound. The university puts students in a prime spot to affect the game and intimidate the opposing team’s shots.

When the visitors shoot free throws in front of the band, a group much smaller than the average student section, they make noise, chant, sing and do their best to help the Coyotes. When they shoot in front of the students? A few cheers, maybe a student standing and waving but mostly just apathetic looks and polite clapping when something goes the Coyotes’ way.

During last Saturday’s game, like every Coyote home game, I sat directly across from the students and was able to watch what they did. Usually, it’s an underwhelming experience. It was packed on Saturday: the bleachers were undoubtedly fuller than normal. This was a great opportunity to make a statement.

The Coyotes were up early and the crowd was rocking, but as the Jackrabbits made their way back in the game the crowd dulled. When the Coyotes forced a tie late, it seemed like the crowd was going to play a huge role. That is, until late game free throws happened.

USD struggled late from the foul stripe, which hurt, but what hurt more for me was watching as State, the hated rival, the school to the north, the antithesis of everything that is Coyote, was allowed to shoot with such little resistance from the Coyote students.

An opportunity for USD to show they had finally arrived as Summit League contenders was gone. Yes, ultimately the loss goes to the team, but as fans and students of the university, shouldn’t the students do everything in their power to help?

This brings me to my second point, something that cannot go unsaid. Sitting in front of the overflow student section and listening to USD students heckle their own players was disappointing. Obscene and inappropriate comments were made toward multiple Coyote players during crucial moments of a game. Is that what students think will spur on their Coyotes?

This game was a prime recruiting opportunity for USD, but no recruit is going to want to attend a school where their own students will attack them. It was a sad thing to watch and another example of students taking what could’ve been the best student section of the season and turning it into nothing.

No, the Coyotes are not the greatest team in college basketball. To get better, USD needs recruits. Recruits want to see a rocking arena with fans and students going crazy.

USD students have a chance to directly impact the game, they have a chance to help close out the final season of basketball in the DakotaDome with a bang and they have a chance of helping the team reach their goal of the NCAA Tournament.

It’s just sad to watch those chances be squandered.