Coaches want to ‘break barriers’ with athletes supporting peers

When the University of South Dakota women’s basketball team made their run to the NCAA tournament last season, USD football kicker Miles Bergner remembers all types of students showed their support for the Coyote women.

It didn’t matter they were heavy underdogs against Stanford for their first game — students were trying to find tickets to Ames, Iowa, Bergner said.

“Last year was the best example of support,” said Bergner, a sophomore. “Even if you did or didn’t like basketball, everyone wanted to get behind them and rally with them.”

Fan support in college athletics is not limited to just student athletes or regular students. Support includes community, parents and alumni.

However, Bergner said there’s definitely a difference in how much student-athletes support affects their fellow Coyotes.

Members of the softball team said they support the fellow teams because of their close friendships to other team members, and it’s the least they can do if they get fans to their games.

“Softball definitely does not bring a very big crowd,” said sophomore softball player Morgan Hancock. “But since we support so many other teams, we are starting to get more fans at our games.
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First-year Trevor Tyree hasn’t made as many sporting events as he has hoped, but said he doesn’t feel student support is down.

“Unfortunately, I am scheduled to work when teams have games,” Tyree said. “But when I do go to games, I feel there are a lot of students there.”

Still, head soccer coach Mandy Green has been at USD five years, and she said this year has been best fan support she has seen in her time here.

“I know the administration encourages us to go out an watch each other play,” Green said.

Women’s basketball coach Amy Williams wants students and general admission support as well.

“We are looking forward to open and break through the barrier for more students and general people to come support,” Williams said.

For athletes, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee created a program where a team going to a game on the calendar of events earns points for the team.

At the end of the year, whichever team has the most points wins $500. They can spend the money on gear or other team needs.

Students involved in organizations around USD said head football coach Joe Glenn does his part to get Coyote pride up, requiring his players to attend events and being active himself.

Senior swimmer Delaney Schenk said Glenn is a huge asset to the athletic department.

“Anytime that a student organization asks Coach Glenn for the football team’s support in an event, he makes sure they get involved,” Schenk said. “He has so much Coyote pride that it just bleeds into all the other programs. I’ve really seen the athletic program, tailgating and Coyote Crazies grow because of his constant support and love for USD.”

Involvement is also important to coaches and students. Coach Green even promotes involvement off the field.

“Athletics takes a tremendous amount of time, but we do encourage them to get involved with other events,” Green said. “We try to do community service and get out there because it is way to network and promote our team.”

In addition to being involved outside of the sports, Bergner said developing relationships with other athletes is a form of involvement around campus because athletes represent USD around the country.

“Involvement is important, but so is developing a relationship with someone, because it is a key component for getting more support for your team,” Bergner said. “If you get someone to come support you then most likely they will bring their friends to the game. This develops a big web of support.”

(Photo: The University of South Dakota golf team cheers on the USD volleyball vs. Iowa State University game Tuesday night in the DakotaDome. Malachi Petersen / The Volante)