Column: Students should attend a variety of sporting events

USD students have the great opportunity to see Division I sports live. While football and basketball are usually the most popular sports at USD, students should also be open to watching other sports.

Last year, I attended a USD softball game against University of Nebraska-Omaha. At first, I wasn’t thrilled about going. I’m thankful I attended because the game was extremely entertaining.

Even though I’m not a huge fan of baseball, let alone softball, I enjoyed the game. Pretty much every sport is more entertaining when watched in person.

At the softball game, the team cheered for each player when they stepped up to the plate. The team had their own unique chant for each player. I heard the ball when it hit the player’s bat. I saw dust fly up when the players slid toward a base. The game was so fast and exciting to watch.

Experiencing a sport in person gives fans the opportunity to hear all the things that won’t be heard on the television.

It’s especially important to use college as a chance to watch sports that won’t be aired frequently on television. College basketball and football are often televised, but how often will people be able to watch college softball or volleyball unless they attend?

The experience is great. It’s fun to watch classmates and friends competing at the Division I level. The atmosphere at the volleyball games is extremely entertaining. A highlight reel is played at the start of each volleyball game and it creates such an awesome vibe in the Sanford Coyotes Sports Center.

The pre-game hype of college sports is second only to the game-clinching moments.

The noise and the intensity is indescribable in game-winning situations. Whether it’s watching the football team on defense during a crucial third down, or when the volleyball team is only a few points away from winning the last set, the crowd is always loud and the entire experience is intense.

These moments are special, and plentiful. According to GoYotes, the volleyball team is 5-2 at home as of Nov. 28. Last year, they were 10-1 at home. The softball team has had a winning record at home every season except 2012. They were 10-0-0 at home in 2015.

Opportunities to watch these sports on television, much less in-person, will be slim after college. And USD’s teams have proved they can provide fans with entertaining wins at home. So, why not take advantage of these opportunities?